The Santa Fe Fiesta Council is a volunteer organization created by the Official Fiesta Proclamation of our city forefathers on September 16, 1712.
- Council
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Today the Santa Fe Fiesta Council is comprised of 100 regular members and 20 representatives of civic organizations and businesses. This group of people has a common interest to promote, manage and perpetuate the annual Fiesta de Santa Fe for the benefit of the City of Santa Fe, its citizens and their descendants. The Fiesta Council enlists the cooperation of the local citizenry, the Catholic Church, the local business community and both the City and County of Santa Fe officials.
The year begins with committee assignments in January and the election of the Fiesta Royalty in April. Fiesta Council members sacrifice many hundreds of hours of their personal time and resources; and in some cases, their annual vacation, to the perpetuation of this annual event.
Virtually all the annual budget is self-generated through arts and crafts shows and food booths, along with dances, carnivals, and financial assistance from citizens and businesses, as well as from grants by the Santa Fe Fiesta Foundation and the City of Santa Fe Arts Commission.
Long-range Organizational Plan with Results to Date
The Fiesta Council’s long-range plans are governed by our by-laws filed with the Public Regulation Commission, Corporation Department. We will continue to be a non-profit organization with no dividends or pecuniary profits being declared to its members. The Fiesta Council maintains a 97% membership of its roster and has no plans to change its organization plan.
The Regular Membership of the Santa Fe Fiesta Council is limited to 100 in number and is open to any citizen of the United States who has attained the age of 21 at the time of application and who demonstrates an interest in the traditions, objectives and activities of the Santa Fe Fiesta. Our Organizational Representatives, appointees of the Archbishop and President of the Council, do not count for determining the numerical limitation of regular membership.
Any local civic/business organization may apply for organizational membership of one person on a yearly basis. They have the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities as the regular membership and are limited to twenty (20) total organizations.
The Native American community has been an integral part of the history and traditions of the City of Santa Fe, its historic development and its economic, social, and cultural base. As such, the President of the Santa Fe Fiesta Council is empowered to appoint a representative of the Native American community with all rights and privileges.
In recognition of their special contributions to the Santa Fe Fiesta, all past Presidents of the Fiesta Council shall have a special membership with all rights and privileges.
Any person who has faithfully served as a regular member in good standing, and has obtained the age of 60 with 15 years consecutive service, or 20 years consecutive service with no age limit.
- Officers
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Gilbert A. Romero
PresidentVictor J. Vigil
Vice President
Deborah A. Sparks
Immediate Past President
Daniel R. Rael
Interim Treasurer
Krystle J. Lucero
Secretary
Rudy “Froggy” Fernandez
Parliamentarian
Albert M. Trujillo
Sergeant-At-Arms
Darlene M. Griego
Board Member
Ray “Chris” Sandoval
Board Member
David A. Ortiz
Board Member
Daniel R. Rael
Board Member
- History
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The cry of “Viva la Fiesta” has been reverberating through the streets of Old Santa Fe every autumn for 301 years. The sound generates a curious blend of thanksgiving, revelry and pride in the hearts of Santa Feans who celebrate Fiesta annually to commemorate Don Diego De Vargas’ peaceful reoccupation of the City of Holy Faith in 1692.
The historic capital is one of the oldest in the United States. It was established by Don Juan de Oñate at San Gabriel in 1598 and moved over 30 miles south to the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains where Santa Fe was founded in 1610. In 1680 the Indians revolted, burned the city and drove out the Spanish colonists, who fled to Guadalupe del Paso, now Juarez, Mexico. They rescued from the burning church the 29-inch wood carved Marian statue, La Conquistadora, originally brought to Santa Fe in 1625 by the missionary, Fray Alonso de Benavides.
