Fall 2007
A short drive from the Santa Fe Plaza up Artist Road/Highway 475 is the trailhead for the Dale Ball Trail System located at the city limits and offering a variety of walks of different lengths.
Slightly higher up along 475-a designated New Mexico Scenic Byway-about a mile into the Santa Fe National Forest is the trailhead for the Boreggo/Bear Wallow trails located just above the Hyde Park camping area. This is a winding trail deep in a conifer and aspen forest that parallels and crosses the Tesuque Creek and offers different out and back and loop options of varying lengths.
Higher still is the Aspen Vista trailhead located at an altitude of roughly 10,000 feet. This is a prime fall walk with views of the Rio Grande Valley and a slowly climbing trail through a huge stand of aspens that form a tunnel of shimmering gold. At the top of highway 475 is the Windsor Trail which climbs to over 12,000 feet through conifer and aspen forest and leads to the 250,000 acre Pecos Wilderness area.
Also at the end of Highway 475 is Ski Santa Fe. The area runs its Super Chief, 4-person chairlift during the height of fall colors with the best views on the mountain. The chair runs at a leisurely pace through aspens and conifers, finally terminating high above the Rio Grande Valley affording a spectacular 8,000 square mile panorama. The mountain views are equally impressive both going up and back down the chairlift. Specific dates have not yet been set for this year but typically the chairlift runs for several weeks in early October. The operating dates and hours will be posted at www.skisantafe.com. Information is also available at Ski Santa Fe, 505-983-9155.
Back in town, fall means freshly-harvested green chile is being roasted all over Santa Fe, the best of the season's fresh produce is being served at area restaurants, and the city is bathed in the most glorious warm weather of the year.
Several notable events have been added to the already busy Santa Fe calendar in the coming months. Here is a look at two remarkable art exhibits and some of what else is planned for fall in Santa Fe:
September 1, 2007 - January 6, 2008: Excavating Egypt: Great Discoveries from the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
There is something about the mysteries of ancient Egyptian civilization that ignite the imagination and hold a power over explorers of most every stripe. Coming to the New Mexico Museum of Art on the Santa Fe Plaza, Excavating Egypt tells the story of William Matthew Flinders Petrie who is known as the Father of Egyptian Archaeology. He spent well over a half-century exploring Egypt and is credited with being the inspiration for the film hero Indiana Jones. 221 of his most significant objects will be on display, many never before seen by the public. The exhibition offers a view into the lives of ancient Egyptians, showcases Petrie's innovate methods and theories, and draws upon archival material including excavation notes, personal journals, and photographs to bring to life the science of archaeology in its infancy and this astounding period in history. Advance tickets can be ordered online, www.mfasantafe.org/egypt/, purchased at the museum's admissions desk, or by phone, 505-476-5059. Same day tickets may be purchased at the museum.
October 13, 2007 - January 20, 2008: Los Desaparecidos/The Disappeared
SITE Santa Fe will anchor this unprecedented arts partnership - "The Disappeared Collaborative Project" - of exhibitions, films, lectures, readings, workshops, and panel discussions. Featured are the works of Latin American artists whose lives were profoundly affected by the political upheavals in their respective countries, resulting in members of the resistance and their sympathizers being kidnapped, tortured, and killed in the latter decades of the 20th Century. Eight organizations in Santa Fe will host the various events: SITE Santa Fe; Center for Contemporary Arts; Center for Contemporary Arts Cinematheque; College of Santa Fe/Documentary Studies Program; College of Santa Fe/Marion Center for Photographic Arts; Institute of American Indian Arts Museum; Lannan Foundation; and Santa Fe Art Institute. The central exhibition, to be mounted at SITE Santa Fe, is a group show of multi-media work created by 27 artists from seven Latin American countries. Complementing the exhibition will be shows at the partnering venues by individual artists from Latin America. This traveling exhibition has already been heralded as a moving show of contemporary political art. For the complete description of events, times and places go to, www.thedisappearedsantafe.org.
Getting to Santa Fe is About to Get Easier: Starting in December, 2007 both American and Delta airlines will offer direct air service into the Santa Fe Municipal Airport. Located on the edge of the city and a short shuttle ride or drive to the heart of downtown, the airport has undergone a number of safety and security improvements, created new runways and taxiways, plus upgraded the terminal for more efficient passenger service. Flights can now be booked for Delta's daily flights to and from Salt Lake, four scheduled flights each day, and Los Angeles, two scheduled flights each day.
