This spring Santa Fe is filled with fresh events as the city hosts a new art fair, opens the doors to the just created New Mexico History Museum, welcomes a cross-country road rally to town, and looks ahead to the city's 400th Anniversary commemoration starting later in the year. Join us as winter fades and take advantage of the many savings specials being offered throughout town. Look for a current list of values here:
www.santafe.org/Visiting_Santa_Fe/Specials/index.html

The International Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair (SOFA), held for 15 years in Chicago and 11 years in New York, makes its debut in Santa Fe, June 11-14, 2009. SOFA West: Santa Fe will
take place at the new Santa Fe Community Convention Center
featuring the work of hundreds of artists represented by 40 elite national and international galleries. The Opening Night Preview, June 10, benefits the New Mexico Museum of Art and its inaugural Design Collection. Long heralded as the nation's premier fair for contemporary decorative arts and design, SOFA West is a powerful addition to Santa Fe's already stellar line up of art fairs, markets, and gallery events. www.sofaexpo.com

The doors of the newly created New Mexico History Museum will open to the public for the first time during Memorial Day Weekend, May 24, 2009. The state-of-the-art, immersive, interactive exhibition on New Mexico's complex and colorful stories will forever banish the notion of history as boring and un-engaging. The multi-media environment explores the early history of indigenous people through 400 years of Spanish colonization, the Mexican Period, and travel and commerce on the Santa Fe Trail. The museum also speaks to the flourishing of New Mexico's world-renowned arts communities and the coming of the Atomic Age. "The New Mexico History Museum will be the starting place for the New Mexico cultural experience," said New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. The new museum is located directly behind the Palace of the Governors, the oldest continuously occupied building in the country, right on the Santa Fe Plaza. The Palace will be incorporated into the 96,000 square foot complex as the signature, and most important, artifact for the History Museum, which is set to redefine the model of a history museum.
www.nmhistorymuseum.org

The 11th Annual Gumball 3000 Rally brings all of the music, fashion, celebrities, and exotic cars the event is famous for to the Santa Fe Plaza on May 4 as part of the 2009 "Coast to Coast" multi-media extravaganza and car rally. A 3,000 mile, sea to shining sea road trip from Los Angeles to Miami will showcase 120 of the most fantastic cars ever built including vintage, customized, luxury, and sports cars, alongside America's finest muscle cars and today's greenest hybrid and electric vehicles. The whole entourage will surround the Plaza with automobiles and fill it with live music when the group arrives in town on the evening of May 4. A focal point for fashion designers, athletes, musicians, film artists, and cultural tastemakers, the Gumball 3000 unites people through popular culture and the language of the motorcar. It is sure to make for an exciting couple of days in Santa Fe. www.gumball3000.com.


For 2009 Santa Fe was designated one of the country's Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic
Preservation. The annual awards are presented to cities that offer cultural and recreational experiences different from the typical vacation destination. Of Santa Fe the National Trust said, "One of the best-preserved cities in the United States, Santa Fe is an ancient city with a distinctive architecture borne out of its remote location and use of local materials. Dozens of historic sites transport visitors back in time, from ancient Native American ruins and Spanish Colonial churches to mining towns and remnants of the nation's Wild West frontier days." Santa Fe's Old World Charm and living history mixes with its sophisticated sense of style creating a town with one foot proudly in the past and another firmly planted in the here, now, and beyond.


New from late last year are the Santa Fe Railyard and the beginning of train service from Albuquerque aboard the New Mexico Rail Runner Express. The Railyard quickly proved to be a popular place for music, the weekly Santa Fe Farmers Market, shopping, art, kid's activities, and time spent wandering through the large park. The Rail Runner immediately proved its worth with record ridership as shoppers, site seers, and commuters from both cities took advantage of the affordable lift between towns.

Looking ahead to later in the year, Santa Fe begins its 400th Anniversary events with Viva! Santa Fe on Labor Day Weekend, September 5, 6, and 7, 2009. Three days of dance, art, music, local foods, celebrities, and visits from the heads of state of the U.S., Spain, Mexico, and Native America are planned. The weekend will come to a close with a giant fireworks display as a live, 400-person chorus provides the soundtrack. Set in Fort Marcy Park on the edge of downtown Santa Fe, Viva! Santa Fe will kickoff 16 months of non-stop anniversary action from an art series to monthly Santa Fe story nights to an outdoor cinema of films shot in New Mexico to a national classroom webcast to special Anniversary editions of many of Santa Fe's signature events. Also planned are a special concert, Sounds of Santa Fe, at the Santa Fe Opera with music commissioned specifically for the anniversary, 2 books, 2 documentaries, an interactive production, History Has a Personality featuring some of the personalities and characters who built Santa Fe into an American cross
cultural cornerstone, a New Year's Eve Legacy Ball, and much more. Check for updated information at www.santafe400th.com

