Ceremonial Dances around Santa Fe

This is only an approximate schedule for ceremonial dances at pueblos in the Santa Fe [1] area — dates can vary from year to year, as can the particular dances. Annual feast days typically involve carnivals and markets in addition to dances. Confirm details and start times — usually afternoon, but sometimes after an evening or midnight Mass — with the pueblo itself or the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center [2] (505/843-7270, www.indianpueblo.org [3]) before setting out.

• January 1
• Ohkay Owingeh [4] (San Juan): cloud or basket dance

• January 6
• Picurís [5]: various dances
• Nambé [6]: buffalo, deer, and antelope dances

• January 22–23
• San Ildefonso [4]: Feast of San Ildefonso, with vespers and firelight procession at 6 p.m. on the 22nd and buffalo, Comanche, and deer dances on the 23rd

• January 25
• Ohkay Owingeh [4] (San Juan), Picurís [5]: Feast of San Pablo

• February 2
• Picurís [5]: various dances for Candlemas (Día de la Candelaria)

• Easter (March/April)
• Nambé [6]: bow dance
• San Ildefonso [4]: various dances

• May
• Tesuque [4]: corn dances for blessing of the fields

• June 8
• Santa Clara [4]: buffalo dance

• June 13
• Ohkay Owingeh [4] (San Juan), San Ildefonso, Santa Clara [4], and Picurís [5]: Feast of San Antonio

• June 24
• Ohkay Owingeh [4] (San Juan): Feast of San Juan Bautista

• July 4
• Nambé [6]: celebration at the waterfall

• July 25–26
• San Ildefonso [4]: Feast of Santiago and Santa Ana

• August 9–10
• Picurís [5]: Feast of San Lorenzo

• August 12
• Santa Clara [4]: Feast of Santa Clara

• September 8
• San Ildefonso [4]: corn dance

• October 4
• Nambé [6]: Feast of San Francisco de Asís

• November 12
• Tesuque [4]: Feast of San Diego

• December 12
• Pojoaque [4]: Feast of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

• December 24
• Picurís [5] and Ohkay Owingeh [4] (San Juan): torchlight procession at sundown, followed by Los Matachines dances
• San Felipe, Tesuque [4], and Nambé [6]: various dances, beginning after midnight Mass

• December 25
• San Ildefonso, Ohkay Owingeh [4] (San Juan), Picurís [5], and Tesuque [4]: various dances

• December 26
• Ohkay Owingeh [4] (San Juan): turtle dance

• December 28
• Picurís [5] and Santa Clara [4]: children’s dances to celebrate Holy Innocents Day