Holiday Events in Santa Fe

If you plan on being in Santa Fe, New Mexico for the 2006 holiday season, there are plenty of events and celebrations scheduled this year. You don't need to look very far for something to get your in the spirit of the holidays. Tree lighting events, Christmas parades, holiday music and festivities for the entire family can be found. Many events are free and some charge an admittance fee, but there will be something for everyone, both young and old. Just get ready to go out and enjoy the beauty of the season in Santa Fe, New Mexico this year.

18th Annual Winter Spanish Market
This wonderful annual holiday event runs from December 2 & 3, 2006. The 18th Annual Winter Spanish Market, on Saturday and Sunday (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.), December 2 & 3, is located at El Museo Cultural in Santa Fe. Winter Market features handcrafted traditional arts by 100 local Hispanic artists, continuous music, art demonstrations and regional foods, and provides a unique opportunity for visitors to enjoy a taste of New Mexico's vibrant Spanish culture, both past and present. Admission is free to the public.

The traditional artforms featured each year at Winter Market include the following:
Santos - depictions of religious figures in the forms of bultos (carvings in the round),
retablos (paintings on wooden panels), and gesso and wood relief-carved panels.
Hide Paintings - religious images painted on deer or elk hide
Straw Appliqué - crosses, chests and boxes decorated with applied straw
Textiles - hand-woven on looms using handspun yarns
Furniture - usually made from pine using mortise and tenon joints
Colcha - unique regional embroideries employing the colcha stitch
Tinwork - decorative and utilitarian objects of cut and punched tin
Ironwork - tools, fastenings, and household objects forged from iron
Precious Metals - silver or gold jewelry, utilitarian and devotional objects
Pottery - hand-sculpted bowls, pots, and other ware made from micaceous clay
Bonework - decorative items, anillos (rings) and tool handles carved from bones
Ramilletes - decorative paper garlands
Basketry - baskets handwoven from red and brown river willow

Palace of the Governors-Christmas at the Palace
This event is held on December 9, 2005, at 5:15pm. There will be an open house with lots of music, a visit from Santa, and refreshments. Bring the whole family for an evening of fun in the beautiful and majestic Governors Palace to make the holiday season magical.

Las Posadas
On December 11, 2005, at 7pm, luminaries will light the Plaza as visitors join the traditional search for shelter with Mary and Joseph. The procession ends in the Courtyard with carols and refreshments. Visit http://www.palaceofthegovernors.org/ for more information.

Canyon Road
Drive down on December 24, 2005 sunset - 10 p.m. and see the area decorated with Christmas lights. Children will love the site are you drive or walk down the Canyon Road. There will be hundreds of strollers on Christmas Eve. Vendors serve apple cider as people sing carols around bonfires. Watch for the flying farolitos.

Noche Buena
At St. Francis Cathedral, 131 Cathedral Pl., Santa Fe on December 24, Midnight.
The midnight mass at St. Francis Cathedral is one of the most beautiful in the state. This is a truly moving experience that the entire family will remember.

The Santa Fe Plaza
On December 24, the Santa Fe Plaza is decorated with thousands of farolitos or luminaries. Cider is served, carols are sung, and groups take farolito-lined walks to the nearby Cross of the Martyrs.

Whatever your preference, whatever makes the holidays special for you, Santa Fe will most likely have it ready and waiting this year. Whether it's the soft glow of twinkling lights on fragrant pine trees or a cup of hot chocolate while you watch the Christmas parade, you can find it here. Put on your Santa hat, jingle bells, candy cane socks and a smile and head out into the holiday season ready to experience the joy in Santa Fe, New Mexico this winter. The magic of the holiday is just around the corner.