Mark your calendar for July 10 – 13, 2025, when the International Folk Art Market (IFAM) transforms Santa Fe’s Railyard Park into a global village of creativity and cultural exchange. This four-day immersive cultural experience offers visitors unprecedented access to master artisans and their extraordinary handmade creations.
For over two decades, this extraordinary Santa Fe folk art festival has served as the ultimate destination for lovers of handmade art and collectors seeking one-of-a-kind treasures that tell stories of human creativity across continents.
Every purchase at the International Folk Art Market supports generational traditions maintained by master craftspeople despite economic, environmental, and political pressures. Visitor participation, through purchases, donations, or volunteering, directly funds artist-centric programs that benefit folk artists and preserve irreplaceable cultural knowledge.
The 2025 event will again deliver the authentic handmade crafts visitors have come to expect from more than 150 artists from more than 50 countries, while introducing innovative programming that bridges traditional techniques with contemporary relevance.
About the International Folk Art Market
The International Folk Art Market creates economic opportunities for folk artists worldwide who celebrate and preserve traditional art forms. The organization envisions a world that values the dignity and humanity of the handmade, honors timeless cultural traditions, and supports artisans as entrepreneurs and catalysts for positive social change.
This quintessentially New Mexican cultural art event attracts over 20,000 visitors from around the world annually.
2025 IFAM Event Details
The Santa Fe Railyard Park events venue provides the perfect backdrop for this international celebration, with its expansive outdoor spaces and easy accessibility. Visitors planning what to do in Santa Fe July of 2025 will find this event serves as the highlight of the city’s summer cultural programming. The folk art festival takes advantage of New Mexico’s perfect July weather, creating an ideal environment for outdoor browsing, artist demonstrations, and cultural workshops.
Tickets are required to visit all IFAM events except the community celebration on Wednesday, July 9. Youth aged 16 and under can visit the market with a ticketed adult with a free youth ticket. New Mexico residents in Albuquerque, Bernalillo, Corrales, Los Lunas, and Rio Rancho can add a $8.28 per passenger round-trip Rail Runner to any ticket for a safe and convenient ride to Railyard Park.
Check out the IFAM 2025 Entertainment and Immersive Experiences lineup below. “Shop with purpose, buy with impact” becomes the guiding principle for market visitors. Every purchase supports an artisan family and their community, creating economic opportunities that extend far beyond the four-day event.
Curated collections you won’t find anywhere else include authentic handwoven textiles, handmade jewelry from global artisans, traditional pottery and ceramics, and fair trade home decor items that bring global culture into contemporary homes.
Wednesday, July 9
Free Community Celebration
6 – 9 p.m.
Head to the Santa Fe Railyard to partake in a free community event commencing the 2025 IFAM. Enjoy live music from Red Baraat on the IFAM Main Stage, sponsored by Nusenda Credit Union. Red Baraat’s exhilarating blend of bhangra, hip-hop, jazz, and punk is sure to have you groovin’.
Thursday, July 10
Opening Night Celebration
6 – 9 p.m.
Gain exclusive early access to the International Folk Art Market with your charitable contribution of $1,000. Enjoy a special evening with intimate festival crowds, pleasant Santa Fe temperatures, complimentary refreshments, and live entertainment. Get early IFAM access.
Friday, July 11
Early Bird Market
8 – 10 a.m.
First come, first served! Hit the IFAM early on Friday morning for two extra hours of folk art shopping fun. IFAM Early Bird Tickets are $94.17 for adults and free for ticketed youth 16 and younger. Early Bird ticket holders are asked to arrive before 8 a.m.
Friday Market (Timed General Sessions)
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Choose the time you want to visit! Timed IFAM admissions begin at 10 a.m., and continue every hour through 4 p.m. Show up when you’re scheduled and come and go as you please until 6 p.m. Adult Timed General Session tickets cost $26.90 and you can bring your ticketed children 16 and under for free.
Babaran Segaragunung Culture House (Agus Ismoyo Isnugroho and Family)
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Agus Ismoyo Isnugroho and Family demonstrate batik, a textile dyeing technique originated in Java. The process includes hand-drawn and hand-stamped designs using molten wax to prevent dyes from penetrating the fabric.
Siju Shamji Vishram
1 – 2 p.m.
Siju Shamji Vishram shows you Kutch weaving techniques more than 600 years old using an intricate extra weft pattern for loom warping.
Cirila Aragón Cortés
3 – 4 p.m.
Cirila Aragón Cortés demonstrates how to create a classic Morelos poncho by dying fabric with natural pigments.
IFAM Insider Talk at Evoke Gallery
Chris Rainier and Olivia McKendrick, co-founders and directors of The Cultural Sanctuaries Foundation, will discuss “Why culture matters — and the role of arts and crafts in cultural revitalization and conservation” at Evoke Gallery for an official IFAM event ad-on. Admission is $36.23 with your IFAM 2025 ticket.
Saturday, July 12
Saturday Market (Timed General Sessions)
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 
Snag your Timed General Sessions ticket for early Saturday entry from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. IFAM organizers advise 3 p.m. slot visitors to arrive early to maximize festival time. Saturday daytime tickets cost $21.72 for adults, with free entry for kids with tickets.
