New Mexico Events and Festivals

9/05/2008 - 9/07/2008Fiestas de Santa Fe

Held each year over the first weekend after Labor Day, the Fiestas de Santa Fe is a grand festival which remembers the occasion in 1692 when Don Diego De Vargas peacefully regained occupation of the City of Holy Faith. This historic capital was founded in 1598 by Don Juan de Oņate at San Gabriel before moving south to what is now known as Sante Fe in 1610. In 1680 the region's Pueblo people mounted a revolt, burning churches and homes and driving out the Spanish colonists. In 1692, Don Diego De Vargas managed to reclaim the city without shedding any blood and a festival has been held every year since 1712 to commemorate this event. The festivities continue to this day with prayer sessions, religious services, music, dance and food events