Spring Calendar of Events
A sampling of some of what's going on in and around Santa Fe this spring. For complete listings take a look at www.santafe.org/Calendar

MARCH 2009
21 Get your salsa on in the Mambo room, located at The LODGE at Santa Fe, with this monthly dance and fun-fest of classic and contemporary Latin music. 505-988-4011, www.mamboroomonline.com

25 The best of the 2008 Banff Mountain Film Festival at the Lensic Performing Arts Center, 505-988-1234, www.lensic.com

27 A celebration of Hawaiian music featuring Grammy winning musicians and Hula
dancing accompaniment at the Santa Fe Brewing Company,
www.ticketssantafe.com

27, 28 "The Language of Birds" is a family opera featuring a cast of 100 youth in a gorgeous and spirited all-ages performance at the Lensic. 505-988-1234, www.lensic.com

29 Milonga Argentinean Tango-Social Dance is a get together to celebrate the music and life of the Tango at BODY, 505-986-0362, www.bodyofsantafe.com

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APRIL 2009
4 The Museum of International Folk Art's Folk Art Flea Market, featuring a huge
selection of one-of-a-kind treasures from across the globe. 505-476-1200, www.internationalfolkart.org/folkartflea.html

5 Ski Santa Fe closes (tentative), don't miss some of the best skiing of the season beforehand. 505-982-4429, www.skisantafe.com

10, 11, 17, 18, 19 An evil ringmaster, a circus horse in love, acrobats, puppet giants and a magical etoile weave a tale of compassion and rebellion in this world debut of Wise Fool's newest touring performance. Various times,
www.wisefoolnewmexico.org.

11 Mixed repertory with new work from Cayentano Soto and Twyla Tharp's, "Sue's Leg". Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Lensic. 505-988-1234, www.lensic.com

14 TXTual Healing, an interactive performance by Paul Notzold harnesses the cell phones' Short Message Service as a medium for exploring and sharing public and physical space. SITE Santa Fe, www.sitesantafe.org

16 Poetry Jam '09: showcasing New Mexico poets in a wide variety of styles and forms. Lensic, 505-988-1234, www.lensic.com

18 Nuestra Musica, an annual celebration of the diverse regional music of northern New Mexico featuring the finest traditional musicians. Lensic, 505-988-1234, www.lensic.com

21 Watercolor Workshop: Positive and Negative Spaces, an Art & Leadership Program for Women. Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Education Annex. 505-946-1007.
www.okeeffemuseum.org

23 Mariza, remakes Fado, the traditional music of Portugal, into majestic modern music. Lensic, 505-988-1234, www.lensic.com

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MAY 2009
1 San Felipe Feast Day, San Felipe Pueblo, 505-867-3381

2-3 Civil War Weekend include skirmishes, cannon fire, famous New Mexico battle reenactments and special candlelight tours on Saturday evening. El Rancho de las Golondrinas, 505-471-2261 www.golondrinas.org

4 The Gumball 3000 Rally comes to town. All 120 rally vehicles will surround the Plaza as live music takes the Plaza stage for the evening. Don't miss this one-of-a-
kind event for fashion, music, celebrities, and of course, cars. www.gumball3000.com

6, 14 & 22 Collection Tour at IAIA Museum, a rare chance to explore the 7,000+ piece National Collection of Contemporary Native American Art at the Institute of American Indian Art Museum. Guided by the museum's Curator of Collections. 505-983-8900, www.iaiamuseum.org

15 Louder Than Words - Moving People Dance Santa Fe, a mixed repertory concert from classical works to original contemporary choreography.
www.movingpeopledance.org

15 Writing with Threads: Opening events for Traditional Textiles of Southwest Chinese Minorities. Exploring the production, uses, and meanings of the finest and rarest indigenous clothing from 15 ethnic groups. Museum of International Folk Art.
www.internationalfolkart.org

16 Eldorado Studio Tour, featuring the work of more than 100 artists exhibiting new works in their Eldorado studios. www.eldoradoarts.org

17 24th Annual Santa Fe Century with rides of 25, 50, 75, and 100 miles. Historic and incredibly scenic, Santa Fe's biggest bike event and most popular group ride.
www.santafecentury.com

22-25 Museum Weekend celebration of events and the new, New Mexico History Museum opening.
www.museumfoundation.org/museumweekend

22 Native Treasures Indian Arts Festival, a museum-quality
Indian art show featuring over 170 Native American artists.
Santa Fe Community Convention Center.
www.nativetreasuressantafe.org

