Que Viva! Santa Fe Fiesta 2013 Schedule of Events

Fiesta Mass at the Basilica Cathedral

Shouts of “Viva la Fiesta” have been heard in Santa Fe’s streets for the last 301 years. Fiesta de Santa Fe, August 31 through September 8, 2013 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is the oldest, most colorful community celebration in the nation. Along with this time-honored festival are the original burning man celebration–Zozobra–and a new event that is certain to last, the city’s first Green Chile Cheeseburger Smackdown.

The week-long Santa Fe Fiesta honors the city’s history and multi-cultural legacies with a unique blend of Spanish, Native American and American traditions. It marks the Spanish re-colonization of Santa Fe and kicks off National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 through October 15. There are parades, parties, music, and plenty of fun; but gratitude and faith are at the heart of this historic annual event.

The burning of Zozobra, a fifty-foot tall paper marionette, also known as Old Man Gloom, was conceived to be part of Fiesta by Santa Fe’s band of rambunctious artists in the 1920’s. Now in its 89^th year, Zozobra is a highlight of Fiesta as the moaning, flailing and eventually flaming character burns to the chants of thousands of spectators amid a shower of fireworks, ridding us all of our gloom and doom. 

This year a desktop Zozobra will virtually send worries up in smoke while creating a written version to be stuffed into Zozobra’s head and burned for real during the evening’s main event on September 5^th.  Look here for the Virtual Zozobra, www.santafe.org/Viva_Santa_Fe/

 

Food is always a part of festivities in Santa Fe and ¡VIVA Santa Fe! will call out one of the area’s favorite and most iconic treats during the first annual Green Chile Cheeseburger Smackdown on September 7^th. In the morning at the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market in the Railyard, the finalist restaurants, selected by thousands of public votes, will prepare their green chile cheeseburger creations to compete for the honor of the 2013 Best Green Chile Cheeseburger in Santa Fe. Each burger will be considered by a panel of judges who will choose the final winner. In addition, extra burger bites will be cooked by each competitor for a public tasting and vote to determine the winner of the People’s Choice Award. The Smackdown will be a highlight of the market’s Green Chile Harvest Festival taking place that weekend.

For a mountain escape, Ski Santa Fe will run its Super Chief quad chairlift during September weekends on a slow, spectacular ride high into the Sangre de Cristo range of the nearby Rockies. The chair begins operations with the long Labor Day holiday, August 31-September 2, when there will be music on the La Casa Lodge deck. 

There is no better time to explore Santa Fe’s colorful cultures, make new friends and join the biggest party of the year. Here is a list of the major events scheduled for Fiesta. For updates and additional details, visit www.santafe.org and www.santafefiesta.org. 

La Conquistadora

Aug. 30: First Annual ZozoFest, a Fiesta kickoff in the Santa Fe Railyard with music, an outdoor movie, the Fiesta Court, a Zozobra art show and Zozobra himself. 5:00 -10:30 PM

Aug 31–Sept 2: Fiesta Fine Arts and Crafts Market. An open-air market featuring fine, handmade items held outdoors on the Plaza.

Sept. 1: Mariachi Extravaganza. An exuberant and popular event with top mariachi groups and colorful dancing at the outdoor Santa Fe Opera Theater.

Sept. 4: Concierto de Mariachi. Two mariachi events held during the day at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. Tickets always sell out early.

Sept. 5: Burning of Zozobra. The giant puppet containing the years’ glooms is burned in an elaborate ceremony. Sponsored by Santa Fe Kiwanis, outdoors at Fort Marcy Park.

Sept. 5: Burning of Zozobra. The giant puppet containing the years’ glooms is burned in an elaborate ceremony. Sponsored by Santa Fe Kiwanis, outdoors at Fort Marcy Park.

Sept. 6: Pregon de la Fiesta. Fiesta is officially kicked off with a reading of the proclamation at Rosario Chapel. It calls for honoring the Marian statue, La Conquistadora, Nuestra Señora de la Paz, and also for “merriment by all citizens.” The ceremony is followed by hot chocolate and bizcochitos, a delicious anise cookie, for all.

Sept. 6: Fiesta Fine Arts and Crafts Market. An arts and crafts market on the Plaza.

Sept. 6–8: Food booths and music on the Plaza. Traditional northern New Mexico and other musical favorites and dance of all kinds.

Sept. 6: Entrada de Don Diego de Vargas. This re-enactment in costume explains the history of the resettlement of Santa Fe by General de Vargas, his soldiers, and Native American allies in 1692 and his promise to the statue of Mary that resides in the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. 

Pet Parade

Sept. 7: Desfile de los Niños. The always charming and hilarious parade of kids and their pets in costumes, homemade floats, etc. Adults in the parade must be accompanied by a child.

Sept. 7: Green Chile Cheeseburger Smackdown. The Santa Fe chef finalists vie over smoking grills to be crowned for the best burger. Festivities take place in the morning at the Santa Fe Railyard during the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market Green Chile Harvest Festival.

Sept. 7: La Merienda. A fashion show of traditional and antique dress from a collection maintained by La Sociedad Folklorica. Many of the garments have been passed down through generations.

Sept. 7: Gran Baile. This party is held in honor of the Fiesta court, which is chosen each year. At the Santa Fe Convention Center.

Sept. 8: Solemn Procession. The statue of Mary that deVargas returned to Santa Fe in 1692 is carried in an elaborate procession from the Palace of the Governors to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis.

Information courtesy: Santa Fe CVB 
Photography copyright: Elizabeth Rose Photography