[blog_cta type="guide"text="Order 2016 Santa Fe Guide"date="2016-05-03"]
Are you ready for a vacation? It's time to start thinking about summer travel as school will soon be out, the weather will be great and the days get longer. Enjoy the festivities and events only Santa Fe, New Mexico can provide! We can tell you there are more than eight reasons why we love June in The City Different. Here are a few ideas to get you started ….we’ll let you discover the others!
Two Weekends Offer Family-Friendly Fun
Herbs and lavender are the stars at the festival on June 18th and 19th. (Photo courtesy of Rancho de las Golondrinas)
One of our favorite excursions is a trip to [blog_link url="https://golondrinas.org" text="El Rancho de las Golondrinas" date="2016-05-03"]. This outdoor living history museum has comprehensive programs detailing New Mexico life past to present. Two weekends offer family-friendly educational experiences that turn learning into hands-on entertainment. The [blog_link url="https://golondrinas.org/festivals/spring-festival-fiber-arts-fair/" text="Spring Festival" date="2016-05-03"] takes place on June 4th and June 5th. You’ll experience sheep shearing, wool dying and weaving with a fiber arts market place to shop. There will be wagon rides, bread baking and crafts for the kids.
Not to be outdone, the [blog_link url="https://golondrinas.org/festivals/herb-lavender-fair/" text="Herb and Lavender Festival" date="2016-05-03"] takes place on June 18th and 19th. Herb garden tours, lavender and herb product vendors, lectures on cultivating lavender and hands on activities round out this well-loved festival.
Captivate Your Creative Mind!
You will marvel at video, lighting and installations at CURRENTS! (Photo courtesy of CURRENTS)
Santa Fe is far from ocean waves, but there’s a distinct current of excitement about contemporary art that flows annually in June. That’s when the two-week [blog_link url="https://currentsnewmedia.org/" text="CURRENTS International New Media Festival" date="2016-05-03"] takes over El Museo Cultural. Since 2002, this feast for the eyes has wowed art-lovers with an extravaganza of cutting-edge curiosities and craftsmanship. Video and new media installations, performance art, live music, artist presentations, panels and workshops, and outdoor events all captivate the creative eye and mind––and best of all, CURRENTS events are free! CURRENTS begins on June 10th and runs through June 26th.
ARTfeast Is Pure Food Indulgence
ARTfeast Edible Art Tour patrons enjoy a dinner at the Scottish Rite Temple. (Courtesy of Artfeast)
[blog_link url="http://artfeast.org/artfeast-events/summer-edible-art-tour/" text="ARTfeast Edible Art Tour" date="2016-05-03"] (EAT) is Santa Fe’s spirited carnival of the senses, a movable feast of what we love most about our colorful city, and what we can’t wait to share with visitors. Santa Fe’s ARTfeast is where locals and temporary locals roll up our sleeves, unbutton our collars, and maybe even loosen our belts a notch or two as we dive into pure creative and food indulgence.
More than 20 galleries participate each evening from 5 to 8 pm: Friday night on Canyon Road and Saturday in the downtown and Plaza. Peruse the city’s best galleries with food and drink provided by top restaurants and caterers. ARTfeast takes place on June 10th and 11th. Buy tickets [blog_link url="https://artfeast.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/EdibleArtTour2016/tabid/738295/Default.aspx" text="here" date="2016-05-03"].
The 38th Annual Challenge New Mexico Arts & Crafts Festival
You’ll even find a lemonade stand at the Arts and Crafts Festival! (Photo courtesy of Challenge New Mexico)The 38th Annual [blog_link url="http://www.challengenewmexico.com/?page_id=33" text="Challenge New Mexico Arts & Crafts Festival" date="2016-05-03"] will be held on June 11th and 12th. This juried show takes place on the Historic Santa Fe Plaza, where the works of over 150 national and local artists are showcased. Proceeds from artists’ booth fees benefit Challenge New Mexico, a non-profit organization that provides therapeutic recreation possibilities for the disabled.
