Here's some news for your Southwest-savvy clients: Santa Fe is ushering in spring with annual events, shows and exhibits. We've rounded up some highlights that are sure to please your VIPs.
April 16: The Lensic Performing Arts Center celebrates the 80th Anniversary of the Lensic Theater and the 10th Anniversary of the creation of the nonprofit Lensic Performing Arts Center. Special performances at the Lensic will be followed by a black tie Gala Dinner Dance at La Fonda Santa Fe. Tickets are $250. Visit www.lensic.org.
April 30: La Tierra Torture Mountain Bike Race kicks off - a competition for everyone from beginners to experts on the trails north of Santa Fe. Visit www.latierratorture.com.
May 1: Taking place at the Lensic Theater, the Gary Burton and Chick Corea Duet is presented by the New Mexico Jazz Festival. Visit www.lensic.org.
May 5: Santa Fe's 26th Annual Century Ride offers 100 miles of history starting and ending in Santa Fe. Twenty-five, 50 and 75 mile rides as well, plus a "Half-Century Loop," are included. Visit www.santafecentury.com.
May 28-29: Native Teasures Indian Arts Festival, presented by the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Native Treasures now features more than 200 established masters and emerging Native American artists who are specially invited by the museum to represent the best of the Indian art world. The festival will take place at the Santa Fe Convention Center. Admission for Saturday is $5 and free on Sunday. Visit www.nativetreasuressantafe.org.
June 4-5: The 8th Annual East Mountain Fiber Farm & Studio Tour will be taking place in rural Santa Fe County. Fiber artists open their studios and farmers open their pens to visitors who can mingle with the alpacas, sheep, camels, angora goats, llamas and angora rabbits; free and open to the public. Visit www.newmexico.org/calendar.
June 4-5: Join in the activities of a Spanish Colonial farm at El Rancho de las Golondrinas during the Spring Festival & Children's Fair. Visit www.golondrinas.org.
June 5 & 12: Tour Santa Fe's most beautiful private gardens on two consecutive Sundays; a gourmet picnic is also available. Visit www.santafebotanicalgarden.org.
June 18: Opening of Home Lands: How Women Made the West at the New Mexico History Museum. An extensive show including artifacts, art - Martinze, Velarde, O'Keeffe, Bromwel - photographs - Gilpin, Haffer - and contemporary artists, with more than 200 objects spanning 1,200 years. Visit www.nmhistorymuseum.org. AN opening reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the 18th in the beautiful Palace of the Governors Courtyard. Visit www.ticketssantafe.com.
June 18-19: Santa Fe Steeplechase will take place at La Mesita Ranch north of Santa Fe; tickets available at Buffalo Thunder Resort. Visit www.buffalothunderresort.com.
June 17-19: Santa Fe Studio Tour featuring 38 individual artists' studios in and around Santa Fe; free and open to the public. Visit www.shocaseofthearts.com.
July 1-August 27: The Santa Fe Opera opens its season July 1 with Gounod's Faust, followed by La Boheme, by Puccini, Vivaldi's Griselda, Menotti's The Last Savage and Wozzeck, by Alban Berg. Pack a tailgate dinner or sign up for the preview buffet and don't miss the complementary prelude talks before every performance. Visit www.santafeopera.org.
July 7-10: Art Santa Fe returns to the Santa Fe Community Convention Center for its 11th annual international art fair. A total experience that includes a mix of outstanding contemporary galleries from around the world, cutting-edge art installations, emerging artists and dealers, an opening night Vernissage and an always compelling feature lecture. The event is taking place at the Santa Fe Convention Center. Visit www.artsantafe.com.
July 8-10: The International Folk Art Market is the largest international folk art market in the world. The market provides the chance to meet and shop 150 of the world's finest artists while helping preserve critical cultural traditions and support the artist's communities. Exotic food and live entertainment add to the global experience. The market will take place on Museum Hill. Visit www.folkartmarket.org.
July 17-August 22: The 39th Annual Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival presents six weeks of the world's preeminent music festivals. The festival is taking place at various venues throughout Santa Fe. Visit www.sfcmf.org.
July 30-31: Traditional Spanish Market is one of the summer's most popular annual events, celebrating the Hispanic heritage of Northern New Mexico. The market includes handmade traditional, Spanish Colonial arts created by more than 200 local and regional artists in addition to continuous live music and dance, art demonstrations and regional foods, all taking place on the Santa Fe Plaza. Visit www.spanishcolonial.org.
August 4-7: SOFA West: Santa Fe & The Intuit Show of Folk and Outsider Art. Prominent international galleries showcase the rich visual heritage of the decorative arts at the third annual SOFA West show - alongside a second art fair under the same roof, The Intuit Show of Folk and Outsider Art featuring galleries presenting self-taught art, art brut, non-traditional art, outsider and visionary art. Plus a lecture series, special exhibits and events. The show will take place at the Santa Fe Convention Center. Visit www.sofaexpo.com.
August 11-13: The 28th Annual Whitehawk Ethnographic Art Show includes more than 150 dealers, featuring Oceanic, Pre-Columbian, Spanish Colonial, Africa, Oriental, Indonesian and other ethnographic art from around the world. The show ill take place at the Santa Fe Convention Center. Visit www.whitehawkshows.com.
August 14-16: The 33rd Annual Whitehawk Invitational Antique Indian Art Show, one of the largest and longest running shows for historic antique Indian art, will feature a wide range of indigenous art treasures. The event is taking place at the Santa Fe Convention Center. Visit www.whitehawkshows.com.
August 20-21: At the Santa Fe Indian Market 2011, more than 1,000 Native American artists from across North America will showcase their work in this year's 90th annual market. Time-honored forms, innovated contemporary art, fashion, music, dance and food are all part of the largest Native American art show and sale in the world. The show and sale take place over the weekend by the week prior is filled with activity including the Best of Show Ceremony and Luncheon and numerous events at galleries and other locations around town. The market will take place on the Santa Fe Plaza and side streets. Visit www.swaia.org.