MELISSA MANN HAS HAD HER EYE on the Santa Fe Railyard for quite some time. “There’s something happening,” says the CEO of the International Folk Art Market. “There’s an energy there.” With ample parking, 13 acres of open space, and proximity to SITE Santa Fe, galleries, restaurants, and the Violet Crown Cinema, there’s a lot to love about the district. The International Folk Art Market plans to tap into those good vibes by staging its annual festival, July 6–9, at the Railyard Park instead of its customary location on Museum Hill. More than 150 artists from over 50 countries, all practicing traditional folk art techniques, will be on hand to show and sell their work. A parade of artists to the Railyard water tower kicks off the festivities on Thursday, followed by a free concert. Mann says the area’s emergence as a new cultural center helped to inspire the move. “It got us thinking what cultural space looks like,” she says. “We’re not moving away from something, we’re moving to something.”
Climb aboard. With abundant parking, a train stop near the event, and additional New Mexico Rail Runner trains, getting to the Folk Art Market will be easier than ever. “We have a partnership with the Rail Runner,” Mann says, meaning that visitors can buy a combination train-and-market ticket. “You can park at any of their depots and be dropped off practically at the door of the event.”
Take flight, night owls. The Night Market on Saturday will feature artist booths, live music from French band Delgres, and boozy beverages from Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery. “The evening will be really thrilling,” Mann says.
Dive deeper. Throughout the run of the market, a lecture series at SITE Santa Fe offers hands-on activities, educational opportunities for kids, and talks by field experts. “If you’re really interested in understanding more of the context, like the relationship between a designer and maker and the difficulties folk artists face,” Mann says, “you can partake in the series.”
July 6–9, Santa Fe Railyard Park
folkartmarket.org
Roswell UFO Festival
June 30-July 2
Have a close encounter of the fun kind at this festival that includes a 5K run, drone show, kids’ zone, film festival,
experts on the Roswell Incident, fire dancers, and more. ufofestival.com
Los Alamos ScienceFest
July 7-18
Discovery Day, which happens on July 8, is the highlight of this 10-day festival that aims to engage the community in history and scientific experimentation. losalamossciencefest.com
Ruidoso Art and Wine Festival
July 21-23
See work by more than 100 artists and sip vintages from local wineries at this juried art show in the Ruidoso Convention Center. nmmag.us/rawf
Traditional Spanish Market
July 29 & 30
The country’s oldest and largest show of Spanish art has graced Santa Fe since 1926, featuring traditional woodcarving, tinwork, silversmithing, and painting. atriscoheritagefoundation.org
SANTA FE OPERA
The Flying Dutchman
July 1, 7, 12 & 31
Tosca
June 30, July 5, 8, 14 & 21
Pelléas et Mélisande
July 15, 19 & 28
Rusalka
July 22 & 26
Orfeo
July 29
¡QUE VIVAN LAS FIESTAS!
Fiestas de Las Vegas
July 1
Fiestas de Taos
July 21
Connie Mack World Series
July 20-29
See the baseball talent of tomorrow take the field as amateur teams from all over the country come to Farmington to participate in this prestigious tournament, held at Ricketts Park every year since 1965. cmws.org
That’s not all July has in store! Go to nmmag.us/events for more.