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| 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 89th 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 5th. 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 7th.
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.
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| 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.
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| 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
Photography copyright: Elizabeth Rose Photography
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