It's true, we're a tiny town. And yet, the sheer number of arts and music festivals that we somehow have to navigate is staggering. Get ready to fest, Santa Fe—there's a whole mess of these things!
OUTSIDE BIKE & BREW FESTIVAL
May 18-27, 2017 outsidesantafe.com
This tipsy/outdoorsy event brings together so many things we love: drinking beer, eating food while drinking beer, listening to music while drinking beer—and riding our bikes to all of those things. There are bike clinics, fun rides, races, demos and long rides. HQ is in the Santa Fe Railyard Park.
ELDORADO STUDIO TOUR
May 20 and 21, 2017 eldoradostudiotour.org
For more than a quarter- century, this has been one of our favorite ways to meet and learn more about some of the area's most creative, interesting residents. About 100 artists open their studios to the public and show off their paintings, weavings, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics and more.
NATIVE TREASURES INDIAN ARTS FESTIVAL
May 26-28, 2017 nativetreasures.org
This huge show takes over the Santa Fe Convention Center with works from more than 200 Native American artists who have been invited to show by the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. The works are for sale and a percentage of the proceeds go to the museum.
EDIBLE ART TOUR
June 9 and 10, 2017 artfeast.org
This fun walking tour shows off the city at one of the prettiest times of year. A ticket gets you in to galleries downtown and up Canyon Road both nights, when each venue features food and drinks from a partnered restaurant.
CURRENTS NEW MEDIA
June 9-25, 2017 currentsnewmedia.org
A huge, mind-blowing celebration of art that breaks free from traditional boundaries of medium. Think interactive and fine art video installations, multimedia performances, animation, experimental film, 3D printing and virtual reality programs. Most of the events are free!
FANTASE DOME FEST
June 17, 2017 creativesantafe.org/initiative-fantase.html
What's a dome fest? It's a cool party at DeVargas Park with a bunch of metal-framed domes covered in white fabric, onto which cool stuff is projected. This is technically called "site-specific art installations." There's also music on two stages, food trucks and, of course, boarding in the skate park.
SANTA FE WINE FESTIVAL
July 1 and 2, 2017 santafewinefestival.com
If you needed an excuse to get back out to Las Golondrinas and get your living history on, this is it. Celebrate New Mexico's 400-year history of grape-growing by sipping and slurping your way through tents set up by dozens of local winemakers. Whether you like it crisp, fruity, delicate, bold, stone-dry or sweet as pie, there will be a wine or two that surprises you.
SANTA FE BANDSTAND
July 5-Aug. 25, 2017 santafebandstand.org
Absolutely one of the best things about living in Santa Fe: free music on the Plaza all summer long! You'll hear surf, reggae, bluegrass, rock, brass bands, opera apprentices and more. Who doesn't love to boogie down with your friends, neighbors, the guy who cuts your hair and the lady you bought a treadmill from that one time? It's kind of a Santa Fe thing.
INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART MARKET
July 14-16, 2017 folkartalliance.org
Travel the world! Experience the music, dance and food of foreign cultures! Bring home souvenirs! And do it all before dinner at this massive three-day market and festival, regularly voted a favorite event by SFR readers.
TRADITIONAL SPANISH MARKET
July 24-30, 2017 spanishcolonial.org
Going to the Traditional Spanish Market feels like time-traveling back to colonial New Mexico. After admiring all of the retablos, bultos and colcha embroidery, you can celebrate your contemporary existence with a kombucha and a gluten-free veggie burger.
CONTEMPORARY HISPANIC MARKET
July 29 and 30, 2017 contemporaryhispanicmarketinc.com
Tired of tradition? New Mexico's contemporary Hispanic artists show off with a spectrum of adventurous and powerful work in every medium you can imagine.
GIRLS INC. ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW
Aug. 5 and 6, 2017 girlsincofsantafe.org/arts-crafts
The art in this juried show and sale is by local and national professional artists (who keep the proceeds from their sales). Booth fees support Girls Inc. programs that teach girls to kick ass (not literally).
SANTA FE INDIAN MARKET
Aug. 19 and 20, 2017 swaia.org
Interested in Native art? You can't miss this event. It's huge. More than 100,000 people show up. Which is to say: Get there early for the best deals and the freshest fry bread.
ZOZOBRA
Sept. 1, 2017 burnzozobra.com
Oh, do we have so much to gripe about this year! Save up all those woes, people, because we are going to burn this mofo down, and all those woes go with it. Even the uninitiated can appreciate the joy that comes from the conflagration of a giant, growling paper monster man thing.
FIESTAS DE SANTA FE
Sept. 1-10, 2017 santafefiesta.org
Party like it's 1699 at this week-long celebration of Santa Fe's Spanish Colonial heritage, which kicks off with either a mass or a puppet, depending on who you ask. It includes a pet parade, historic-ish plays and a Labor Day weekend craft market.
SANTA FE PRIDE
Sept. 15-17, 2017 santafehra.org
It starts with a wild, colorful (and pretty family-friendly) parade down Old Santa Fe Trail, continues with an afternoon party on the Plaza with music and entertainers, then finishes with an after-party and dancing until the wee hours. Plan to dress like a unicorn visiting Harajuku.
SANTA FE RENAISSANCE FAIR
Sept. 16 and 17, 2017 sfrenfair.org
You can do this ironically or non-ironically, but the kids don't care. Jousting! Sword fighting! Fairy houses and a unicorn! Also: booze.
SANTA FE WINE & CHILE FIESTA
Sept. 27-Oct. 1, 2017 santafewineandchile.org
Put on your party pants and head up to the Santa Fe Opera grounds for the main event of this fall bacchanalia: A huge tasting of wine from all over the country and nibbles of food from Santa Fe restaurants. Also check out the wine seminars, tastings and dinners.
SANTA FE INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
Oct. 18-22, 2017 santafeindependent.com
A five-day festival of movies, movies, movies for those of us who like the "different" element of the City Different.
RECYCLE SANTA FE ART FESTIVAL
Nov. 17-19, 2017 recyclesantafe.org
Conveniently scheduled the month before we're all supposed to buy a million gifts, this fest makes it easy to look cool, creative and thoughtful. There's always something new made from something old by artists from all over the country.
SANTA FE FILM FESTIVAL
Dec. 6-10, 2017 santafeindependent.com
Not to be confused with the independent one, SFFF features panels, discussions, parties, and (of course) screenings.
LAS POSADAS
Dec. 11, 2017
In a sort-of reenactment of the Christmas story, Mary, Joseph and Jesus go from house to house (aka, from building to building on the Plaza) asking for a place to stay as the crowd sings carols. Rooftop devils jeer and wave pitchforks until you're safe in the Palace of the Governors courtyard with cookies and cider. No, really—this is so fun.
CANYON ROAD FAROLITO WALK
Dec. 24, 2017
This is Santa Fe at its postcard-best. Glowing paper bags and twinkly lights line street as you pop in to a few galleries, maybe grab a bite or a hot toddy at one of the restaurants. Mostly you end up shivering and going OMG! smooch-smooch to all the people you haven't seen in like a thousand years, I swear.
