The Traditional Spanish Market reflects part of Santa Fe’s fascinating multicultural history and draws tens of thousands of visitors from across the country and beyond. Scheduled to take place on the historic Santa Fe Plaza on July 26 and 27, 2025, the market is an opportunity to explore Spanish colonial history and explore arts and crafts created centuries ago and today.
Visit the 2025 Traditional Spanish Market to see more than 160 adult and mentored youth artists showcasing handcrafted artwork, including those in traditional art forms like bultos, colcha embroidery, retablos, pottery, tinwork, and more.
About the Traditional Spanish Market
Founded in 1926 by the Spanish Colonial Arts Society, today the Traditional Spanish Market is presented by the Atrisco Heritage Foundation. On the last weekend in July, the Santa Fe Plaza will be home to more than 125 adult and mentored youth artists offering their creations. Where else can you find bultos, retablos, ramilletes, colcha embroidery, tinwork, woodwork, ironwork, leatherwork, hide painting, pottery, woven textiles, and other art that reflects a centuries-old history?
Because the colonists from Spain who first came to New Mexico in the 1500s were Catholics, many art pieces are religious. Bultos, for example, are carved and painted wooden figures of saints. Retablos are religious paintings or religious scenes populated with small sculptures. Since fresh flowers were not available to the colonists, ramilletes were created from wood or, for those parishes that could afford it, silver to represent bouquets on the church altar.
What Happens at the Traditional Spanish Market
The Traditional Spanish Market, the oldest and largest juried art show in the country, celebrates its 73rd year in 2025. As always, it is free and open to the public. Booths open at 8 a.m. and shopping continues until 5 p.m. both days. As visitors wander between the booths, they’ll find original, handmade art that has been juried into 19 categories. Natural pigments are often used, as they were when colonists first came to northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.
The artists not only sell their works at the market, but they can compete for prizes and cash awards in each category. Their pieces are judged by art historians, art dealers, curators, and art collectors who are knowledgeable in each category.
What would the market be without food, demonstrations, and entertainment? Enjoy music throughout the weekend performed by regional Hispanic bands and dance groups. Keep your strength up for shopping by stopping at food booths. Visit with an author and watch a demonstration by an artist. It’s all part of the Traditional Spanish Market in Santa Fe!
If you enjoy supporting young artists, stop by the Youth Market. These young artists are keeping techniques and skills alive in the next generation. Look for them near the center of the plaza.
2025 Traditional Spanish Market Schedule
Saturday, July 26: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., The free Traditional Spanish Market at Santa Fe Plaza celebrates its opening day with handmade crafts, entertainment and activities that honor centuries-old traditions.
Sunday, July 27: 8 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., On day two of the free Traditional Spanish Market at Santa Fe Plaza, visitors continue to explore and celebrate Hispanic heritage with handmade crafts, live music, artist demonstrations, and cultural festivities.
Sunday, July 27: 9 – 10 a.m., The Spanish Market Mass will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, followed by a traditional procession to the Plaza Bandstand and a blessing of the artists.
The Atrisco Heritage Foundation
In 2023, the Atrisco Heritage Foundation hosted its first Traditional Spanish Market, after taking over the event from the Colonial Spanish Arts Society which had organized it since it was founded in 1926. The nonprofit Atrisco Heritage Foundation was formed by descendants of families that settled in the Atrisco Land Grant near Albuquerque more than 400 years ago. Today, the organization supports a wide range of programs that keep their history and culture alive by passing it along to new generations.
Learn more about the Traditional Spanish Market and the Atrisco Heritage Foundation here.
This article was posted by Jesse Williams