24-25 New Mexico History Museum Public Grand Opening, the debut of the cutting edge museum takes place on Sunday and Family Day is on Monday.
www.nmhistorymuseum.org

24, 25 & 30, 31 Northern New Mexico Fine Arts and Crafts Guild shows at
Cathedral Park, downtown Santa Fe. www.artsandcraftsguild.org

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JUNE 2009
6,7 Spring Festival & Children's Celebration, music, dancing, and hands on activities for the whole family at El Rancho de las Golondrinas.
www.golondrinas.org

7 Santa Fe Botanical Garden Tour, a look at hidden horticultural jewels in historic Santa Fe neighborhoods.
505-988-1234, www.ticketssantafe.com

10-14 The first annual SOFA West: Santa Fe, Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair, brings the work of hundreds of artists to the Santa Fe Community Convention Center for a show and sale of contemporary decorative arts.
www.sofaexpo.com

12,13,14 The 10th Annual Thirsty Ear Festival of roots music moves to a new time of year ensuring better weather for this highly popular outdoor musical gathering. At the Eaves Movie Ranch.
www.thirstyearfestival.com

12,13,14 Santa Fe Summer Dance Festival featuring guest dancers and choreographers. Lensic, 505-988-1234,
www.lensic.com

24-27 The 60th annual Rodeo de Santa Fe, a PRCA sanctioned event, rated one of the top 100 rodeos in the country.
www.rodeodesantafe.org

25-28 Grand Prix de Santa Fe Sixth Annual Charity Event, four days of horse show-jumping events with riders from around the world. Other events include dining, auction, dancing and more to benefit New Mexico Charities.
www.grandprixdesantafe.com

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Coming Up This Summer 2009

July 3-Aug. 29 53rd Santa Fe Opera: This summer promises another outstanding season of remarkable staging, stunning costumes, and world-class musicianship.
On stage will be two of the repertory's most beloved masterworks, La Traviata, starring Natalie Dessay, and Don Giovanni, featuring young American baritone Lucas Meachem. In addition will be a new production of The Elixir of Love which has not been performed in Santa Fe for 40 years, a new production of Alceste with Christine Brewer in the challenging title role, and the world premiere of The Letter, based on W. Somerset Maugham's 1927 stage adaptation of one of his best-known short stories. Backstage tours of the opera house will be available Monday through Saturday at 9 AM starting in June and throughout the Opera season.
986-5900, 800-280-4654, www.santafeopera.org

June 23- Sept. 6 Maria Benitez Teatro Flamenco, Spanish music and dance at its best in the Maria Benitez Theater at The Lodge at Santa Fe, 505-988-1234,
www.ticketssantafe.org, http://www.hhandr.com/santafe_dining.php

July 11-12 Sixth Annual Santa Fe International Folk Art Market featuring artists from around the world in the largest market of its kind. Milner Plaza at Museum Hill,
505-476-1200, www.folkartmarket.org

July 18-19 Eight Northern Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show presenting the art of more than 300 local Pueblo artists working as jewelers, potters, sculptors, painters, wood carvers, and more. Ohkay Owingeh (formerly San Juan Pueblo).
www.nativeart.net/indianartistcalendar.php

July 19-August 24 Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. Musicians from the world's stages performing six weeks of chamber music, from Faure, Debussy, and Caplet, to Brahms, Bach, Schubert, Mozart and many more. One of the summer's
highlights.
505-983-2075, 888-221-9836, www.santafechambermusic.org/

July 23-26 Art Santa Fe International Art Fair returns after a record-breaking show last year with even more national and international contemporary galleries
and artists from all over the globe. El Museo Cultural, 505-988-8883, www.artsantafe.com

July 25-26 58th Annual Spanish Market. A show and sale of work by hundreds of artists presenting art from the rich Hispanic cultures of Northern New Mexico. On the Santa Fe Plaza.
505-982-2226, www.spanishmarket.org

August 14-16 26th Annual Antique Ethnographic Art Show. Ethnographic and tribal art from around the world. Presented by Whitehawk at the new Santa Fe Community Convention Center, 505-992-8929, whitehawkshows.com

August 17-19 31st Annual Invitational Antique Indian Art Show, the oldest and largest antique event of its type. Presented by Whitehawk at the new Santa Fe Community Convention Center
505-992-8929, whitehawkshows.com

August 22-23 88th Annual Santa Fe Indian Market. 1,200 artists from 100 tribes sell their work during the largest show of its kind in the world. On the Santa Fe
Plaza, 505-983-5220, www.swaia.org

Keep in touch with everything going on in Santa Fe at www.santafe.org