Matin Malikzada: Malikzada Pottery
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Seventh-generation Afghan potter Matin Malikzada will show you how to masterfully throw pottery on a wheel to create functional forms.
KwaZulu-Natal Weavers (Ntombifuthi Sibiya)
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Ntombifuthi Sibiya explains traditional Zulu weaving techniques used to create intricate copper wire baskets.
Artemio Poma Gutierrez
3 – 4 p.m.
Artemio Poma Gutierrez demonstrates traditional Quinoa pottery techniques using glazes of natural pigments.
Saturday Night Market
6 – 9 p.m.
Get your shopping on under the brilliant Santa Fe night sky at the 4th Annual International Folk Art Market Saturday Night Market. Eat, drink, and be merry as you enjoy live music from Cuban poet, rapper, and songwriter Telmary on the IFAM Main Stage sponsored by Nusenda Credit Union. Adult IFAM Saturday Night Market tickets cost $26.90, with free entry for kids 16 and under who have a ticket.
Sunday, July 13
Sunday Market (Timed General Sessions)
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The final afternoon of the 2025 International Folk Arts festival is a free event welcome to all Sunday Market ticket holders, courtesy of the New Mexico Tourism Department. Select a time to enter the market between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and join the community is wrapping up another incredible year of folk art fun.
KwaZulu-Natal Weavers (Ntombifuthi Sibiya)
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Ntombifuthi Sibiya demonstrates copper wire baskets created with a traditional Zulu weaving approach.
Esteban Silva: Taller de Papel DeLirio
1 – 2 p.m.
See Nahuatl artisanal paper making techniques demonstrated by Esteban Silva, made with corn, water lily, and black wasp honeycomb.
IFAM Insider Talk at Sukhmani
Carroll Dunham and Tierney Thys, co-creators of Around the World in 80 Fabrics, and Suzanne Lee, CEO and founder of Biofabricate, will give a talk entitled “From Fast Fashion to Thriving Ecosystems.” Tickets cost $56.93 with an IFAM ticket, and Mediterranean brunch is included.
Curated Shopping: Authentic Handmade Treasures with Purpose
The International Folk Art Market offers visitors the opportunity to buy authentic folk art directly from its creators, ensuring both quality and cultural authenticity. This Santa Fe handmade crafts shopping experience transcends typical retail by connecting each purchase to its cultural origins and the artisan family it supports. Unique artisan gifts found at the market represent one-of-a-kind handmade pieces that cannot be replicated by mass production.
From statement pieces to everyday treasures, the market caters to collectors and casual shoppers alike. Investment-quality handmade art and crafts appeal to serious collectors seeking museum-worthy pieces, while affordable everyday items allow broader participation in the global handmade movement. Collector-quality folk art pieces represent the finest examples of traditional techniques, often featuring innovative adaptations that demonstrate the evolution of cultural traditions.
Take home a piece of world culture through carefully selected items that represent authentic cultural expression rather than tourist souvenirs. The market’s rigorous selection process ensures that featured items meet high standards for craftsmanship, cultural authenticity, and fair trade practices. This commitment to quality and authenticity has established the International Folk Art Market as a trusted source for serious collectors and cultural institutions worldwide.
Festival Artist Selection Process
The International Folk Art Market showcases master folk artists chosen through a rigorous, objective selection process. Independent committees of folk art experts from museums, galleries, and universities dedicate 10 intensive days each October to review applications.
Lead reviewers, specializing in specific regions and mediums, evaluate each submission for technical mastery, cultural authenticity, and artistic innovation. The full Selection Committee then collaboratively identifies the most exceptional artists from hundreds of global applications, ensuring only the finest traditional craftspeople participate in the annual Santa Fe event. IFAM employees do not vote, guaranteeing complete objectivity.
Strategic Placement
The Placement Committee strategically curates the market to ensure both artist success and a rich visitor experience. They balance established artists with promising newcomers, high-value masterworks with affordable options, and traditional techniques with innovative approaches. This meticulous planning helps artists achieve sales goals and fosters genuine cultural connections for visitors.
Cultural Significance
In an increasingly mass-produced world, the International Folk Art Market celebrates human creativity, cultural diversity, and handmade craftsmanship. The event provides a platform where ancient traditions meet contemporary appreciation, master artisans receive recognition, and collectors acquire authentic pieces with deep cultural significance.
The annual gathering represents a celebration of human dignity, cultural pride, and art’s power to create cross-cultural understanding. The International Folk Art Market supports cultural preservation, economic empowerment, and global connection through exceptional handmade art.
Ready to Experience the World’s Most Authentic Folk Art Celebration?
Join IFAM’s global community of cultural ambassadors as a volunteer and gain behind-the-scenes access. Or, donate to IFAM. Stay updated by subscribing on the IFAM website footer for artist announcements and exclusive previews of featured collections and cultural programming.
The 2025 International Folk Art Market represents where the world’s finest handmade traditions come home to New Mexico, creating an unparalleled celebration of human creativity, cultural heritage, and the enduring power of the handmade. Get 2025 IFAM tickets now!
This article was posted by Jesse Williams