Celebrate the Photographic Arts in Santa Fe
Photo courtesy of Christine Collins for Photosummer
Now in its second year, [blog_link url="http://516arts.org/index.php/programs-link/68-events/486-photosummer-2016" text="PhotoSummer" date="2016-05-03"] is a collaborative initiative that represents and actively promotes historical and contemporary photography. PhotoSummer features photo-based programming through exhibitions, talks, workshops and more.
Beginning now and throughout the summer, 10 exhibition venues throughout Santa Fe are offering public programs for all to enjoy. [blog_link url="http://www.thefencenm.org/" text="THE FENCE" date="2016-05-03"] is one must-see outdoor photography exhibition. Each year, an international jury of photography professionals is called upon to review and select 40 photographers whose submitted work exemplifies the essence of “community” across cultural boundaries and geographical lines.
The selected works will be presented in a series of large-scale, curated outdoor exhibitions in five cities in the United States: Brooklyn, Boston, Atlanta, Houston, and now Santa Fe! THE FENCE exhibit runs July 9th through September 30th, 2016 in [blog_link url="https://www.railyardsantafe.com/open-spaces/" text="Railyard Park" date="2016-05-03"] and will include a section highlighting the work of New Mexico photographers.
For a complete schedule of 2016 PhotoSummer events, be sure to check out the [blog_link url="https://issuu.com/516artsabq/docs/photosummer2016_guide" text="PhotoSummer 2016 Guide" date="2016-05-03"].
Fantase Fest Comes to DeVargas Park
The evening will also include local bands on two different stages, food trucks, a skate jam in the skate park, performances, and more. (Photo courtesy of TOURISM Santa Fe)
Located in historic, downtown Santa Fe at the iconic DeVargas Park, [blog_link url="http://www.creativesantafe.org/initiative-fantase.html" text="FANTASE Fest" date="2016-05-03"] is a unique nighttime event where a diverse mix of thousands of people gather to celebrate innovative art, performance, local food and music, and community engagement. FANTASE Fest 2016 transforms downtown Santa Fe into an extravaganza of light, art, music, and vitality. The new media interactive light festival takes place on June 18th.
Rodeo de Santa Fe
Rodeo participants line up in the arena before the rodeo. (Photo courtesy of TOURISM Santa Fe)
[blog_link url="http://rodeodesantafe.org/" text="Rodeo de Santa Fe" date="2016-05-03"] is ready to welcome you to town with the Rodeo Parade on Saturday, June 18th. The parade kicks off the 2016 Rodeo de Santa Fe season Find your shady spot on the downtown route before 11:00 a.m., when the [blog_link url="http://rodeodesantafe.org/rodeo-parade/" text="Rodeo Parade" date="2016-05-03"] begins.
All of the rodeo action begins on June 22nd through June 25th at the Rodeo Grounds. Your ticket ensures entry to join a foot-stompin’ crowd of enthusiasts cheering for barrel-racers and remarkable roping, but we also love the children’s Mutton-Bustin’event!
Santa Fe Pride
Immerse yourself in rainbow colors and celebrate Santa Fe pride. (Photo courtesy of TOURISM Santa Fe)
We’re proud of everything Santa Fe has to share with those who visit and we’re also proud to be a diverse and welcoming community. Celebrate [blog_link url="http://www.santafehra.org/" text="Santa Fe Pride" date="2016-05-03"] with us on Saturday, June 25th. The Santa Fe Pride on the Plaza festivities begin with a parade from the Capitol, winding up Old Santa Fe Trail to the Plaza. Booths and entertainment will take place on the Plaza until 6:00 pm, where stage performer Fantine will headline Pride on the Plaza’s entertainment that day.
With all of these ideas, are you ready to plan your summer trip to Santa Fe? If your answer is yes, start today and order your [blog_link url="http://santafe.org/Visitors_Guide/index.html" text="2016 Santa Fe travel guide" date="2016-05-03"]. Make your June adventure even more special by checking out our [blog_link url="http://santafe.org/Visiting_Santa_Fe/Specials/" text="deals and specials" date="2016-05-03"].
