[blog_link url="https://golondrinas.org/" text="El Rancho de las Golondrinas" date="2016-07-12"], a living history museum just 15 miles south of downtown Santa Fe, offers immersive experiences in understanding what life was like on the remote frontiers of the Spanish Empire. The caretakers of El Rancho de las Golondrinas – professional historians and connoisseurs alike – provide fun and informative tours. There’s a range of spectacular festivals and theme weekends throughout the season that draw on the history of the ranch, providing entertainment for the whole family.
El Rancho de las Golondrinas gives visitors a view through time as well as many opportunities for hands on experiences – from grinding corn on traditional gristmills to weaving wool sheared from sheep raised on the property.
Dressed in the styles of the time period, well-informed docents will guide you through 300 years of El Rancho de las Golondrinas’ history and demonstrate the methods in which its past occupants created all things necessary for survival on the ranch.
¡VIVA MEXICO!
Experience “lucha libra” at ¡Viva Mexico! (photo courtesy of El Rancho de las Golondrinas)[blog_link url="https://golondrinas.org/festivals/viva-mexico-celebration/" text="¡Viva México!" date="2016-07-12"] is a celebration of the things Mexicans and New Mexicans do best: food, music, art and merriment. The highlight of this year’s celebration is the addition of lucha libre (a Mexican style wrestling), which is sure to add a boisterous element to the festivities. Mark your calendars! This event takes place on July 16 and 17.
Follow the scent of fresh made tortillas and carne asada to one of four tents where local restaurants prepare traditional dishes. In addition to the fragrant (and often spicy) fare, visitors can admire and purchase intricately decorated hand-made figurines, jewelry and textiles rarely found outside of Mexico.
Bulmaro Perez Mendoza, a weaver from Teotitlan del Valle in Oaxaca, Mexico will sell his beautiful naturally dyed textiles and rugs and will give a lecture on weaving and dyeing at the [blog_link url="http://spanishcolonial.org/" text="Museum of Spanish Colonial Art" date="2016-07-12"] on Thursday, July 14.
Discover folk art from Mexico at ¡Viva Mexico! (Photo courtesy of El Rancho de las Golondrinas)The music of traditional Banda groups and mesmerizingly colorful skirts of folklorico dancers complete the festive atmosphere.
The [blog_link url="http://www.ncrtd.org/" text="RTD Blue Bus" date="2016-07-12"] will be providing fare free service to ¡Viva México! on both days from the State Office Buildings lot on Paseo de Peralta and Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe Mall and the 599 Rail Runner Station.
SUMMER FESTIVAL AND WILD WEST ADVENTURES
Find out why camels were brought to the Southwest. (Photo courtesy of El Rancho de las Golondrinas)
The [blog_link url="https://golondrinas.org/festivals/summer-festival-wild-west-adventures/" text="Wild West" date="2016-07-12"] comes to life at El Rancho de las Golondrinas, complete with cowboys, shootouts and camels!
Camels?
Yup, that’s right, you’ll have the opportunity to get up close with the hump-backed desert animal and discover the lesser-known and somewhat bizarre aspect of New Mexico history that brought camels to the Southwest.
The sprawling landscapes of El Rancho de las Golondrinas make it an enchanting locale for commemorating the grit of the first cowboys of the Wild West.
Historical reenactment brings to life some intriguing figures in New Mexico history including famed gunman, lawyer and politician Elfego Baca along with the courageous trapper and mountain man James Ohio Pattie. Savor true dutch oven biscuits, learn to stamp leather, and experience reenactments of famous shootouts.
Western film enthusiasts should attend a talk on Sunday, August 7 at 12:00 pm by film historian Jeff Berg, who will focus on films shot on the ranch, including "The Missing", "Jane Got a Gun", and "Into the West". This event takes place on August 6 and 7.
SANTA FE RENAISSANCE FAIR
Here’s your chance to witness a medieval joust! (Photo courtesy of El Rancho de las Golondrinas)El Rancho de las Golondrinas is the perfect setting to experience the grandeur and the romance of the Renaissance period.
Lords and ladies, kings and queens, fantasy creatures and peasants join in merry activities in the remarkable setting, unaltered by the passage of time. Be sure to arrive decked out in your favorite Renaissance garb and brush up on your Elizabethan jargon so you can properly raise a goblet of mead and toast to a fine day of song and drink with fellow faire goers.
The ever popular Clan Tynker Family Circus returns to this year’s Renaissance Fair. (Photo courtesy of El Rancho de las Golondrinas)The ground rumbles beneath your feet as gallant jousters wield lances at full gallop and dainty fairies frolic in the cool summer breeze. As is the custom at the ranch, there are a multitude of tangible experiences, from medieval cooking to archery and sword fighting.
Jesters and jugglers amuse faire-goers of all ages with kitschy jokes and magic tricks in which jesters are sure to call upon the shyest attendee to take part in.
The will be held on September 17 and 18.
El Rancho de Golondrinas is rich in culture, history, tradition and adventure. To start planning your experience of another time in a location unlike any other in America, order our [blog_link url="http://santafe.org/Visitors_Guide/index.html" text="2016 Santa Fe traveler's guide" date="2016-07-12"] . Then, please check out all the currents [blog_link url="http://santafe.org/Visiting_Santa_Fe/Specials/" text="deals and specials" date="2016-07-12"] that Santa Fe has to offer.
This blog was written in partnership with [blog_link url="http://santafe.org/" text="TOURISM Santa Fe" date="2016-07-12"] and [blog_link url="http://santafenmtrue.com/" text="Santa Fe County" date="2016-07-12"].
