What’s New?

WHAT’SNew?

This 413-year-old city just keeps evolving with everthoughtful plans for honoring its history and culture, and designing creative blueprints for the future. And 2023 has arrived with new traditions to share. Come experience a bit of the old and a bit of the new!

The Railyard District gets more exciting by the day! In its second year, Sky Railway, Santa Fe’s adventure entertainment train, resurrected from refurbished Santa Fe Southern Railway engines, is your ticket to a curated theatrical, playful, environmental, astronomic experience as it rolls along the 18-mile stretch of track between Santa Fe and Lamy depots. And speaking of depots, Santa Fe’s recently renovated historic depot at the terminus again welcomes visitors who have questions about where to go and what to do in The City Different.

Just a block away, the New Mexico Museum of Art has expanded into a second exciting location called the Vladem Contemporary, which will feature contemporary and post-war artwork. The 35,000-square-foot exhibition space, a former 1930’s brick-and-steel warehouse, allows for large-scale installations, multimedia projects, education, and performance-based works that are central to 21st-century artistic practice. The architecture is equally 21st century! After your immersive and contemporary art experiences, be sure to grab a table at one of the many delicious eateries in the Railyard neighborhood, where a great craft beer or cocktail is always on offer.

If sipping spirits and suds is your thrill, don’t miss the new tasting rooms that complement the venerable Gruet Winery and Santa Fe Spirits. Sample Albuquerque-based Los Poblanos’ botanical spirits in the speakeasyesque bar at their new Plaza-based Farm Shop Norte, housed in a renovated 1935 Sinclair Oil gas station/farm supply store, and also purveying design-forward kitchen and homeware. Nearby in an ultra modern space, savor one of the many spirits and Spanish wines from yet another Albuquerque transplant at VARA Vinoteca. In the vicinity, visit Tumbleroot Pottery Pub, where you can throw a pot and imbibe the local distiller/brewer’s gifts. And statewide, with

outstanding representation at participating Santa Fe bars and restaurants, you can enjoy high-quality cocktail experiences, as well as educational seminars and signature events about the fine art of mixology during New Mexico Cocktail Week, June 2–10.

Here’s to some more firsts, bound to be around for years to come: Plan your trip around the inaugural Art + Sol Winter Arts Festival, February 11–19, which showcases live symphony, song, chamber music, theater, chorus, and jazz in venues across The City Different.

PrintSantaFe comes to town for a month-long festival in April to celebrate the 500-year-old tradition of ink on a surface, compliments of longstanding PrintAustin.

Here’s to some seconds: Santa Fe’s gathering for the literati and their like has renamed itself Santa Fe International Literary Festival to reflect their commitment to a more global community of authors, exploring all manner of important societal issues. The 32nd annual Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta will again host its Chile Friday, a chance to put the spotlight on New Mexico’s hero ingredient in its rightful place alongside margaritas and craft beers. Also in the fall, do not miss the 2nd annual Día de Muertos, a Day of the Dead celebration on the historic Santa Fe Plaza with music, decorative ofrendas (Spanish for altars), face-painting, a candlelit procession, and more.

Finally, if you’re flying into Santa Fe, you’ll notice some wonderful improvements: an additional terminal, expanded baggage claim, and a more easily navigable parking lot.

With everything that 2023 brings, it’s either time to return or time for your first visit!