Held the weekend following Labor Day, Fiesta commemorates the Spanish resettlement in Santa Fe after the Pueblo Revolt chased the conquistadors back to Mexico. It's the oldest continuous community celebration in the United States. Schools and state and city employees usually get a much-appreciated half-day holiday on Fiesta Friday.
Each year at the Santa Fe Fiesta, the city remembers the contribution of Don Diego de Vargas and the Catholic Church to the community's survival. The Fiesta began as a religious commemoration, but parties, parades, a fashion show and Zozobra, a giant puppet that is burned with great fanfare, were added as the community changed and grew.
Even before Fiesta officially begins, Santa Fe starts celebrating.
Among Sunday's highlights is the Historical/Hysterical parade. The parade, which features floats, marching bands, horses and politicians, begins at 2 PM. It starts in the parking lots at De Vargas Mall, North Guadalupe at Paseo de Peralta, continues to the Plaza and returns using a different downtown route.
