Santa Fe by the Season

SEASONS

SANTA FE by the Season

No matter the season, Santa Fe will always welcome and entertain you! Come for unique cultural events and traditions, signature Northern New Mexico cuisine, 320+ days of sunshine and clear, starry night skies. And so much more!

WINTER

Late December, there’s a dusting of snow downtown and inches of it gracing the Ski Santa Fe resort in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, just 16 miles from the Plaza. If you’re fortunate, glistening white flakes will fall while you are visiting, but because of the low humidity, the accumulation will be fluffy and light. Be prepared with your boots and parkas regardless!

average highs in the high 40s; average lows in the mid 20s

average highs in the low 70s; average lows in the low 40s

The holiday season is in full swing, with a host of traditions for you to embrace—among them, the beloved and spirited Canyon Road Farolito Walk on Christmas Eve, the Pueblo dances, and the New Year’s Eve Celebration on the Plaza. That festive scent in the air is burning piñon logs!

Winter can be a quieter time to visit The City Different, but that means you’ll easily reserve a table at your favorite restaurant and more deeply enjoy the meaning of the many museums. It’s also a spectacular time of year to experience world-class performing arts at a variety of venues across The City Different. In particular, February 11–19, check out the inaugural Art + Sol Winter Arts Festival, showcasing symphony, song, chamber music, theater, chorus, and jazz.

SPRING

Late March, the aspens and cottonwoods start leafing and you’ll begin to see the cactus flowers bloom in reds, pinks, and yellows. As well, the fruit trees—plum, apricot, apple—blossom and the forsythia and lilacs join in for colorful and fragrant orchestral display along the sidewalks, in the parks, and throughout the Santa Fe River, generally rushing with snow runoff from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Despite the spring conditions, The City Different can still experience a late spring snowstorm or two, so pack your clothing layers, and know that most restaurants and hosted events do not expect your finest finery—better for you to be comfy.

Shirt-sleeved and slathered in sunscreen, some are still skiing and snowboarding at Ski Santa Fe through the first weekend in April, while others are hiking among the budding cacti, and others are planting their backyard gardens and becoming acquainted with their outdoor surroundings. Interest in the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market increases as nearby growers bring more fresh produce—early greens, baby carrots, asparagus, cherries, and peas.

In the spring, the locals are thrilled to welcome you into their galleries, retail shops, and restaurants. Also, discover a remarkable number of visual, performing, and literary arts opportunities, including the Santa Fe International Literary Festival (May 19–21), and some fantastic deals and specials on lodging and spa services.

SUMMER

average highs in the high 80s; average lows in the mid 50s

Late June and Santa Fe’s very busy summer months bring days that never end! Be prepared with a brimmed hat, a full water bottle, sunscreen, and a raincoat. While the semiarid climate and high elevation sun can be an adjustment, summer is monsoon season and we can receive up to 6 inches of rain. BUT the storms never last too long, routinely produce rainbows, and always cool you off!

With more visual and performing arts than you can imagine, including free live music on the Plaza and Railyard, Santa Fe Indian Market,

Spanish Market, Contemporary Hispanic Market,

International Folk Art Market, and the Santa Fe Opera, The City Different is your Southwestern hub for dynamic culture and tradition. You are bound to leave with multiple souvenirs, many of them memories of what you’ve experienced for the first time ever.

Summer is a great time of year to explore! If you love the outdoors, you likely know Santa Fe is located adjacent to 1.6 million acres of coniferous national forest in the Southern Rocky Mountains at the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The rivers and trails beckon with the promise of raft and kayak adventures, fishing, and hundreds of miles of single-track for hiking and biking. And stick around for our unique tradition, about to celebrate its 100th year—the annual Burning of Zozobra, resurrected anew each year to burn your woes away.

AUTUMN

average highs in the low 60s; average lows in the mid 30s

Late September, the aspens and cottonwoods are a glow everywhere you turn, so take advantage of the chance to hike one of the many trails or ride a Ski Santa Fe chairlift into the golden treescape. Even though the sun is still quite warm, the days are cool and nights cooler, so bring a layer or two!

Aside from the color and the weather, autumn is a brilliant time of year in The City Different with studio art tours throughout the region, a foodie’s dream come true in a celebration of both wine and chile called the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta, and separate weekends to honor the Indigenous, and the dead with Dia de Muertos.

Have we mentioned the roasted-chile-scented air? It’s intoxicating, so don’t miss out on Northern New Mexico cuisine, featuring red and green chile! Across the state, ’tis the season for restaurant owners and individuals alike to eagerly await the arrival of the autumn crop to replenish their troves. You can have your dishes with red, green or Christmas (both) chile. And you can take some home with you so you’ll always remember the taste of Santa Fe!