Dances & Events at New Mexico's Native Communities

Native Communities

This listing of dances and events at local Native communities is provided by the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. It is best to call ahead to the main office at each Pueblo to confirm dates and learn about rules for visitors and photography that are specific to that Pueblo.

JANUARY

January 1: Turtle Dance at Taos Pueblo.
January 6, King's Day Celebration: Dances at Picuris Pueblo.
Buffalo, Deer, and Antelope Dances at Nambe.
Various dances at Sandia Pueblo.
Deer or Buffalo dances at Taos Pueblo
January 22: Evening Firelight Dances at San Ildefonso Pueblo.; San Ildefonso Pueblo Feast Day: Buffalo, Comanche, and Deer Dances.

FEBRUARY

February 2, Candelaria Day Celebration: Dances at Picuris Pueblo; Deer Dances at San Juan Pueblo

MARCH

March 19, St. Joseph's Feast Day: Harvest Dance and various dances at Laguna Pueblo (Old Laguna); Basket and Corn Dances at most Pueblos; Easter Sunday; Bow & Arrow Dance after Mass at Nambe; Dances at Zia Pueblo Sunday & Monday

MAY

May 1: San Felipe Pueblo Feast Day - Huge Corn Dance
May 3: Santa Cruz Feast Day - Blessing of the Fields and Corn Dance at Taos Pueblo
Memorial Day Weekend: Annual Jemez Red Rocks Arts & Crafts Show

JUNE

First Saturday of the Month: Blessing of the Fields at Tesuque Pueblo, Corn Dance.
June 13, San Antonio Feast Day: Corn Dances at Sandia and Taos Pueblos
Comanche Dance at Santa Clara
June 24: San Juan Pueblo Feast Day
Buffalo and Comanche Dances and Corn Dances at Taos Pueblo
June 29, San Pedro Feast Day: Corn Dance at Santa Ana

JULY

July 4,: Mescalero Apache Maiden's Puberty Rites: Mountain Spirits Dance at Mescalero
Nambe Dances - Winter Buffalo, Spear, Yellow Corn, White Buffalo and Commanche Dances at Nambe Pueblo
First Weekend: Picuris Pueblo Arts and Crafts Fair
2nd Weekend: Taos Pueblo Annual Powwow
3rd Weekend: Jicarilla Apache Little Beaver Roundup & Rodeo; various dances in Dulce
July 20-21: ENIPC Arts and Crafts Fair, San Ildefonso Pueblo
July 25: Santiago Feast Day - Corn Dance at Taos
July 26, Santa Ana Feast Day: Corn Dance at Santa Ana and Taos Pueblos
St. Ann's Feast Day - Harvest and various dances at Laguna

AUGUST

August 4: Santo Domingo Pueblo Feast Day - Huge Corn Dance
August 9: San Lorenzo Sunset Vespers at Picuris
August 10: San Lorenzo Feast Day at Acomita
Trade fair, Ceremonial Foot Race, Pole Climb at Picuris Pueblo
2nd Friday and Saturday: Zuni Cultural Art Expo
August 12: Santa Clara Pueblo Feast Day - Buffalo, Harvest or Corn Dance
August 9-13: Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial - 50 tribes in dances, parades and rodeos at Red Rock State Park near Gallup
3nd Weekend: Zuni Tribal Fair
August 15, The Assumption of our Blessed Mother's Feast Day: Harvest and various dances at Laguna Pueblo (Mesita)
Zia Pueblo Feast Day - Corn Dances
August 19-20: Santa Fe Indian Market - Basket, Butterfly and Corn Dances in Santa Fe
August 28: San Augustine Feast Day at Isleta Pueblo; mass in the morning and a procession following mass. Indian dances in the afternoon.

SEPTEMBER

September 2, San Estevan Feast Day: Harvest Dance at Acoma Pueblo; Harvest Dance at Isleta Pueblo; Harvest and Social Dances at Laguna Pueblo (Encinal)
Corn Dance at San Ildefonso Pueblo; Stone Lake Fiesta - various Jicarilla Apache Dances in Dulce; Buffalo, Eagle and Social Dances at Laguna Pueblo (Old Laguna); Harvest and Social Dances at Laguna Pueblo (Paguate); San Geronimo Feast Day: Buffalo, trade fair, ceremonial foot races and pole climb at Taos Pueblo

OCTOBER

October 4, St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day: Elk Dance at Nambe Pueblo; Harvest and Social Dances at Laguna Pueblo (Paraje)

NOVEMBER

November 12, San Diego Feast Day: Various Dances at Tesuque Pueblo; Christmas Light Parade at Zuni Pueblo

DECEMBER

First Weekend: Walatowa Winter Arts & Crafts Show, Jemez Pueblo; Vespers and procession are usually held at 6 pm at Pojoaque; Feast Day Mass at 10 am at Pojoaque in Tribal Council Room: Dances performed after the Mass
: Spanish Dance drama "Los Matachines" at Picuris and San Juan Pueblos; Pine Torch Processions at San Juan Pueblo; Sundown procession with bonfires at Taos Pueblo
Acoma Pueblo is lit with luminarias beginning at the scenic viewpoint and continues as far as "Sky City"
After 10 pm Mass at Laguna, various dances
After midnight Mass: at San Felipe, Santa Ana, and Tesuque Pueblos
Buffalo, Deer & Antelope dance after Mass at Nambe
December 25: Various dances at Tesuque
Dances to be announced (Deer or Los Matachina) at Taos Pueblo
Christmas Celebration: Matachina Dance at San Ildefonso Pueblo; Harvest Dance at Laguna Pueblo
Dances at Zia Pueblo