Winter
December
For many locals and visitors, this is Santa Fe's most magical month. Holiday spirit fills the air, along with the earthy scent of piņon wood that residents burn in fireplaces to warm their houses. Snow blankets the mountains and typically the downtown streets and adobe buildings, too, creating a winter wonderland and a skier's paradise, with temperatures averaging a high of 44 and a low of 19 degrees. It's an ideal time for ice skating, sledding and building a snowman, or hiking snowy mountain trails. It's also a time to celebrate movies during the annual Santa Fe Film Festival, a lively a week of screenings, panels and parties held around town in early December.
There's no place like Santa Fe during this sacred season. The city's unique blend of Native American, Hispanic and Anglo cultures showcases traditions, ceremonies and celebrations steeped in history and heritage. And yet Santa Fe's vibrant contemporary scene ensures that this month is filled with modern offerings, too. Holiday concerts and performances take place around town all month long. Hotels and shops, decked in holiday splendor, offer special events and unique gift ideas and acclaimed restaurants serve festive meals. You can also purchase some wonderful gifts reflecting the city's Spanish Colonial roots at the annual Winter Spanish Market in early December.
Throughout December the city is aglow with farolitos, small sand-filled bags lit from within by votive candles. On Christmas Eve, farolito fervor culminates in the traditional Canyon Road Farolito Walk, one of Santa Fe's most popular holiday traditions. Friends, families and visitors sing carols as they walk the streets, which are lit by thousands of farolitos and dozens of luminarias--small bonfires said to have illuminated the way for the Three Wise Men to find the infant Jesus.
Many pueblos perform traditional dances during the holidays. On Christmas Eve, some pueblos hold sundown torchlight processions. In mid-December, Pojoaque Pueblo holds its annual Feast of Guadalupe, with traditional dances and a community feast. Las Posadas, a traditional Spanish outdoor play performed in the Plaza area, portrays the search by Mary and Joseph for a room on Christmas Eve. And the Palace of the Governor holds its annual holiday celebration that combines Native American, Hispanic and Anglo Christmas traditions with caroling, dances and food.
January
Covered in a soft blanket of powdery snow, Santa Fe slows down after the holiday season, and locals embrace this quiet--and coldest--month of the year. January nights dip down to 19 degrees on average, but the days warm up, with the average high reaching 42 degrees.
This is a great time to hit the slopes at the Santa Fe Ski area. The lift lines are shorter and the trails less crowded. It's also an ideal time to catch one of the current museum exhibits, a local band at a Santa Fe nightclub or a new artist premiering work in one of the city's innovative galleries. Check the Lensic Performing Arts Center's calendar to see which international dance group, symphony, popular musician or theatrical group is coming to town. Despite the slower season, Santa Fe's events calendar offers an impressive selection for every taste.
Most pueblos perform traditional seasonal dances in early January, including on New Year's Day. Check the SantFe.org calendar for a listing of these powerful performances that include drumming, chanting and intricate footwork passed down through the centuries.
Locals in a post-holidaze mood often give themselves a gift this time of year--a day devoted to relaxation and rejuvenation in one of Santa Fe's soothing spas. After an herbal body wrap, a salt glow, a soak in a hot tub and an expert massage, any tired body feels renewed and ready for the New Year.
February
February is the month to celebrate the City Romantic, even if you're not a fan of Valentine's Day. The sunsets in the late afternoon cast soft glows of purple and pink across the snow-covered mountains and illuminate the city's earth-toned adobe buildings with gold. You don't have to wait for a table at the local cafes, restaurants and brewpubs, so it's a great time for an intimate meal or a celebratory night out on the town.
Foodies turn out for the annual Souper Bowl, in which local chefs battle it out for the Best Soup awards, judged by the crowds. A few weekends later, the popular ARTFeast pairs galleries with restaurants whose chefs prepare edible art that tastes as good as it looks. The event includes a fashion show, a boutique wine tasting and a tour of homes showcasing fine art.
February is ideal for snowbirds, with daily high temperatures averaging 48 degrees and nightly low temperatures cold enough for snow at 24 degrees average. After a perfect day in the mountains snowshoeing, snowboarding, cross-country or alpine skiing, relax in front of a kiva fireplace with a cup of Mayan hot chocolate, spiced with red chile, or a glass of award-winning wine crafted in New Mexico or. Or reward yourself in a spa with an organic body treatment followed by a soak in a hot tub. If you're here during a snowfall, you may simply want to find a cozy spot with a great view and watch the silvery, soft flakes dance to the ground. After a perfect meal in one of Santa Fe's revered restaurants, be inspired by a concert, a play or a dance performance.
There's no place like Santa Fe during this sacred season. The city's unique blend of Native American, Hispanic and Anglo cultures showcases traditions, ceremonies and celebrations steeped in history and heritage. And yet Santa Fe's vibrant contemporary scene ensures that this month is filled with modern offerings, too. Holiday concerts and performances take place around town all month long. Hotels and shops, decked in holiday splendor, offer special events and unique gift ideas and acclaimed restaurants serve festive meals. You can also purchase some wonderful gifts reflecting the city's Spanish Colonial roots at the annual Winter Spanish Market in early December.
Many pueblos perform traditional dances during the holidays. On Christmas Eve, some pueblos hold sundown torchlight processions. In mid-December, Pojoaque Pueblo holds its annual Feast of Guadalupe, with traditional dances and a community feast. Las Posadas, a traditional Spanish outdoor play performed in the Plaza area, portrays the search by Mary and Joseph for a room on Christmas Eve. And the Palace of the Governor holds its annual holiday celebration that combines Native American, Hispanic and Anglo Christmas traditions with caroling, dances and food.
January
This is a great time to hit the slopes at the Santa Fe Ski area. The lift lines are shorter and the trails less crowded. It's also an ideal time to catch one of the current museum exhibits, a local band at a Santa Fe nightclub or a new artist premiering work in one of the city's innovative galleries. Check the Lensic Performing Arts Center's calendar to see which international dance group, symphony, popular musician or theatrical group is coming to town. Despite the slower season, Santa Fe's events calendar offers an impressive selection for every taste.
Most pueblos perform traditional seasonal dances in early January, including on New Year's Day. Check the SantFe.org calendar for a listing of these powerful performances that include drumming, chanting and intricate footwork passed down through the centuries.
Locals in a post-holidaze mood often give themselves a gift this time of year--a day devoted to relaxation and rejuvenation in one of Santa Fe's soothing spas. After an herbal body wrap, a salt glow, a soak in a hot tub and an expert massage, any tired body feels renewed and ready for the New Year.
February
Foodies turn out for the annual Souper Bowl, in which local chefs battle it out for the Best Soup awards, judged by the crowds. A few weekends later, the popular ARTFeast pairs galleries with restaurants whose chefs prepare edible art that tastes as good as it looks. The event includes a fashion show, a boutique wine tasting and a tour of homes showcasing fine art.
February is ideal for snowbirds, with daily high temperatures averaging 48 degrees and nightly low temperatures cold enough for snow at 24 degrees average. After a perfect day in the mountains snowshoeing, snowboarding, cross-country or alpine skiing, relax in front of a kiva fireplace with a cup of Mayan hot chocolate, spiced with red chile, or a glass of award-winning wine crafted in New Mexico or. Or reward yourself in a spa with an organic body treatment followed by a soak in a hot tub. If you're here during a snowfall, you may simply want to find a cozy spot with a great view and watch the silvery, soft flakes dance to the ground. After a perfect meal in one of Santa Fe's revered restaurants, be inspired by a concert, a play or a dance performance.