Santa Fe: ATVing and Native American Dances/Festivals in December
 

Putting the final touches on our trip.....

My kids want to go ATVing while we are out there like we did in Sedona 2 years ago and I haven't found anything for December - I would think Albuquerque would be warm enough... Any ideas????

Also we will be in SF on XMas eve and Day and wanted to know what Native American Dances or traditional events to check out .

I found a cool train/snowmobile day we are looking into in Durango with the Narrow Gauge train and Ice Pirates. Any feedback?

Thanks!!!

A Google search shows this company: http://www.newmexicoatvtours.com/

I don't know what you would consider warm enough to do one of these tours. This week's high temperatures here will be in the upper 50s. Sometimes it's in the low 60s here at Christmas, but it could be colder and snowy too. Remember, our elevation is about 5000-5200 feet depending on where you are in town.

On Christmas Eve, you can walk around Santa Fe and look at luminarias (they call them farolitos in Santa Fe).

Here's a link to things happening in Santa Fe and at the pueblos on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
http://santafe.org/Visiting_Santa_Fe/Winter_Events
www.indianpueblo.org/ (contains links to the various pueblos)
http://www.taospueblo.com/events-2 (Taos has dances on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)

Lee Ann

Thanks!!!!

I called the atvtours place and they only do jeep tours now...

On another note if we hang out Christmas even and do the walk where can you rec for a party of 12 to eat (6 adults, 6 kids) that wouldnt have a special $$$$Christmas Menu$$$$?

Well, this place is great but they do have a Christmas Eve menu -

http://andiamosantafe.com/special-menu-christmas

It's going to be hard for 12 on Christmas Eve

http://www.opentable.com/s/?DateTime...lyOffers=False

Not knowing your wants, do any of those look interesting?

DebitNM - $45 a person sounds like a deal! Thanks for the tip!!!

I don't know about that specific train event, but I know folks love their Polar Express train. Maybe too young for your kids.

The zoo in ABQ is a great pleaser for folks of all ages, if you need a day time activity.

Andiamo is really good, so if you can get a reservation for 12 people, go for it.

Lee Ann

A party of 12 will be hard to get at this point so take what you can get. If you are ok with splitting up into two tables of 6 that will help a lot.

Also, know that the Canyon Road walk is on the opposite side of town where Andiamo is located. Good restaurant but not on the "walk" route.

I always defer to BeachGirls Santa Fe insights, but Canyon Road restaurants are typically more pricey and I would imagine at this date and for that many people, it would be hard to come by a reservation for 12, even if split into 2 tables, especially when 6 are children.

Personally, I would prefer to be on the other side of town (which isn't all that fat) away from the throngs of strollers. The Plaza will be lit up too. You could eat early and then see The Plaza and Canyon road - that might make best sense with kids.

Duh, "far away", not fat!

How far is the canyon walk from the plaza? Our hotel has a shuttle to the plaza and I thought not having our cars that night made good sense.

Very walkable from plaza to Canyon Road. Bring up a Google map of Santa Fe. Dress warmly.

Any tips on going to the Taos Pueblo on Christmas day for the dances? Also I havent been able to find out specifics on time.

Or should we consider going to Taos for Christmas Eve? Although Im not sure how the drive back to SF will be in the dark...

I would do Xmas eve in Santa Fe personally. There are many that like the stuff on the mountain in Taos too.

Google Santa Fe vs Taos Christmas Eve.


You could go to Taos Pueblo for the dances on Christmas Day.
Please be sure to observe proper etiquette when on reservation -

http://www.indianpueblo.org/19pueblos/etiquette.html

Thanks DebitNM - found an interesting thread on TA forums based on your google idea. Both sound great... tough choices...

LOL, I saw that too. It's really a toss up, you can't go wrong. My only thought about Taos at night, is that you may not find any place for dinner, and the activities seem to take place on the mountain. It's going to be cold, and a long ,dark drive back to SF from the mountain, especially if the weather is bad.

If anyone else is interested the hotel provided me with this list....

Pueblo Dances & Feasts

Native American feast days allow tribal members to come together in a renewal of their language, culture, and religion.

Especially during the holiday season, these dances are a festive celebration that provides non-Natives an opportunity to witness sacred rituals and traditions.

Dec 24. Laguna – Harvest, Arrow, Deer and other dances after Midnight Mass

Dec 24. Nambe – Buffalo Dance following Mass

Dec 24. Picuris and Ohkay Owingeh – Torchlight Procession of Virgin Vespers and Matachine Dance

Dec 24. Tesuque, San Felipe, and Santa Ana – Various dances after Midnight Mass

Dec 24. Taos – Procession of the Virgin with various dances and bonfire

Dec 25-27. Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, San Felipe, Laguna and Acoma – Various Dances

Dec 25-27. Picuris – Matachine Dance

Dec 25-27. Ohkay Owingeh & Taos – Deer and Matachine Dances

Dec 26. San Felipe – Buffalo and other dances

Dec 26. Jemez – Buffalo and other animal dances

Dec 26. Santa Ana and Zia – Buffalo Dance with Elk and Antelope

Dec 26. Ohkay Owingeh – Turtle Dance

Dec 28. Picuris – Holy Innocents Day Children’s Dances.

Taos Deer Dance on Christmas Day is a good choice and last time we went it went on for over a couple of hours. Standing outside in the snow was quite chilly since you aren't moving around but it has breaks in the ceremony where you can leave without interfering with the procession and ceremony. Wear warm boots/shoes, pocket warmers if it's a really cold morning, and of course a warm coat. Standing for that amount of time you can get quite cold.

Also, the Jemez Buffalo Dance is wonderful! It's not far at all from Santa Fe. There are still so many I haven't attended and hope to see new ones this year. Try to make it to one that works for you.

Christmas Eve in Santa Fe and Taos Pueblo for Christmas Day dance is a good choice. I wouldn't want to drive back to Santa Fe late at night from Taos. It's been years since we spent Christmas Eve in Taos -- it's beautiful on the mountain but different than the events in Santa Fe plaza area.

Christmas Eve in Santa Fe is so magical. Can't explain what one thing that makes it that way-- it just is! And, if a little bit of snow is falling it will be perfect!

Going to take all the advice and stay in SF for the eve events. If locals don't want to do the drive at night, we definitely don't.

Do you think they will give the tours or access to self tour at the Taos Pubelo on the morning of Christmas. I believe the dances start at 2 pm.

I would contact the Taos Pueblo to get the best information for times. I really doubt there are any self tours on Christmas Day as it is a dance day.

http://www.taospueblo.com

(575) 758-1028