Santa Fe: #1 City in the U.S. – 2025 Fall Events, Festivals & Travel Guide
Fall in love with Santa Fe - recently crowned #1 by Travel + Leisure! Santa Fe, New Mexico, has officially been named the #1 City in the United States by Travel + Leisure for 2025 in their readers’ choice awards! Once you’re here, you’ll understand why. Teeming with centuries-old adobe architecture, a thriving creative and arts scene, award-winning dining, and easy access to stunning natural landscapes, Santa Fe is a treasure trove of adventures to be had. This fall, expect its magic to be turned all the way up!
A Season for the Senses
Fall in Santa Fe is a multisensory experience and one of the best times to visit! Picture golden aspens blanketing the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the earthy aroma of piñon smoke curling into the sky, and red and green chile roasting as you swap stories with friendly locals and snap photos of iconic blue doors. Every one of your senses comes alive here, drenched in color, warmth, and delight.
A City Beaming with Culture and Creativity
Santa Fe is home to more than 20 museums and over 250 galleries, making it one of the most artistically rich cities in the world. From the iconic Georgia O’Keeffe Museum to the immersive world of Meow Wolf, there’s endless inspiration to feed your senses. Wander Canyon Road, one of the most concentrated stretches of fine art in the U.S., or explore Museum Hill, home to world-class collections of folk art, Native art, and Spanish Colonial treasures.
Want to dive even deeper into the arts? Grab the New Mexico Culture Pass - a $30 annual pass that grants access to 15 of the state’s top museums and historic sites, including many right here in Santa Fe.
This fall also brings incredible performing arts seasons:
Lensic Performing Arts Center 2025–26 Season kicks off September 25 with Renée Fleming and Kevin Spencer in a fascinating discussion on music and the mind.
Santa Fe Pro Musica 2025–26 Season begins in October with over 20 classical music performances through May 2026.
Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus celebrates its 42nd anniversary with a special collaboration with Alexi Kennedy on September 14.
It’s no surprise Santa Fe was the first U.S. city designated a UNESCO Creative City - a title it continues to earn with every painting, sculpture, recipe, and cultural celebration that comes to life in the City Different.
Bucket-List Events Happening This Fall
Santa Fe’s fall calendar is packed with can’t-miss festivals, markets, and cultural gatherings for Fall 2025 and many just steps from the Plaza:
101st Burning of Zozobra (Aug 29) – Watch a towering effigy of gloom go up in flames and burn away the gloom at this iconic local ritual.
313th Annual Fiesta de Santa Fe (Aug 30–Sept 7) – A 300+ year-old celebration filled with music, dance, food, and cultural traditions.
Santa Fe Fiestas Arts & Crafts Market (Aug 30–Sept 1) – Open-air market with hand-fashioned jewelry, pottery, leather, paintings, and more.
Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta (Sept 24–28) – Pairing over 90 wineries with Santa Fe’s best chefs.
Santa Fe Society of Artists (Weekends Aug–Oct) – Juried local artists selling fine paintings, photography, and sculpture in the Plaza and Railyard.
New Mexico Jazz Festival (Sept 4–28) – Legends and up-and-comers perform at venues in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Taos.
Northern New Mexico Fine Arts & Crafts Guild (Sept 27–28) – Juried work showcased in Cathedral Park.
- Regional Art Studio Tours – Explore local talent across artistic mediums in stunning settings:
Harvest Festival at El Rancho de las Golondrinas (Oct 4–5) – Step into the 1700s with cider pressing, weaving, and old-world charm.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (Oct 4–13) – Less than an hour away, with 500+ balloons filling the sky each morning in this iconic yearly celebration (there's a shuttle that takes you there from downtown Santa Fe, too!
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Weekend (Oct 11–13) – Native dancers, artists, and storytellers in the Plaza.
Santa Fe International Film Festival (Oct 15–20) – Award-winning films, panels, workshops, and Q&As with filmmakers.
Canyon Road Paint & Sculpt Out (Oct 18) – Artists creating live in one of Santa Fe’s most famous art districts.
Review Santa Fe Photo Symposium (Nov 1–3) – Juried photographic talent from around the globe.
Recycle Santa Fe Art Festival (Nov 14–16) – Upcycled art market with the famous Trash Fashion & Costume Contest.
World-Class Dining in the Heart of the Southwest
Santa Fe’s dining scene is truly world-class. Whether you’re craving a green chile cheeseburger, elevated New Mexican fare, or global flavors, you’ll find it here - often with adobe walls and charming crackling fireplaces as your backdrop.
Top spots to try this fall:
Sazon – Elevated Mexican cuisine by a James Beard-nominated chef.
Geronimo – Fine dining in a 1756 adobe home on Canyon Road.
Café Pasqual’s – Organic, locally sourced meals in a lively, colorful setting.
Paloma – Creative, Mexican-inspired menu highlighting fresh, local ingredients.
Where to Stay in Santa Fe this Fall
Fall is one of the most sought-after seasons to visit Santa Fe, so securing your accommodations early is key! No matter your home preference: steps from the Plaza, tucked into the foothills with mountain views, or surrounded by art and history, we offer an exciting collection of vacation rentals to suit every taste.
Our homes are thoughtfully furnished, well-stocked, and located in some of Santa Fe’s most desirable neighborhoods. Many feature private courtyards, fireplaces, art-filled interiors, and easy access to both outdoor adventures and cultural attractions.
Santa Fe: #1 for a Reason
Santa Fe is more than a destination; it’s a feeling.
When you step foot here, you'll be surrounded by a vibrant history and inspired by wild creativity, all accompanied by a warm, hospitable welcome. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, fall is the time to experience what makes the City Different shine.
Book your fall getaway now at avacationdifferent.com and see for yourself why we’re proud to call Santa Fe America’s #1 City - and why so many of our guests return again, and again, and again!