When is Zozobra this year? The next Annual Burning of ZOZOBRA is Friday, September 01, 2023 , the Friday before Labor Day, at historic Fort Marcy Ball Park in beautiful downtown Santa Fe,
The gates open at 4 p.m.
Entertainment begins 4 p.m. Official ceremonies begin 7 p.m.
We recommend you arrive in the venue by 8 p.m. The beach ball song and toss is at 8:30 p.m. and Zozobra showtime starts at 9:10 p.m. weather permitting. The burning may start earlier or later depending on weather conditions, but rest assured that the Burning of Zozobra is a rain-or-shine event and he WILL burn!
General Admission in advance $20 dollars per person, children 10 and under free! On Friday, September 1, 2023, the day of the event only, General Admission is $25. Express entry is $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the event. Get your tickets in advance and save! new Mexico residents receive a $5 discount on General Admission and Express Entry tickets.
Six Premium Viewing locations are available online only. On Friday, September 1, 2023, the day of the event only, Premium Viewing prices increase by 10%. A buy 3, get 1 free option applies to select Premium Viewing locations.
Tickets for this Santa Fe family festival can be purchased at the venue on the day of the event, Friday, September 1,2023, by credit or debit card and by cash in exact change only.
How tall is Zozobra? 50 feet 6 inches tall.
How much does Zozobra weigh? Approximately 3,000 lbs.
What is Zozobra made of? Wood, wire, poultry netting, cotton cloth, nails, screws, pulleys, plywood, shredded paper, spray paint, pizza pans and duct tape!
What and when is ZozoFest? The FREE Annual ZozoFest & ZOZOBRA ART EXHIBIT is a welcoming, family-friendly community event taking place Friday-Sunday, August 25-27, 2023.
When is the Zozobra Art Show?The Annual Zozobra Art and Photography Show is part of the Annual ZozoFest, August 25-27, 2023. Also on display and for sale will be historical artwork, photography and contemporary works by local Santa Fe artists, sculptors and photographers, and signed posters and official Zozobra merchandise will be available!
What else can I do while I am visiting Santa Fe, New Mexico? There so much more than Zozobra––Santa Fe, New Mexico history and culture are legendary! Check out these links to Tourism Santa Fe, Santa Fe NM True, and New Mexico True Things To Do for all the reasons why you should stay longer for a fun, family-friendly three-day Labor Day weekend!
HOW TO GET TO ZOZOBRA:
Is there parking at the Zozobra venue or the neighborhood? NO. Most people walk to the event from downtown and the Plaza, and a park and ride program operates from the bus line locations and the Rail Runner.
You CAN ride your bike to the FREE Bike Valet Parking next to the Masonic Temple. Bike Valet is provided by our partner Bike Santa Fe. Remember to bring lights!
The Santa Fe City Council has approved a streamlined parking and transportation plan for Zozobra.
City parking meters will operate on the usual schedule, becoming free after 6 p.m.; please do not park at any meters that are red-bagged.
SANTA FE TRAILS BUSES WILL BE RUNNING ON ALL ROUTES ON NORMAL SCHEDULES and bus service ends at 10 pm. Those who take a city bus to Zozobra need to plan for an alternative for getting home, either Uber, Lyft or a ride with a friend. Click here to view Bus Route!
FREE TRANSPORTTION TO ZOZOBRA
Please park at the South Capitol Parking lot at St. Francis Drive and Cordova Road and take the FREE bus or ADA shuttle to the venue.
FREE ZOZOBRA BUS PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF
If you are riding the free bus to Zozobra from the South Capitol Parking Lot, the bus will drop you off at the east corner of Washington Avenue and Paseo de Peralta.
If you are riding the free shuttle back to the South Capitol Parking Lot, please look for the return shuttles stationed on the south side of Paseo de Peralta just east of Washington Avenue.
NM RAILRUNNER PASSENGERS can ride the train for under five bucks and the last train is always held until all ticketed passengers are aboard.
UBER AND LYFT
If you are riding Uber or Lyft, you will be dropped off and picked up on Lincoln Avenue south of Federal Place
ADA PATRONS
ADA patrons can park free at the State of New Mexico South Capitol Railrunner parking lot on the SW corner of Cordova Road and St. Francis Drive and ride the free ADA shuttle to the venue!
The free ADA shuttle will deliver you to the correct accessible gate at Fort Marcy Park. Please be sure to choose the ADA shuttle and note the drop-off location, which is where the shuttle will pick you up after the event. We recommend that you board the ADA shuttle no later than 8 p.m. to ensure that you can settle in at the special ADA viewing area.
