Pack your bags for an enchanting spring getaway in Santa Fe County. A fun-filled Memorial Day road trip along one of America’s Byways will take you through stunning landscapes and historic mining towns with eclectic shops and great places to dine. In the old coal-mining town of Madrid, the streets are lined with galleries, cafes and an historic tavern. The whole town turns out for crawfish and live blues music during an annual spring festival. At celebrated artisan markets, browse beautiful handcrafted treasures. Cheer on the adorable competitors in a beloved burro race and get outdoors for water play and horseback riding. When hunger strikes, fuel up on mouth-watering fare. All of this and so much more awaits you this season in Santa Fe County.
Road Trippin' on the Historic Turquoise Trail
An exciting road trip down the historic Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway (N.M. 14) this Memorial Day weekend takes you to Los Cerrillos, a former mining town. If the village and surrounding landscape look familiar, that’s because they’ve appeared in film and TV productions, including “Young Guns” and “Longmire.” Walk the streets of the opera house and other historic buildings. Buy turquoise, which was mined in this area for more than a millennium, and other gifts at the Casa Grande Trading Post. Try the Black Jack Ketchum burger, spiked with gun-powder rub, at the famous Blackbird Saloon, a friendly eating spot housed in a restored 1880s building.
Further south lies Madrid, a small town with a big history. Gold fever broke out in the mid 1800s followed by a boom in coal mining when Madrid became a “company town.” The mine shut down and Madrid became a ghost town, until a group of artists resurrected it in the 1970s. Browsing Madrid’s shops, galleries and restaurants reveals the quirky vibe of this town. Dig into a hearty green chile cheeseburger at the historic Mine Shaft Tavern then treat yourself at Shugarman’s Little Chocolate Shop to some fair trade, organic dark chocolate with hibiscus flowers with lemon and ginger. After a day of adventure, head to Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort and relax in an oasis of hot spring-fed pools with blissful spa services.
Fantastic Fare
In the 1950s, people started lining up at Bobcat Bite, a tiny restaurant housed in a former roadside trading post. The burgers became legendary. When the restaurant closed in 2013, fans around the country mourned. That is, until celebrated African chef Ahmed Obo, owner of the African-influenced Jambo Café in Santa Fe, bought the property and opened Jambo Bobcat Bite in 2023. The restaurant serves a lunch menu offering cinnamon-dusted fried plantains, jerk chicken enchiladas and other flavorful fare. In honor of Bobcat Bite’s claim to fame, Chef Obo has kept the green chile cheeseburger on the menu.
Come hungry to the 20th Anniversary Crawdaddy Blues Fest and pile your plate high with boiled crawfish, crawfish corn pie, crawfish boudin, and green chile blue crab cakes. Save room for boiled and fried Gulf shrimp, chicken and sausage gumbo and Texas BBQ. Dance to live music played from three stages—inside the historic Mine Shaft Tavern, outside on the Mine Shaft Cantina’s Deck and on the main stage at the Madrid Railyard Amphitheater.
Free parking is available above the Madrid Ballpark with free shuttle service to the event.
Please drink responsibly and always choose a designated driver.
Saturday, May 16 through Sunday, May 17, 2026
Magnificent Artisan Markets
Indigenous fashion is stylishly stunning, cutting edge yet reflecting tradition. The latest designs are showcased at the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA)’s Native Fashion Week. This year’s event has been curated to a more intimate weekend devoted to Native fashion, creativity and storytelling. The Native Creatives Market spotlights ready-to-wear Native fashion and designers in a trunk-show ambience. The event’s highlight, A Taste of Native Fashion, blends fashion with a sit-down culinary experience.
Friday, May 8 through Saturday, May 9, 2026
The Santa Fe Railyard Park becomes a swirling celebration of colors, pageantry and music when nearly 148 folk artists, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, bring their gorgeous textiles, jewelry, clothing, ceramics, paintings and other handcrafted items to the 22nd International Folk Art Market. Meet artists from 48 countries and learn about their art forms and communities. The world’s largest folk art market includes live world music, dance and food from award-winning local restaurants.
Thursday, July 9 through Sunday July 12, 2026
Immerse Yourself in the living history of Spanish Colonial Art at the 72nd Annual Traditional Spanish Market on the Santa Fe Plaza. Shop unique and beautiful devotional art, weaving, tin work, jewelry and other traditional Spanish Colonial arts and crafts. Enjoy art demonstrations, live music, dancing and regional foods. Admire the diversity of New Mexico Hispanic art at the world’s largest Contemporary Hispanic Market, which takes place simultaneously.
Saturday, July 25 through Sunday, July 26, 2026
For more than a century, artists from some 200 tribal nations from across North America participating in the SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market have captivated shoppers with their traditional exquisitely handcrafted jewelry, pottery, basketry, textiles and other work. More than 1,000 artists gather on the Santa Fe Plaza for the world’s largest juried Native arts show and Santa Fe County’s biggest event of the year. This lively celebration of Native arts and culture includes music, dances and food.
Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, 2026
Outdoor Adventures
Explore a wonderland of water at Nambé Falls & Lake Recreation Area. The double-drop waterfall and peaceful lake are located about a half-hour’s drive north of Santa Fe. Two short hiking trails lead to the dramatic falls. After admiring their majestic beauty, rent a kayak onsite or bring your paddleboard and explore the lake, surrounded by the scenic Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Enjoy a picnic in a shaded area with tables.
For a wild and scenic river adventure, take an overnight rafting trip along the Rio Chama with the Santa Fe Rafting Company. Or ride the Rio Grande on a half-day Racecourse trip, with a six-mile section of class III rapids. For a calm outing, take a half-day float along the Orilla Verde section. Whatever level of river thrills you seek, Santa Fe Rafting Company will give you an epic adventure.
Riding a horse through high-desert country is exhilarating. On the back of a smooth-gaited Tennessee Walker or a Missouri Trotter, you’ll travel through historic turquoise mining country and the Cerrillos Hills State Park to a hilltop with spectacular views of three mountain ranges, led by the friendly, experienced guides with Turquoise Hills Riding Co.
Treasured Trails
We are thrilled to share Santa Fe has been announced as an IMBA Trail Town by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. The IMBA Trail Town designation is a new national recognition honoring places that have made exceptional commitments to “developing, stewarding, and celebrating trail systems that strengthen community life.” We’re proud and honored to be one of the communities shaping the future of outdoor recreation.
Gravel bikes are great for exploring our diverse riding terrain and our Gravel Adventure Field Guide has all you need to know about gravel rides across Santa Fe County. The guide includes GPS gravel routes, art, stories and local insight. Pick up your free copy at a visitors center or a local bike shop.
Stay and Play
An RV Paradise
This Memorial Day Weekend, set up your home away from home at Santa Fe Skies RV Park, located on the Turquoise Trail with breathtaking views of Santa Fe and the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez mountains. The pet-friendly, family-owned park bills itself as “Big Rig Friendly,” with 55 pull-through sites for large motor coaches and travel trailer rigs. Take an evening stroll on the walking trail and watch a glorious sunset, then relax beneath a canopy of stars.
Exciting Events
Dashing Burros
Burros are a barrel of fun when they’re racing with their humans in the annual Turquoise Trail Pack Burro Race. The two course race includes a 2.5-mile and 6-mile race route that starts on Main Street in Cerrillos and winds through the historic Cerrillos Hills State Park. The race originated in Colorado to promote the pack burro’s role in American mining communities.
May 2, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Art in the Park
While the burros compete, artists from the Turquoise Trail area bring their jewelry, metal art, paintings and other works to the 11th Annual Amigos’ Art in the Park in the Cerrillos Hills State Park Visitor Center. Shop for handcrafted treasures and enjoy live music and food while you wait for the winning burros to cross the finish line.
Saturday, May 2, 2026, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Literary Lions
Storytelling connects us all, celebrating our shared humanity and transforming our lives. Since 2022, the Santa Fe International Literary Festival has featured some of the world’s renowned authors. This year’s event brings more than 40 local and global authors and thinkers to the stage for profound experiences with story, including Judy Blume, Colm Tóibín and Carl Hiaasen.
May 15 through May 17, 2026
Epic Opera
The 2026 Santa Fe Opera opens on July 3 with Puccini’s longtime festival favorite, “Madama Butterfly.” The season runs through August 29th and includes Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin,” the company premiere of Handel’s “Rodelinda” and the American premiere of “Lili Elbe. The lively pre-performance tailgates in the parking lot are part of the joy of attending the Santa Fe Opera. Find all the tailgating tips on our website.
Living History
El Rancho de las Golondrinas 2026 season opens on June 11 and runs through October 23. The premier living history museum of the Southwest celebrates New Mexico’s rich cultural heritage with historic buildings, costumed villagers, tours and activities. The museum launches its festival season with the Santa Fe Spring Festival, featuring sheep shearing, weaving demonstrations, traditional Hispanic dance, Indigenous dancers and plenty of other family-fun events.
Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, 2026
Pride Santa Fe 2026
The celebration of Santa Fe’s PRIDE 2026 lasts all month long in June and last year drew more than 15,000 celebrants. Highlights include a festive parade of decked out floats, cars, trucks and motorcycles, and the Festival on the Plaza, a gathering of community organizations, nonprofits, local businesses and artists, with more than 100 booths. Events around town include the Pride Train on Sky Railway, a Trash Disco Party and Drag Bingo at Tumbleroot Brewery, and Pride {after dark} at Meow Wolf.
June, 2026
Rodeo de Santa Fe
World Champion cowgirls and cowboys compete in the Rodeo de Santa Fe, which began in 1949 and today, remains one of the top 60 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeos in the country. Bull riding, barrel racing and Mutton Bustin’ for the little ones are all crowd favorites.
June 24-June 27, 2026
We’re looking forward to seeing you! For more information, and to plan your next getaway, please visit SantaFeNMTrue.com and be sure to follow us on social media.
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