5 Santa Fe Summer Events You Can’t Miss
What makes Santa Fe so unique? It’s not just the elevation (7,000 + feet above sea level.) It’s not just the amazing outdoors and unique cuisine, Santa Fe is an art and cultural mecca with many not to miss events held throughout the year. Here are some upcoming festivals and events that we highly recommend.
The Inaugural Santa Fe Literary Festival
Coming soon! The inaugural Santa Fe Literary Festival is what book lovers in Santa Fe have been waiting for. The lineup of writers is amazing and includes Margaret Atwood, Colson Whitehead, Joy Harjo, John Grisham and George R.R. Martin, to name a few. The festival begins on May 20, a continues through May 23, 2022. Tickets for many of the events are still available at this link.
The International Folk Art Market
Since 2004, the International Folk Art Market occurs in Santa Fe every July. This year’s event dates are July 7-10, on Museum Hill. A shoppers’ paradise: discover art, jewelry, textiles and more by a selection of the world’s best folk artists. This year 164 artists from 49 countries will be exhibiting. Buy tickets early here.
The Santa Fe Indian Market
Since 1922, the world’s oldest and most prestigious Native American art market has taken place every August in Santa Fe. This year’s Centennial event begins on Friday, August 19 with the Best of Show Ceremony, and a Sneak Peek of the year’s award-winning art at the Santa Fe Convention Center. The weekend market opens at 8 am downtown and continues through 5 pm on Sunday. Shop all the juried market categories on the Plaza, consider attending this year’s Gala and experience the fashion show for the best of North American Indigenous art! Tickets and updates at Swaia.org.
The Burning of Zozobra
For nearly 100 years, the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe has been hosting an annual send-off to summer with their celebrated Burning of Zozobra each Labor Day weekend at downtown’s Fort Marcy Park. What is Zozobra? Originally designed by local artist Will Shuster in 1924, Zozobra is a 50-foot effigy made of lumber, chicken wire, cotton, and paper-mâché ceremonially burned alongside a stunning fireworks display to symbolize Santa Fe’s victory over gloom and despair. Attendees are encouraged to add their own anxieties and fears anonymously, to be stuffed in Zozobra and later burned to encourage optimism and hope. This event concludes the two-week fiestas, which are filled with parades and celebrations. The Burning of Zozobra is a family affair.
Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta
With a culinary style that’s as influenced by traditional Indigenous foods, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that chile plays a predominant role in Santa Fe cuisine. Also home to a multitude of different wineries, Santa Fe is drawing worldwide attention as an up-and-coming market for vintners. For over 30 years, the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta has been exciting wine lovers and chile aficionados alike with tastings, prix fixe menus, and cooking demos from some of the rising stars of the Santa Fe food and wine scene. The three-day festival is held in the fall, giving the opportunity for visitors from around the globe to revel in Santa Fe’s autumn climate. For complete information about this year’s Wine and Chile. Tickets go on sale, July 15.