Burning of Zozobra

Hey Toby -
Zozobra is just one piece of Fiestas de Santa Fe: a 300 year-old festival commemorating Spanish Gov. Don Diego de Vargas’ bloodless reconquest of Santa Fe in 1692 after the Spanish were driven out by the Pueblo Revolt in 1680. It's a really fun time to be in town (we have) for the food, music and dance performances, crafts, religious processions, etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiestas_de_Santa_Fe

Sadly, the one year we were there on the exact day they torched this thing, we were staying across town versus our usual accommodations at Fort Marcy Suites - walking distance from Fort Marcy Park where it takes place - and didn't want to deal with the parking and whatnot so didn't go. But no matter; Fiesta is one of those unique cultural observances that's well worth taking in, whatever bit of it you're able to do.

Here's the official website:
https://www.santafefiesta.org/history/history-of-fiesta-de-santa-fe/

Thanks Kathy, I’ll watch for the events tab to be populated.

I've only been once and showed up right before the show started. There wasn't much of a line at security at that point. I wish I'd remembered to bring binoculars.

I was a bit anxious about being in a large crowd, thinking it would be comparable to an outdoor music festival, but it wasn't really like that at all.
It was more mellow and ... heartfelt? Polite? It felt very community oriented and not at all like some gaudy tourist spectacle. The year I went they had a designated area for people with sensory sensitivity.