Santa Fe is a high desert mecca for world-class restaurants, art, culture, and entertainment. But what can you do when your credit cards are maxed, your bills have gnawed away your bank account, and you’re sick of staying in and watching TV while eating cereal straight out of the box?
Never fear. Although there still may be no such thing as a free lunch, there are plenty of free—or inexpensive—ways to amuse yourself in the City Different. So put away your wallet, cut up your credit cards, and read on!
Sunsets
Santa Fe has long been celebrated for the unique quality of its light and beautiful views. And, so far, sunsets are still free! So grab your camera and head for one of these great spots to check out the sun’s glorious demise.
Hill of the Martyrs, 600 Paseo de Peralta. Whether you drive up the back way from Fort Marcy or walk up the winding brick path from Paseo, the view from the summit of this downtown hill is unparalleled. Watch the city lights sparkle to life below as the sunset blooms over the Jemez Mountains.
Frank S. Ortiz Dog Park, 160 Camino de las Crucitas. You don’t have to own a dog to enjoy the 360-degree views from the top ridge of this sprawling park. Follow one of the many hiking trails to an overlook, sit in one of the lawn chairs that an anonymous donor thoughtfully provided, and swivel to watch the moon rise over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east while the sun sinks to the west. Don’t strain your neck!
The Bell Tower at La Fonda Hotel, 100 East San Francisco Street. Santa Fe sits low to the ground, so it’s rare to find a building with a sweeping vista. That makes the Bell Tower’s regal fifth-floor view especially desirable. The Bell Tower is open seasonally, from spring through early fall. A small bar serves cocktails while tourists and locals mingle in anticipation of the nightly show, which never disappoints.
Window Shopping
Sometimes, just looking is enough. Santa Fe’s varied array of shops and vendors makes for ideal window shopping. Leave your wallet at home and take a leisurely afternoon to browse these eye-candy-rich areas.
Santa Fe Plaza. For the quintessential Santa Fe experience, stroll through the plaza and check out the vendors lining Palace Avenue and the Native American artisans who spread their jewelry and crafts under the portal of the Palace of the Governors. Poke your nose into the many shops and mini-malls lining the Plaza and get an eyeful of everything from fine jewelry, clothing, and cowboy boots to kitschy souvenirs, books, and fossils.
Guadalupe District. Wander up Guadalupe Street to check out housewares and furniture. From high end to secondhand, Guadalupe offers rich ground for snooping through musty old armoires, fine crystal, eclectic pottery, or six-million-thread-count sheets. The Sanbusco Center on Montezuma also offers great fodder for window shoppers, from cushy pet products to designer pens. Wind up at Borders, where you can curl up in an armchair and read to your heart’s content.
Canyon Road. Famed for its art galleries, historic Canyon Road is a visual feast. Start at the bottom and take your time working your way up. Don’t miss the many side alleys and courtyards that offer sculpture gardens and peaceful spots to sit in the shade. For a taste of the past, visit the Historic Santa Fe Foundation at 545 Canyon Road, where several rooms and the inviting garden are open to the public.
A Little Culture
Art, history, music, movies—if you time it right, you can gorge yourself on Santa Fe’s plentiful cultural opportunities for free, or for a donation that suits your pocketbook. The bad news? Now there’s no excuse for staying in and watching Lethal Weapon IV on cable!
Visual Arts
What better way to spend Friday night than ogling an O’Keeffe or marveling at Indian art? Take advantage of Free Fridays at all downtown museums from 5:00–8:00 pm weekly. Participating museums include: Palace of the Governors, New Mexico Museum of Art, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and Site Santa Fe.
To complete your Friday evening art experience, consult the SantaFe.com events calendar and our gallery tour pages for gallery openings. Not only will you get to check out what’s up and coming on the art scene, most openings offer free food and nonalcoholic beverages.
If Friday nights leave you too exhausted to appreciate art, don’t despair. All downtown and Museum Hill museums offer free admission on Sundays to New Mexico residents. For seniors, Wednesdays are free.
Performances
The Santa Fe Playhouse. If you’re in the mood for some drama, the Santa Fe Playhouse opens its doors on Sunday afternoons for “pay what you wish” matinees. Enjoy a quality performance in the playhouse’s charmingly intimate setting.
The Santa Fe Community Orchestra. Since 1982, the SFCO has been providing amateur musicians with a venue for their talents and the Santa Fe community with an opportunity to hear great music for free. Conductor Oliver Prezant brings to the stage timeless classics, as well as new works by New Mexico composers. All concerts are free to the public, but for good karma, give what you can to the donation bin. Concert locations vary.
Movies
BODY of Santa Fe offers free movie nights once a month. Films are geared toward enlightenment rather than entertainment—or maybe, enlightened entertainment?
