For centuries, Santa Fe has held its own as a maverick of a city—an artist enclave, a spiritual haven, a mystical land beckoning travelers from around the globe. This didn’t happen by chance. To understand Santa Fe’s appeal, one must simply take a look back in time.
The oldest capital city in the US, Santa Fe was established in 1610 serving as the capital of the Spanish “Kingdom of New Mexico.'' Long before that, the city was home to New Mexico’s 23 Native American tribes, nations, and pueblos, each its own sovereign nation. All this historical context explains why Santa Fe is an inherently fascinating place; it was built on a melding of traditions that layered upon each other to create something entirely new. Every dish you taste, gallery you visit, and landscape you witness is an embodiment of the city’s singular culture, one that must be experienced to be fully understood.
The best way to take it all in is with a visit to Santa Fe in the summer months. A slew of exciting events take to the streets every year from May to August, offering visitors the chance to interact with locals and understand how The City Different earned its name. Here’s everything you won’t want to miss this summer in Santa Fe.
SWAIA Native Fashion Week - May 2-5, 2024
The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) Native Fashion Week is right at home in Santa Fe’s vibrant community, celebrating the intersection of traditional Native American artistry with contemporary fashion design. Kicking off with an opening cocktail party at the Governor’s mansion, this four-day event includes runway shows, panels, pop-ups highlighting the creativity and diversity of Indigenous designers.
Santa Fe International Literary Festival - May 17-19, 2024
It’s no surprise a notable international literary festival chose Santa Fe as its home base, for the city’s vast history is rooted in the oral and written art of storytelling. Bringing together an inspired group of prize-winning authors, the Santa Fe International Literary Festival includes mainstage lectures, walk-and-talk opportunities with authors and attendees, and inspired one-on-one author conversations, all crafted to explore the art of writing during a time period of extraordinary change.
Santa Fe School of Cooking
Santa Fe’s deep-seated food culture reflects a crucial facet of the city’s soul, telling the stories of the various groups of people who have called it home over the past centuries. Explore these rich traditions with the help of a contemporary chef at a hands-on cooking class centered around the vast landscape of Southwestern fare. Whether it be a red chile workshop, a tamale-making class, or a Native American cooking demonstration, you’ll come away with a new appreciation for Santa Fe’s cuisine.
CURRENTS New Media Festival - June 14-23, 2024
Emerging technology has transformed the landscape of every facet of modern life, including art, and CURRENTS is a testament to this convergence. The annual art and technology festival creates a space for emerging and established new media artists to showcase their work in dynamic formats like VR, mixed-reality environments, and AI-artist collaboration.
Santa Fe Opera - June 28-August 24, 2024
There’s opera, and then there’s the Santa Fe Opera. Visitors flock from around the globe to catch a show in this majestic setting; an open-air adobe structure with views of the mountains to the east and colorful New Mexican sunsets to the west. Living up to its moniker The City Different, Santa Fe’s opera entails an elegant sort of tailgating beforehand—white tablecloths, sophisticated picnics, and wine are the norm.
Santa Fe Margarita Trail
Santa Fe was the first city in the New World to import tequila from Mexico, so it makes sense that the margarita is a staple cocktail. To explore the city’s vibrant bar scene, secure a Margarita Trail passport or download the app and make your way around the city to taste 50 different signature margaritas—not all in one day, of course. Get your Margarita Trail passport stamped at each bar and unlock prizes as you go.
20th Anniversary International Folk Art Market - July 11-14, 2024
Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious folk art festivals in the world, the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe brings artists and artisans from dozens of countries to showcase their traditional crafts—textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and other handmade items are featured. This year’s event marks the 20th anniversary of the market, a true testament to the staying power of the folk art form.
Traditional Spanish Market - July 27-28, 2024
Located on the historic Santa Fe Plaza, the Traditional Spanish Market is the oldest and largest juried art show of its kind in the nation. Celebrating the rich heritage of the region’s Hispanic and Spanish-speaking communities, the Spanish Market entails an exciting slate of events, from the competition to live flamenco performances to regional Hispanic bands on the bandstand.
Stroll Down Canyon Road
Aside from its photogenic charm—a half-mile, tree-lined pedestrian stretch—Canyon Road has the highest density of galleries in the country. Once all private homes, the charming adobe structures on Canyon Road now feature works of art from all over the world. Expect everything from contemporary to traditional, Western to Native American.
Santa Fe Indian Market - August 17-18, 2024
If you haven’t already noticed, summer is art fair season in Santa Fe, and the Indian Market is one of the crown jewels of the season. Hundreds of Native American tribes gather over this weekend fair, transforming Santa Fe’s historic plaza into a kaleidoscope of Indigenous artistry. Intricate works range from jewelry to sculpture to pueblo wooden carvings to beadwork and much more. Exploring the market is not only a premier art experience, but an opportunity to hear firsthand the stories of strength and resilience expressed through these incredible works.
100th Anniversary Burning of Zozobra - August 30, 2024
Summer comes to a close in Santa Fe with the highly anticipated Burning of Zozobra. The towering effigy, created by a local Santa Fe artist, is a grimacing figure cloaked in black robes, gloomy and dark. As the sun sets, the fire spirit is unleashed on Zozobra. Excitement mounts as he burns, symbolizing the destruction of fear and anxiety.
Santa Fe Farmers’ Market
A visit to one of the oldest and largest growers markets in the country is a requisite while visiting Santa Fe. More than 150 farmers bring delicious, fresh produce, prepared food, and wares to sell at the thriving market held twice weekly, every Tuesday and Saturday during the summer. The market promotes sustainable agriculture in New Mexico and provides healthy food for visitors and locals alike. Everything sold at the market is grown locally in New Mexico and is sold directly by the growers and producers themselves.
Santa Fe isn’t like any other place you’ve been, and a summertime visit will leave you rejuvenated, inspired, and ready to return. To learn more and start planning your trip today, visitsantafe.com.