Anthony, the CEO of LIVIN, says the Santa Fe Plaza always has a vibe, whether it's an event, shopping or eating.
Just after eight on a Saturday morning, the Plaza is still cool enough that you can feel the adobe holding the overnight cold. The cottonwoods in the park throw long shadows across the brick paths. Makers arrive and spread blankets under the long portal. By midmorning the park tents are going up across the square.
The portal fills early on weekends. Arrive after nine and you are already navigating shoulder to shoulder.
In October 2026 the Santa Fe Plaza hosts the Santa Fe Open Air Craft and Design Artisan Expo and Día de los Muertos.
Santa Fe Open Air Craft and Design Artisan Expo, October 16 to 18
The Santa Fe Open Air Craft and Design Artisan Expo runs Friday, October 16, to Sunday, October 18, 2026. Hours are 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.
The expo is on the historic Santa Fe Plaza, listed at 63 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501. The expo offers three full days of creativity, craftsmanship and culture on the Plaza.
The expo brings together local artisans showcasing one of a kind handmade goods, modern designs and traditional crafts. The expo listing shows admission as free (USD 0.00). The expo runs Friday through Sunday on the Plaza.
Día de los Muertos, October 30 and 31
Día de los Muertos is on the Santa Fe Plaza on Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, 2026. This is Santa Fe's fifth annual Día de los Muertos. Día de los Muertos represents a time to honor and reconnect with loved ones in the spirit world.
The 2026 theme is A Trip Down the Mother Road. Route 66 turns 100 this year, and for its first decade the highway ran right through the heart of Santa Fe. So the 2026 Día de los Muertos comes with Route 66 flair and classic cars on the Plaza, alongside marigolds, candlelight and calaveras.
Friday, October 30 runs 4 to 10 pm on the Plaza. Friday opens with mariachi music and traditional entertainment on the Santa Fe Bandstand. The bandstand is festooned with papeles picados, the colorful cut paper decorations. On Friday, expect brightly colored masks, decorative skulls and hundreds of marigolds.
Saturday, October 31 runs 11 am to 10 pm on the Plaza. Saturday includes ofrenda adornment from 12 to 4 pm, strolling mariachi musicians from 12 to 1 pm and 3:30 to 4:30 pm, and free face painting from 2 to 8 pm.
Saturday includes performances by Ballet Folklorico, Catrina dances by Xochitl Ballet Folklorico and Teatro Paraguas from 5 to 6 pm. A screening of Coco on jumbotron screens is at 6 pm Saturday.
After the sun sets, the Plaza lights up with a glow in the dark candlelight parade. The candlelight parade led by Las Catrinas de Xochitl Ballet Folklorico y Las Mojigangas is at 8:15 pm Saturday. A dance party runs 8:30 to 10 pm Saturday. Live music fills the Plaza after the sun sets.
A loop around the square
Arrive after nine and you are already navigating shoulder to shoulder. Saturday Morning on the Plaza Teaches You Everything is a story from our team about a weekend morning on the Santa Fe Plaza.
Next, look for a doorway on San Francisco Street on the Plaza block, marked with a blue WELCOME sign and the street number 60 East San Francisco. Inside, the building opens into a full skylit arcade with polished concrete floors, glass railings and natural light through ceiling panels. Shops line both sides of the arcade on multiple levels. A gold Zia sun is mounted on the glass railing of the upper level. The Skylit Arcade on the Plaza That Most People Walk Right Past is a story from our team about the skylit arcade on the Plaza block.
SABO, short for Sage Botanical, occupies a compact adobe storefront at 65 W Marcy St, one block north of the historic downtown Plaza. SABO stocks cacti, succulents, air plants, trailing vines, sculptural ceramics, small batch candles and artisan housewares made in America. SABO Is the Plant Shop Santa Fe Actually Needed is a story from our team about SABO, the plant shop one block north of the Plaza.
Lunch near the Plaza
Santacafé is at 231 Washington Ave., Santa Fe, NM 87501. Santacafé is in the Padre Gallegos House, originally built between 1857 and 1862.
Santacafé serves lunch daily from 11:30am to 2:30pm and dinner daily from 5:00pm to close. Santacafé invites guests to reserve a table under the apricot tree. The Santacafé lunch menu includes the Christmas Cheddar Burger with Hatch green chile, red chile aioli and Parmesan fries.
Plan your October visit
The artisan expo is at the historic Santa Fe Plaza, 63 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Route 66 turns 100 this year, and for its first decade the highway ran right through the heart of Santa Fe. Expect classic cars on the Plaza at Día de los Muertos, alongside marigolds, candlelight and calaveras.
The artisan expo runs October 16 to 18 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily, and the listing shows it as free. Día de los Muertos runs Friday, October 30, from 4 to 10 pm and Saturday, October 31, from 11 am to 10 pm. The candlelight parade starts at 8:15 pm on Saturday.
Anthony says the Santa Fe Plaza always has a vibe, whether it's an event, shopping or eating.