Iconic Classics in Santa Fe: World-Class Opera and Vintage Volkswagen Celebrations
Santa Fe County delivers an inspiring fusion of art, culture, and automotive heritage year-round. Summer highlights include the inaugural New Mexico VW Fiesta and the prestigious Santa Fe Opera's 62nd season, set against breathtaking landscapes of rolling hills, majestic mountains, and vivid turquoise skies.
The New Mexico VW Fiesta arrives at Madrid's historic ballpark June 1-3, featuring beloved vintage Volkswagens. The Santa Fe Opera runs June 29 to August 25, offering captivating open-air performances with stunning sunset vistas. Nowhere else combines opera's dramatic allure with America's iconic vehicles like Santa Fe.
New Mexico VW Fiesta
Vintage Volkswagens gather in Madrid for the inaugural New Mexico VW Fiesta, June 1-3, 2018. (Photo Courtesy of Santa Fe County)
Vintage Volkswagen owners cherish the deep connection with models like the Beetle, Karmann Ghia, Westfalia Camper, Dune Buggy, and Thing. Introduced in the U.S. in 1949 after the company's 1937 founding in Germany, Beetles numbered over 1 million on American roads by 1955. By 1972, sales exceeded 15 million, eclipsing the Ford Model T's record.
Explore diverse VW models up close at the New Mexico VW Fiesta. (Photo Courtesy of Santa Fe County)
Hosted by The Route 66 Aircooled VW Club at Madrid's restored Oscar Huber Memorial Ball Park—built in 1920 and the first lighted field west of the Mississippi—this event draws enthusiasts to celebrate VW legacy amid the historic Miners' home field.
After the VW showcase, discover Madrid and Santa Fe County along the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway. (Photo Courtesy of Santa Fe County)
Beyond the cars, explore Madrid—a revived mining ghost town now thriving with art galleries, shops, and eateries on the Turquoise Trail. Nearby Cerrillos State Park offers hiking and horseback riding.
Santa Fe Opera's 62nd Season
Patrons settle into the Santa Fe Opera's Crosby Theater. (Photo Courtesy of the Santa Fe Opera)
Experience soul-stirring music at the Santa Fe Opera, a globally renowned summer festival atop a mesa with open sides framing epic views. Since 1957, it has staged over 160 operas, including 14 world premieres and 45 U.S. premieres, drawing top international talent.
Dramatic scenes unfold onstage and in the sunset skies beyond the Santa Fe Opera. (Photo Courtesy of the Santa Fe Opera)
The 2018 season opens with Leonard Bernstein's Candide for his centennial, plus Puccini's Madame Butterfly (the company's debut opera), John Adams' Doctor Atomic (exploring New Mexico's atomic history), Rossini's The Italian Girl in Algiers, and a new production of Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos.
Pre-show tailgating is a cherished Santa Fe Opera tradition. (Photo Courtesy of the Santa Fe Opera)
Beloved tailgating in the parking lot features picnics from casual truck-bed spreads to elegant candlelit dinners, with attendees in everything from black tie to cowboy attire—perhaps even a classic VW packed with treats.
Plan your Santa Fe getaway around these timeless events for unforgettable memories. Download the 2018 Santa Fe Travel Guide and check deals and specials from our hotel and restaurant partners.
This article is presented in partnership with Tourism Santa Fe and Santa Fe County.
