A Santa Fe Christmas

Christmas in Santa Fe has holiday traditions all its own. Candlelit farolitos line the snowy streets and buildings, crowds fill the streets singing Christmas carols by open fires, and the scent of pinon firewood fills the air.

Guests at Bishop's Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa can enjoy a variety of special events including a Christmas Grand Buffet, a New Year's Eve Dinner, and a peppering of scheduled chef demonstrations, tours, and Christmas movies for children.

The Christmas Grand Buffet will be served from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, December 25. Reservations are required. The cost of the buffet is $49 per person, $39 for seniors and $19 for children 5 and up.

Christmas movies will be offered from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 22-28 and Dec. 30-31 in the El Charro Room of the Central Lodge.

Breakfast with Santa will be offered on Dec. 24 at Las Fuentes Restaurant from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

A Hot Chocolate Social will be hosted Dec. 24-31 at Las Fuentes Restaurant from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

A Candle light tour of Bishop Lamy's Chapel will be offered at 6 p.m. Dec. 24, starting in the lobby. Bishop's Lodge celebrated its 90th anniversary as a resort last year, and is home to the historic Lamy Chapel, built by New Mexico's first bishop, Jean-Baptiste Lamy in 1853.

A Cooking Demonstration will be offered December 26 and 27 at Las Fuentes Restaurant at 11:00 a.m.

An Art Tour will be offered Dec. 26 and 27 at 1 p.m., starting in the lobby. Santa Fe is one of the top art markets in the world. Since the days of the artist colonies in Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico has been subject, background and inspiration for artists. Bishop's Lodge has a notable art collection and tours are available. Included in the collection are four sizeable paintings by Warren E. Rollins, who, in the 1920s, was one of the first white artists allowed to visit many of the local Indian Pueblos and paint what he saw there.

A New Year's Eve Dinner and Dancing will be offered on Thursday, December 31 from 7 p.m. to midnight. The evening will include live music and party favors for welcoming in the new year. Cost is $69 per couple.

On-site activities offered at Bishop's Lodge include horseback riding, tennis, skeet and trap shooting, hiking, mountain biking, badminton, horseshoes and croquet.

Amenities include the award-winning ShaNah Spa and Wellness Center, fitness room, movement studio for daily yoga, TaiChi and pilates classes, heated outdoor swimming pool, fine dining, poolside bar and grill, and Camp Appaloosa Kids' Camp.

Summer events include Cowboy Cookouts Friday from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and live music and dancing are offered on Saturday nights.

The Bishop's Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa offers the resort-style family vacations, weddings, and conference facilities and has been ranked by Travel & Leisure magazine as one of America's premier retreats.

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