Please take note of the drop-off location as this is the same place where you will board the return shuttle. Because ADA patrons may need more time to exit the field, the return shuttle will depart 30 minutes after the lights go back on when the event ends.
Please allow extra time to use this service; we respectfully request one companion only to allow other ADA patrons to have access to this service. There is a designated ADA viewing area at the venue, which is available on a first-come, first-serve basis for wheelchair and ADA patrons
.Because our access-challenged patrons may need more time to exit the field, the return shuttle will depart 30 minutes after the lights go back on when the event ends. This free shuttle service is funded by the North Central Regional Transit District through the Regional Transit Gross Receipts Tax.
RTD BLUE BUS RIDER ALERT
Due to closures of the north lot on Murales Rd at Fort Marcy, the NM RTD Blue Bus 255 Mountain Trail Murales Stop will have multiple closures in August during Zozobra preparations. The 255 stop will be closed each Saturday, August 5, 12, 19 and 26. It will also close the week of the event from Monday, August 28 through Saturday, September 2. Please utilize the Park and Ride lot at South Capitol station on Cordova.
ZOZOBRA LOCATION
All guests will go through a security check before entering the venue.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 ROAD CLOSURES BY TIME OF DAY:
12 AM (midnight):
- Murales Road closes from Valle del Sol Drive to Cuesta del Norte Drive
7 AM:
- Murales Road closes from Bishop’s Lodge Road to Old Taos Highway
- Calle Estado /Governor Dempsey Drive, and Mansion Drive close from Old Taos Highway to Bishop’s Lodge; local traffic only
4 PM:
- Bishop’s Lodge Road closes from Paseo de Peralta to Valley Drive
5 PM:
- Murales Road closes completely from Bishop’s Lodge Road to Old Taos Highway.
- Artist/Hyde Park Road closes from Bishop’s Lodge to Gonzales Road. Through traffic will be able to pass on Gonzales Road, but with adjacent road closures, streets may experience congestion, so please allow extra time.
- Old Taos Highway closes from Paseo de Peralta to Murales Road
- Rosario Boulevard closes from Griffin Street to Old Taos Highway
- Paseo de Peralta closes from North Guadalupe Street (east of DeVargas Mall) to East Marcy Street.
- Guadalupe Street, Alamo Drive to Paseo de Peralta, southbound lane closed
- Guadalupe Street, Catron Street to Paseo de Peralta, northbound lane closed
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 ROAD CLOSURES BY ROAD NAME
MURALES ROAD
- Closes at 12 AM from the east of fire station to the tennis courts
- Closes completely at 7 AM from Bishop’s Lodge Road to Old Taos Highway
CALLE ESTADO/GOVERNOR DEMPSEY ROAD/MANSION DRIVE
- Close at 7 AM from Old Taos Highway to Bishop’s Lodge; local traffic only
BISHOP’S LODGE ROAD
- Closes at 4 PM from Paseo de Peralta to Valley Drive
ARTIST/HYDE PARK ROAD
- Closes at 5 PM from Bishop’s Lodge to Gonzales Road. Through traffic will able to pass on Gonzales Road, but with adjacent road closures, streets may experience congestion, so please allow extra time.
OLD TAOS HIGHWAY
- Closes at 5 PM from Paseo de Peralta to Murales Road
ROSARIO BOULEVARD
- Closes at 5 PM from Griffin Street to Old Taos Highway
GRANT AVENUE
- Closes at 5 PM from Griffin Street to Old Taos Highway
HILLSIDE AVENUE
- Closes at 5 PM from Paseo de Peralta to East Marcy Street
WASHINGTON AVENUE
- Closes at 5 PM from Paseo de Peralta to East Marcy Street
PASEO DE PERALTA
- Closes at 5 PM from Rosario Boulevard to South Federal Place
GUADALUPE STREET
- Closes at 5 PM from Park St./Catron St. intersection to Alamo Drive, change of direction
- Guadalupe Street, Catron Street to Paseo de Peralta, northbound lane closed
As always, our City of Santa Fe safety officials may make revisions as necessary to ensure pedestrian safety.
Your Santa Fe Kiwanis Club is excited to welcome you to the 95th Annual Burning of Zozobra, Santa Fe’s most unique family festival and historic tradition! We ask for your understanding and cooperation in abiding by the following guidelines for a fun and safe event.
We always try to make things as easy as possible, but we’re stadium-size now, so NFL policy applies. NFL rules allow bags and purses 4.5” x 6.5” or smaller in every professional football stadium. The NFL allows you to bring your belongings in your pockets, in a clutch bag roughly the size of your hand, or in a clear plastic bag 12″ x 12″ x 6″ or in a one-gallon Ziploc bag.
There will be a locker truck onsite to rent space for non-allowed items if you bring them and we encourage you to travel light.
