Datebook: July 2023

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.”