Get a dose of old-fashioned charm at the 25th anniversary of the annual Christmas at the Palace -- a must-do event for a proper, Santa Fe-style holiday. Held in the 400-year-old Palace of the Governors, a National Historic Landmark, the evening is a popular community gathering with Santa, music and more.
Children visit with Santa, families tour the Palace of the Governors' exhibits (including the new Santa Fe Found: Fragments of Time), and everyone enjoys hot cider in the courtyard.
The re-opened Palace Press will once again give visitors a chance to print their own Christmas cards using a historic, hand-operated letterpress. Farolitos, bonfires and musical performances by local groups complete the evening. Free and open to the public.
The History Museum and Palace will close at 3 p.m. to prepare for this event. Enter through the Palace at 105 W. Palace Ave. The History Museum will remain closed during the event.
Performers:
4:45-5:15 pm: Portal drumming, Lawrence Toya
5:30-7 pm: EPIK Artists Erick Illick (violin), Sarah Rogowsey (violin),Pecos Singer (cello), and Maya Rose Tweten (voice)
5:30-6:30 pm: Chuscales, flamenco guitar
6:30-7:30 pm: Schola Cantorum, choral music
Roaming throughout the event will be Mrs. Claus and her helpful elves, as well as the Christmas Angel, played by Betsy Robinson.
Other holiday festivities at the museum include:
MUSICAL PERFORMANCES
Come to the History Museum to enjoy local musicians performing holiday classics in the second-floor Frost Foundation Gathering Space. All of these performances are free with museum admission:
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1:30-2:30 pm: EPIK Artists, youth musicians of the Santa Fe Concert Association
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1:30-2:30 pm: EPIK Artists, youth musicians of the Santa Fe Concert Association
Thursday, Dec. 10, 1:30-2:30 pm: Ana Maria Cardinalli-Padilla, classical guitar
YOUNG NATIVE ARTISTS SHOW AND SALE
Children and grandchildren of artisans who belong to the Palace of the Governors' Portal Program show off their creations Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12 and 13, from 10 am to 4 pm. Pick up some nifty Christmas presents. Come to the John Gaw Meem Room at 110 Washington Avenue for this free event.
LAS POSADAS
The annual Las Posadas re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem (in this case, the Santa Fe Plaza), takes places from 5-7 pm on Sunday, Dec. 13. The procession begins at the east end of the Palace Portal, makes its way around the Plaza and concludes in the Palace Courtyard with hot cider and carols.