You will go through a metal detector to gain access to the venue.
Gates open at 4 p.m.
WE LISTENED TO YOU, SO YES YOU CAN:
YES, bring your picnic food, childcare and medical supplies, but please bring them in a clear plastic bag in order to be searched.
YES, you can ride your bike and park it safely at the FREE Bike Valet in the Masonic Lodge parking lot next to the Scottish Rite Temple.
YES, take selfies with Zozobra
YES, bring your small stroller and watch from the family viewing area behind the arroyo or check it in and proceed to the main viewing area; but no wagons please (tripping hazard)
YES, get stoked with a killer 2000s playlist
YES, get your 2023 Zozobra T-shirts and posters
YES, eat all the cotton candy and tacos your heart desires
YES, be ready to toss beach balls
YES, shout “Burn Him, Burn Him”
YES, feel gloom-free when Zozobra goes down in flames
YES, see New Mexico’s best fireworks display
YES, go home in the best mood ever!
NOW THAT WE GAVE YOU THE YES-ES,
PLEASE HELP US MAKE THIS A FUN FAMILY EVENT WITH A FEW NOS
NO regular backpacks, clear backpacks only; please bring personal items in your pockets or a purse 4.5″ x 6.5″ or smaller
NO coolers, open containers or glass containers; the cooler image below just demonstrate cooler style –– no bottled liquids are allowed
NO bottled liquids
NO weapons of any kinds; NO concealed or open carry weapons. Any weapons found during search will be confiscated and not returned.
NO alcohol or recreational drugs
NO metal chairs, but cloth camping chairs are OK in General Admission viewing only; no chairs in premium viewing due to safety restrictions
NO large umbrellas; small folding umbrellas only, no larger than 12″ in diameter
NO tables or tents
NO pets, except for service animals as defined by ADA regulations.
NO lasers of any size; they will be confiscated on search and not be returned
NO drones of any size; they will be confiscated on search and not be returned
NO drones, bicycles, unicycles or skateboards
UNAUTHORIZED VENDORS not licensed by the Santa Fe Kiwanis will be cited by City of Santa Fe Code Enforcement and escorted off the premises
Is the event suitable for children? Most kids love Zozobra and many families think this event is a perfect thing to do in the Santa Fe area, but a 50-foot marionette can be intimidating for some kids, and fireworks always come with noise. You can watch from the family viewing area south of the ballpark if you feel your little one may not be ready for the spectacle
What happens if you and your child get separated? No worries, the Zozobra event in Santa Fe is a family-friendly festival! Pre-register your child or register at the event at our Lost Kids Booth!
Will Zozobra sell out? NO. Tickets are available right through showtime at 9:10 p.m. weather permitting; start time may be earlier or later due to weather conditions.
Are tickets available online? YES. If you’re looking for a thing to do in Santa Fe during Labor Day weekend, tickets for the 99th Burning of Zozobra on Friday, September 1, 2023, can be purchased online here.
Tickets at these physical locations in Santa Fe only until Friday, September 1, 2023 until 4 p.m. at the Del Norte Credit Unions locations listed here. After that, tickets may be purchased online.
How many people attended the event? 71,089 revelers saw the 98th Burning of Zozobra in 2022, welcoming a virtual audience of over 300,000 to watch the live event in a free TV broadcast and webcast!
What happens if it rains? We let it rain! Zozobra is a rain-or-shine event and he WILL burn. Sometimes rain comes early and we delay, sometimes later and we go early if we must. Even if it rains, Zozobra is still the thing to do in Santa Fe on Friday, September 1.
How do I add my Glooms to burn with Zozobra? A gloom box is placed near the TV stage at the Lost and Found Hutton Broadcasting Tent up until 8 p.m. Many people bring notes, divorce decrees and other legal papers, photos, and other flammable mementos, but no dangerous items are allowed. The items are placed in Zozobra right before showtime.
Other Gloom boxes are located at the following places in downtown Santa Fe:
- The Santa Fe Convention Center Visitors Office located at 201 West Marcy Street
- The Tourism Santa Fe Visitors Center in the Plaza Galeria located at 70 East San Francisco Street
- The Tourism Santa Fe Visitors Center at the Santa Fe Railyard Depot
What’s the entertainment line-up?
- Gates open at 4 p.m.
- Live music TBD
- 7 PM
- The Official Zozobra Show opens with live entertainment
- Beach Ball Song and Toss
- Welcome Remarks from Kiwanis President, Jacob Romero, and Santa Fe Officials
- National Anthem
- 9:10 p.m. Lights Out (weather permitting, may start early or late depending on weather conditions) for the Zozobra Show!