Twelve years later, the King of Spain appointed Don Diego De Vargas to join the exiles in Guadalupe del Paso and organize a campaign for the resettlement of Santa Fe. He accomplished this difficult and remarkable mission without bloodshed on September 4, 1692. In December of the next year, the Indians resisted when De Vargas returned from a trip to recruit more colonists, so he set up an encampment outside the city near the present site of the Rosario Chapel. The anxious colonist placed La Conquistadora on a makeshift altar and implored her to intercede for the successful re-entry into the town. Before the end of December 1693, De Vargas led his triumphant forces back into the City of the Holy Faith where La Conquistadora was likely enshrined temporarily in the Palace chapel. Crediting the Madonna’s intercession with his victory, De Vargas is said to have vowed restoration of her throne in the parish church built by Fray Benavides in 1692 and destroyed by the Indians in 1680. The General De Vargas died on April 4, 1704 without achieving this goal.Eight years after the death of De Vargas, Lt. Governor Paez Hurtado who had been one of this Captains and a close friend, influenced city officials to draft a proclamation for an annual celebration commemorating the peaceful 1692 resettlement. The 1712 proclamation establishing the first Fiesta de Santa Fe, was signed by Governor Marquez de La Peñuela. The document specified a mass, vespers, and a sermon, thus setting the religious tone still characterizing modern fiestas. La Conquistadora is among the most venerated Marian figures in the world. She was crowned in 1954 by Cardinal Francis Spellman and again in 1960 by an apostolic representative of Pope John XXIII. Her golden crown is studded with precious stones, including a three-carat diamond. Her extensive wardrobe includes an exquisite lace mantilla from Sevilla Spain and an elaborate costume fashioned from ancient French vestments found in the old Cathedral museum. They appear to be of the secular and American periods of Bishop Lamy’s clergy. And so it is that La Conquistadora, a conqueror of hearts, and De Vargas, a conquistador of the new world, join forces to inspire our unique and enduring celebration, la Fiesta de Santa Fe, a time of prayer, rejoicing and hospitality for all.
- Fiesta Song
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Fiesta Song
One of the most notable sounds of Santa Fe Fiesta is the Fiesta Song. Click the play button below to listen and download an mp3 file.
Mariachi Tenampa – Fiesta Song
Santa Fe Fiesta Song (Spanish)Music by Billy Palau, Spanish Lyrics by Johnny Valdes, Jr.
Santa Fe, tus fiestas de Septiembre
Se celebran en la capital
Con Zozobra quemando las penas
Ya las fiestas van a comenzar
Tus mujeres llenas de alegria
Pregonando van su nuevo amor
A a luz de grandes luminarias
Van cantando con placer esta cancion
Si Señor, como no, vamonos al vacilon
A bailar y gozar de esta linda poblacionSanta Fe Fiesta Song (English)Music by Billy Palau, Spanish Lyrics by Johnny Valdes, Jr.
Santa Fe, tus fiestas de Septiembre
Se celebran en la capital
Con Zozobra quemando las penas
Ya las fiestas van a comenzar
Tus mujeres llenas de alegria
Pregonando van su nuevo amor
A a luz de grandes luminarias
Van cantando con placer esta cancion
Si Señor, como no, vamonos al vacilon
A bailar y gozar de esta linda poblacion
Recorded and Arranged by: Mariachi Tenampa
Recorded at: John Wagner Recording Studio, Inc. - Past DeVargas