American's flights are also now available for booking with scheduled daily service between Dallas/Fort Worth and Santa Fe, two flights each day, and Friday/Sunday service between Los Angeles and Santa Fe, two flights each day. Both airlines will utilize quiet, efficient regional jets for their service. Great Lakes Airlines already offers 3 roundtrip daily flights in 19 passenger planes between Denver and the Santa Fe airport.
September 26 - 30: Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta
One of Santa Fe's most lively fall events, the Wine & Chile Fiesta brings together some of the country's best vintners, chefs, food and wine experts, and Santa Fe restaurants for five days of cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, auctions, and wine maker dinners. www.santafewineandchile.org/
One of the few wildlife film festivals in the world, the fourth annual Wild Film! festival holds a Santa Fe event debuting 2 feature-length films, Sharkwater on Friday and Edge of Eden; Living With Grizzlies on Saturday. Each has received numerous awards and portrays amazing naturalists living in close and peaceful contact with these wild animals. There is a selection of shorter films each night as well and a specially programmed, "Shorts for Shorties," Saturday matinee for kids. Shows are at 7:00 PM Friday and Saturday evenings at the Lensic Performing Arts Center; the kids matinee is at 1:00 PM on Saturday at the Jean Cocteau Theater. Tickets, $15 adults, $5 kids, are available at the Lensic box office, 505-988-1234, www.lensic.org, for the Friday and Saturday evening events and at the door of the Jean Cocteau for the Shorts for Shorties matinee, $5 per person. riversandbirds.org/index.php?taos_wildlife_film_fest
October 4th: St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day
The Nambe Pueblo, located north of Santa Fe, will hold its annual St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day on the Saint's traditional day of celebration, October 4. The day honors St. Francis' love of all creatures and is a traditional community festival including food and dancing. Nambe Pueblo, 505-455-2036.
October 7 - 8: El Rancho de Las Golondrinas Harvest Festival
El Rancho de Las Golondrinas is a living museum of Spanish Colonial life and a Santa Fe family favorite. Bring in the harvest with the villagers of El Rancho de Las Golondrinas as they crush grapes for wine by foot, grind sorghum with the help of burros, string colorful ristras, bake bizcochitos in the horno, and turn out tortillas off the comal. Featuring music, dancing, artisans, and much more, Harvest Festival is a fall highlight. www.golondrinas.org/
A showcase of design in all its forms, Santa Fe Design Week underscores why the city was selected as the first UNESCO city in the U.S. in design. This year's event features numerous speakers, an exposition of New Mexico design businesses, a panel discussion on interior design, a series of conferences on design issues, separate fashion and trunk shows, music, parties, and a three day exhibition of graphic, architecture, multimedia, fashion, and furniture design. Events will be held at various locations around Santa Fe. For complete details and the latest information check in with www.designweeksantafe.com/.
Throughout the Fall: Studio Tours
Fall is the season for annual open studio tours held in mountain towns, valley villages and other communities surrounding Santa Fe. This is a great time to tour northern New Mexico and view the golden aspen and cottonwood trees. You'll also see an impressive selection of paintings, photography, woodcarvings, weavings, jewelry, clothing and much more created by innovative area artists who open up their studios to visitors. Many of the tours include traditional foods of New Mexico. Check the online studio tour schedule at www.santafe.org/Visiting_Santa_Fe/Things_to_Do/Annual_Events/index.html.
Held at the Tesuque Pueblo just outside Santa Fe, this is a traditional feast day with various dances, food, and a gathering of the community. Tesuque is one of the oldest Pueblos in the Southwest, established about 1250. 505-983-2667 or visit www.indianpueblo.org/
November 28 - December 2: Eighth Annual Santa Fe Film Festival
This is one of the fastest growing festivals in North America featuring films in five categories: Independent American-made narrative films; Documentaries; Films of any genre made outside the U.S.; Art films of any length celebrating the creative spirit; and the Southwest Showcase of films made in the Southwest regions. Parties, lectures, awards and more make this one of Santa Fe's most entertaining five days. santafefilmfestival.com/
December 1 - 2: Winter Spanish Market
The 19th annual Winter Spanish Market will be held this year at the Parish Hall at Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community, 11 College Avenue off Richards Avenue. The market is a Santa Fe exclusive featuring handcrafted traditional arts by 100 local Hispanic artists, continuous music, art demonstrations, and regional foods. Admission is free to this festival of New Mexico's vibrant Spanish culture. www.spanishmarket.org/
Looking ahead, Santa Fe will begin its 400th Anniversary events in 2008, building up to the big commemoration during the summer of 2010. Keep in touch with everything that is being planned through the website, www.santafe.org.
For a free Santa Fe Visitors Guide and additional information, contact the Santa Fe Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-777-2489 or request a guide online