Every Labor Day weekend, Santa Feans cheer the demise of Zozobra as he burns to the ground, taking with him our despair, sorrows, and other hardships from the past year. Over the following days, the city celebrates the annual weeklong Fiesta de Santa Fe.
Food is the fuel for these celebrations! There’s delicious energy everywhere you turn. The Burning of Zozobra has food vendors and food truck fare with an overflowing bounty of green chile cheeseburgers, crispy chicharrón burritos, sweet corn on the cob, fluffy cotton candy, and glistening candy apples. But, you also have another option: bring your own food!
Ditch the lines, grab your favorite Santa Fe flavors, and join the communal feast as we send Old Man Gloom packing. Picnic like a pro at Zozobra this year. We’ll show you how!
Zozobra Picnicking 101
Want to savor your own culinary creations amidst the spectacle? Fantastic! Zozobra encourages picnics, letting you craft your perfect pre-burn feast. Bringing a picnic into the Burning of Zozobra is super easy, but there are a few rules to keep in mind.
First Things First: Drinks
You’ll be working up a thirst cheering on Zozobra’s demise, so plan accordingly!
Outside liquids are prohibited inside Fort Marcy Park where Zozobra will meet his fiery fate, but don’t worry — a refreshing array of beverages awaits you inside. Even bringing your own water bottle is prohibited, but water stations stocked with cups will be available onsite.
Packaging Requirements
To keep things flowing smoothly, simply pack your goodies in a clear bag with plastic utensils. Leave your bulky, opaque, hard plastic coolers at home because they are not permitted.
Hit a Food Exchange Station
Swing by the friendly food exchange stations for complimentary clear food-grade bags so you’re ready for the quick security check.
Prohibited Item Reminder
- No outside liquids or containers for liquids
- No coolers
- No glass
- No opaque food containers (clear bags only)
- No metal cutlery (plastic only)
Picnic Power: Best Santa Fe Restaurants for Portable Food to Go
Zozobra features many food vendors, but bringing a picnic lets you bypass the lines and maximize your enjoyment of the pre-burn entertainment: live music, people-watching, and unforgettable photo opportunities.
Fort Marcy Park welcomes picnics, so pack a meal that celebrates the spirit of Zozobra! Think big, bold flavors in mobile form, a feast worthy of the towering puppet himself.
Here are some top-notch spots to snag your perfect picnic spread:
Atrisco Cafe & Bar
Atrisco offers New Mexican cuisine with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients. Their chips and dips, burritos, and other handhelds and fingerfood options are perfect for a picnic.
Chopstix Oriental Food
Chopstix restaurant creates a variety of Asian dishes that are perfect for a picnic, such as spring rolls, dumplings, fried jalepeños, cheese sticks, and other food you can eat with your hands.
Del Charro Saloon
Known as Santa Fe’s watering hole, Del Charro serves a menu featuring classic Southwestern and New Mexican fare. Their kebobs, burgers, tacos, and appetizers are marvelous for a Zozobra picnic.
El Merendero (Posa’s) Tamale Factory & Restaurant
Posa’s is a family-run establishment specializing in burritos, tacos, tamales, guac, and other New Mexican favorites. Their chimichangas, quesadillas, tamales and other portable dishes are perfect for a picnic.
Joe’s Dining
Joe’s Dining serves classic American and New Mexican dishes like burgers, sandwiches, and pizza to take to the field. Joe’s selection of appetizers, like Texas Twinkies, make excellent picnic food.
La Plazuela Restaurant at La Fonda
For an upscale Zozobra picnic experience, La Plazuela offers a variety of modern New Mexican and American food, including guac, shrimp cocktail, fancy mac & cheese, and steak frites, which are picnic-worthy.
Plaza Cafe Santa Fe
Santa Fe’s oldest restaurant, Plaza Cafe, has served traditional dishes since 1905. Their menu includes sandwiches, tacos, Frito® pies, and burgers that can be packed for your outdoor Burning of Zozobra feast.
The Ranch House
The Ranch House offers a take-out menu filled with classic American and BBQ dishes to order in bulk. Choose from meats like pulled pork and brisket along with sides such as beans, potato salad, mac & cheese, and green chile cornbread.
Santa Fe Brewing
With multiple locations, including the Downtown Brakeroom, Beer Hall at HQ, and Eldorado Taphouse, this brewery offers a wide variety of craft beers and food options. Their food trucks and casual dining options make it easy to find picnic-friendly fare. Just don’t bring any of the beer along with you, but don’t worry: they’re a vendor at Fort Marcy Park!
Social Kitchen + Bar
Social Kitchen + Bar offers a menu of picnic- and sharing-friendly foods. The menu includes house-made chicharrónes, poppers, small empanadas, wings, queso, burgers, sandwiches, and more!
Tomasita’s Restaurant
A Santa Fe institution, Tomasita’s specializes in New Mexican cuisine. Order burritos, stuffed sopaipillas, nachos, tacos,and other New Mexican dishes to pack into your clear picnic packaging at the Food Exchange Station.
Tortilla Flats
A local favorite for authentic Mexican food, Tortilla Flats creates burgers, burritos, sandwiches, and an a la carte menu to get your fill while waiting for the big guy to burn.
Upper Crust Pizza
Upper Crust has served delicious, award-winning pizza since 1979. Their classic and specialty pizzas, calzones, and sandwiches are easy to share and bring to the celebration.
Gloom-Gourmet Glory: Feast, Fiesta, and Fire-Fueled Fun!
So, ditch the doldrums, pack a picnic that’ll make Zozobra fume, and get ready to taste Santa Fe’s soul! Fuel up for a weekend where gloom goes up in smoke and good times blaze on. Think of your time as a city-wide potluck where the main course is pure, unadulterated joy.
Now, go forth, gather your grub, and join Santa Fe in turning up the heat! Have fun, be safe and most importantly . . . BURN HIM!
This article was posted by Jesse Williams