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2010 Manuel Garcia2009 Ernesto Francisco Tafoya2008 Anastacio Trujillo2007 David Trujillo2006 Jaime Dean2005 Ernesto Santistevan2004 Jose Marguez2003 Ruben Aragon2002 Jody Ortiz2001 Paul Tapia2000 Carmichael Dominguez1999 Tommy Trujillo1998 Kevin Miller1997 Carlos Fiero1996 Sevastian Gurule1995 Jeremy Rodriguez1994 Ronald S. Trujillo1993 Robert Lujan1992 Peter de Vargas1991 Geraldo Gonzales1990 Marcos Tapia1989 Javier Gonzales1988 James Rivera1987 Fernando Rivera1986 Jose Morfin1985 Oliver Holmes1984 Art Gurule1983 Antonio Ortega1982 David Pike Romero1981 Joe Ruiz1980 David Rodriguez1979 Christopher Martinez1978 Orlando Gallegos1977 Santiago Romero1976 Joe Roybal1975 Alex Castellano1974 Antonio “Tony Lopez”1973 Tino Chavez1972 Gilbert Mares1971 Carlos Gallegos1970 Gilbert Martinez1969 David Segura1968 Rudy “Froggy” Fernandez1967 Phillip Trujillo1966 Arturo Jaramillo1965 Isidro Gonzales1964 Larry Moya1963 E.J. Martinez Jr.1962 Jose Gonzales1961 George Gonzales1960Fernando Delgado1959 Fred Garcia1958 Edmundo Delgado1957 A.B. Martinez Jr.1956 Alex Padilla1955 Edward Moya Jr.1954 Benny Chavez1953 Frank Gomez1952 Benny Padilla1951 Sen.Joseph M. Montoya1950 Pete Gabaldon1949 Bennie Salazar1948 Meliton Sandoval1944 Robert Valdez1943 John G. Valdez Jr.1941 J. Alfonson Armijo1938-39 Herman Baca1933 Marcelino Apodaca1929 Co. Jose D. Sena1921 Capt. Emory Moore
- Past Queens
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2010 Danielle Chavez2009 Victoria Felicea Mora & Sanchez2008 Angelica Marie Armijo2007 Theresa Rodriguez2006 Jessica Ann Librada Lucero & Lucero de Godoy2005 Jennifer Richardson y Garcia2004 Vanessa Melanie CdeBaca2003 Michelle Padilla2002 Monica E. Gallegos y Trujillo-Padilla2001 Vanessa M. Gallegos-Bibiano2000 Vanessa L. Mascarenas1999 Elizabeth R. Lovato1998 Donna M. Barela-Gurule1997 Elena M. Chavez-Tercero1996 Reyna Garcia1995 Marlene Acosta1994 Carolee J. Triday-Santistevan1993 Amanda Sue Quintana-Bowles1992 Contessa Aragon-Serna1991 Donna Marie Garcia-Lesher1990 Jennifer Juliet Manzanares-Herrera1989 Elizabeth Davidson-Arellano1988 Loretta Madrid-Rael1987 Maria A. Baca-Markham1986 Bernadette M. Ortega1985 Valerie Mderano-Garcia1984 Anna Marie Ortiz-Gonzales1983 Karmella Borrego-Gonzales1982 Anna Elena Tapia1981 Donita Sena1980 Elizabeth Angela Roybal1979 Charlene A. Lopez-Clayton1978 Linda Marie Romero-Esquibel1977 Deborah K. Romero-Borrego1976 Maria Diana Sanchez-Gonzales1975 Diana Maria Alvarez1974 Carla Yolanda Aragon1973 Karmella M. Pacheco-Miera1972 Linda Marie Borrego1971 Elizabeth C. Rivera-Gonzales1970 Matilde M. Herrera-Perez1969 Juanita Theresa Gonzales-Ortega1968 Lorencita Elizabeth Abeyta1967 Maria Cordelia Martinez1966 Rosa Marie Romero-Sanchez1965 Maria Isabel Martinez-Sandoval1964 Yolanda Maria Pacheco-Hodgson1963 Maria MOntoya-Rigg1962 Antonio Loyola Lucero-Pacheco1961 Maria Irene Lucille Lopez1960 Sylvia Carillo1959 Sylvia Roybal de Onis1958 Mary Ester Garcia-Bertram1957 Maria Ida Sanchez-Fernandez1956 Angelina Eloisa Ortiz-Delgado1955 Roberta “Bobbi” Quintana-Gallegos1954 Angelina Oyaca-Koontz1953 Christella Romero-Noedel1952 Maria Rosina Casados-Schutz1951 Jean Gutierrez-Rodriguez1950 Maria Pino-Ortiz1949 Anita Romero-Jones1948 Elizabeth “Betty” Serna-Cardenas1947 Pauline Padilla-Martinez1946 Lucy Romero-Chavez1945 Maria Socorro Lopez-Garcia1944 Consuelo “Peaches” Alarid-Collins1943 Pita Tapia-Gonzales1942 Natividad Quintana-Chidester1941 Clarita “Clara” Garcia1940 “Cuca” Romero-Gonzales1939 Mary CdeBaca-Ulibarri1938 Reynalda Ortiz y Pino-Dinkel1936-37 Orlinda P. Rodriguez de Castner1934 Lecha Delgado1933 Maria Isabel Sena1927 Amalia Sena-Sanchez
- Sponsors
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The Santa Fe Fiesta Council is proudly sponsored by the following entities:
Kiwanis de Santa Fe (Zozobra website)
New Mexico Department of Tourism
If you would like to become a sponsor of Santa Fe Fiesta please visit our contact page.
- Memorial
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In loving memory of:
Fred Garcia – Larry Moya – Josephine Bradshaw – Fay Lucero
John Alderette – Tony Armijo – Tony Blea – Marcella Rivera
Rosemarie Alderette – Marie Sandoval – Sorada Montoya – Carmen Oyaca
Frank Johnson – Clarita Maestas – Armando Benavidez
Pita Montoya – Bennie Herrera – Rita Campos Melady
