2023 Santa Fe Indian Market kicks off Saturday

SANTA FE, N.M. – One of the biggest events in Santa Fe is back and organizers are getting ready for a busy weekend full of festivities.

The Santa Fe Indian Market kicks off Saturday with more than 1,000 artists from over 200 tribes. From jewelry to art and even traditional Indigenous clothing, artists are ready to showcase their craft this weekend.

“It’s one of the biggest weekends in Santa Fe is coming up in 24 hours, ahh! We’re still making stuff!” said Amy Denet Deal, who owns 4KINSHIP.

On Saturday the market starts at 9 a.m. People can stroll down the plaza looking at pottery, textiles, paintings, and sculptures.

On Saturday night, 12 creators will showcase their pieces at a fashion show.

“You would normally think of a fashion show right as only having ‘fashion designers’ but because we do so much one-of-a-kind art wear our process is re-imagining vintage. We have some fine artists, we have some people that paint skateboards, we have people that are actual weavers and textile designers,” said Denet Deal.

The show is a private event people have to pay to attend, but designer Denet Deal said the public can preview the pieces before and after the show.

“’We Belong Here’ is the name of the show, and it is really just a celebration of Indigenous creativity. We are also all sustainable designers so that is such an important part of who we are as Native people,” she said.

Profits from the show will go right back to the artists through the Indigenous Futures Fund.

“Our show is a little different, we set up a 501 C3 fund that is actually a tax-deductible fund to raise funding to distribute to the artists after the show. It is a unique concept of how we honor relatives that participate in these beautiful events with us and for us,” said the designer and organizer of the fashion show.

The free events at the plaza will pick up Sunday morning at 9 a.m. The market will also have entertainment at the plaza’s main stage.