Santa Fe Brewing Company. Free movies on the second Tuesday of each month. Screenings take place in the brewing room, so you might even get a contact high.
Seasonal Fun
Santa Fe heats up in the warmer months, and I don’t mean just the temperature. Take advantage of some of the following ways to entertain yourself on the cheap this summer.
Santa Fe Bandstand. Throughout July and August, the Santa Fe Plaza stage is graced with free live performances two to three times a week. Last summer’s lineup included Native American music, salsa, blues, R&B, jazz, and even a magic show. Performances at lunchtime and evenings; days vary.
Santa Fe Opera – Tailgating and Standing Room. The Santa Fe Opera brings world-class productions to the city during its annual summer season. Tickets aren’t cheap, but you don’t have to attend the performance to enjoy the rarefied atmosphere. Pre-show, take a picnic and join the tailgaters drinking wine and mingling in the parking lot outside the theatre. The people watching and the view provide great entertainment. And if you hang around after the show starts, you might even be able to hear strains of Mozart or Verdi drifting through the evening. If you just can’t afford the price of seat and don’t want to miss your favorite opera there’s always standing room tickets. The Santa Fe Opera has 106 assigned standing room tickets at $10 each.
Want to see how they make all that magic happen on stage? The Santa Fe Opera provides one-hour back stage tours, including public scene storage areas, the costume shop, prop shop and production areas. The charge is $5 per person (free for children ages 5-17).
Spanish Market. July 26–27, 2008. A popular event for residents and visitors alike, this festival takes over the Santa Fe Plaza for the weekend. Spanish Market features handcrafted traditional arts by more than 200 local Hispanic artists as well as music, art demonstrations, and regional foods. Admission is free to the public.
Indian Market. August 23–24, 2008. Also held on the Plaza, the Santa Fe Indian Market is one of the city’s most well-known events. The Market showcases 1,200 artists from about 100 tribes and draws 100,000 visitors to Santa Fe from all over the world. You can also enjoy food and demonstration booths, a youth market, and entertainment. Free and open to the public.
Fiestas de Santa Fe. September 4–7, 2008. In grand Santa Fe tradition, the annual Fiestas kick off on Thursday night with the burning of Zozobra, the spirit of gloom. Though you have to pay to view the spectacle at Fort Marcy Park, there are plenty of places to see it from afar—and yell “Burn him!” at the top of your lungs. Throughout the weekend, enjoy a variety of food and free entertainment on the Plaza. It all winds up on Sunday afternoon with the Desfile de la Gente Historical/Hysterical Parade through the center of town.
Other Random Free Things to Do
- People watch on the Plaza.
- Relax by the fireplace in a comfortable hotel lobby or lounge.
- Walk through one of Santa Fe’s many historic Eastside neighborhoods.
- Visit one of the many city parks.
- Check out garage sales on Saturday mornings—see what you can get for a dollar.
- Read in the Main Library’s attractive Southwest room.
- Tour the Cathedral, San Miguel Mission, and other historic churches.
- Hike Atalaya or one of the many trails off Hyde Park Road.
- Hit happy hour for free musical entertainment at local bars and hotel lounges.
- Take a bike ride on the trail running along the train tracks; park at Zia and St. Francis.
- Get your chlorophyll fix—browse a local nursery or greenhouse.
Contact Information
Palace of the Governors
105 W Palace Ave
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505-476-5100
www.palaceofthegovernors.org
New Mexico Museum of Art
Museum of New Mexico
107 West Palace Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505-476-5072
www.mfasantafe.org
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
217 Johnson St
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505-946-1000
www.okeeffemuseum.org
Site Santa Fe
1606 Paseo De Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505-989-1199
www.sitesantafe.org
Museum of New Mexico
- Museum of International Folk Art
- Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
- Museum of Spanish Colonial Art
- Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian
On Museum Hill, Camino Lejo off Old Santa Fe Trail
505-476-1200
www.museumofnewmexico.org
Santa Fe Playhouse
142 East DeVargas Street
505-988-4262
www.santafeplayhouse.org
The Santa Fe Community Orchestra
www.sfco.org
BODY of Santa Fe
333 Cordova Road
Santa Fe, NM 87505
505 986 0362
www.bodyofsantafe.com
Santa Fe Brewing Company
35 Fire Place
Santa Fe, NM 87508
505-424-3333
www.santafebrewing.com
Santa Fe Bandstand
www.outsideinproductions.org/santafebandstand
Santa Fe Opera
Box Office
505-986-5900 or 800-280-4654
www.santafeopera.org
Spanish Market
www.spanishmarket.org
Indian Market
www.swaia.org
Fiestas de Santa Fe
www.santafefiesta.org
