If you’re anything like me and my family, when the weather cools, kids and teachers are back in school and football is again the sport of choice, your thoughts turn to settling in for winter and making plans for places you want to visit during the next camping season. My next few posts will give you some ideas of some terrific places to put on your agenda for next year.
On September 29th, Terry and I attended the 26th Annual Old Taos Trade Fair. Typically held the last weekend in September each year, the Fair is held at the La Hacienda de los Martinez, a landmark in its own right. Worth a visit any time of the year, and soon the subject of its own post, the Hacienda plays host during the trade fair to many groups of interesting participants.
There is a Mountain Men encampment, complete with tents, tools and authentic items that illustrate the difficult conditions these men endured. They stay in their encampment throughout the weekend, in nearly every way living the lives of the mountain man in the 17 and 1800s. They are joined by re-enactors in period costumes portraying trappers and traders from the past and provide a taste of history. Artisans are on site demonstrating how the important and unique folk arts of the southwest are still created. A group of local quilters joined the celebration to demonstrate the quilting tradition from frontier Taos.
Interesting to young and old alike, the Old Taos Trade Fair honors the difficult and dangerous lives of the courageous settlers of northern New Mexico. There is a variety of additional entertainment provided over the course of the two day fair. Aztec dancers, a Spanish dance troupe from Santa Fe and a group performing traditional northern New Mexican music performed on Saturday, as did a trainer providing an Andalusian horse demonstration. Several additional groups performing traditional music wrapped up the celebration on Sunday.
Entertainment in one of the courtyards
In addition to traditional craft items, traditional foods were prepared and available for purchase, along with sweet treats including candies and caramel apples. The event provided a realistic glimpse of the past and fun for the entire family. Admission for the event was $5 per adult, with children 12 and under free. If you are looking for a family friendly activity for the end of September and are in northern New Mexico or southern Colorado, plan to check out the 27th Annual Old Taos Trade Fair.
