# Things to Do in Santa Fe with Kids This Weekend \(Oct 16–18\)

Things to do in Santa Fe with kids this weekend, Oct 16–18: 5 dated events, family activities, kid-friendly restaurants and weekend ideas. Updated Oct 17.

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This weekend in Santa Fe: Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18, 2026 · 5 dated events

Updated: Oct 17, 2026

Family activities in Santa Fe, NM right now: kid-friendly events the whole family will like, restaurants that can handle a toddler, and weekend ideas that work around nap windows.

## Happening Today

Events and things to do tonight

### Santa Fe Farmers' Market at the Railyard
Brisk autumn morning browsing with hot Cafe Fresh coffee, roasted chiles, and harvest squash from northern New Mexico growers.
- Venue: Santa Fe Farmers' Market Pavilion
- Location: Railyard District, Santa Fe
- Date: 2026-10-17 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
- Cost: $
- Best for: Everyone
- Link: https://santafefarmersmarket.com/markets/saturday-market/

### The Met: Live in HD 'Macbeth' at The Lensic
Verdi's stark, thrilling take on Shakespeare's drama broadcast live onto the historic downtown stage at midday.
- Venue: Lensic Performing Arts Center
- Location: Downtown, Santa Fe
- Date: 2026-10-17 11:00 AM
- Cost: $$
- Best for: Culture lovers
- Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=The%20Met%3A%20Live%20in%20HD%20%27Macbeth%27%20at%20The%20Lensic%20Downtown%2C%20Santa%20Fe

### Pam Grier Lifetime Achievement Award & Film Festival Gala
Santa Fe International Film Festival honors screen trailblazer Pam Grier tonight in an intimate on-stage tribute.
- Venue: Lensic Performing Arts Center
- Location: Downtown, Santa Fe
- Date: 2026-10-17 6:00 PM
- Cost: $$$
- Best for: Film buffs
- Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=Pam%20Grier%20Lifetime%20Achievement%20Award%20%26%20Film%20Festival%20Gala%20Downtown%2C%20Santa%20Fe

## This Weekend in Santa Fe, NM

Art, music, and mountain sunshine

### Railyard Artisan Market
Meet northern New Mexico printmakers, jewelers, and potters inside the light-filled pavilion for a relaxed Sunday morning walk.
- Venue: Santa Fe Farmers' Market Pavilion
- Location: Railyard District, Santa Fe
- Date: 2026-10-18 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Cost: $
- Best for: Design hunters
- Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=Railyard%20Artisan%20Market%20Railyard%20District%2C%20Santa%20Fe

### Schubert & The Bells with The Santa Fe Symphony
Gothic melodies and brass-infused autumn repertoire to close out your Sunday afternoon in the historic auditorium.
- Venue: Lensic Performing Arts Center
- Location: Downtown, Santa Fe
- Date: 2026-10-18 4:00 PM
- Cost: $$
- Best for: Music enthusiasts
- Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=Schubert%20%26%20The%20Bells%20with%20The%20Santa%20Fe%20Symphony%20Downtown%2C%20Santa%20Fe

### Dale Ball Trails: Sierra del Norte Foothills Loop
Crisp 65°F midday sun, scent of piñon pine, and sweeping golden valley views along the well-marked junction paths.
- Location: Northeast Foothills, Santa Fe
- Cost: $
- Best for: Hikers & walkers
- Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=Dale%20Ball%20Trails%3A%20Sierra%20del%20Norte%20Foothills%20Loop%20Northeast%20Foothills%2C%20Santa%20Fe

## Eat & Drink

Warm dining and high-desert flavours

### Huevos Motuleños at Café Pasqual's
Iconic communal-table brunch featuring eggs over corn tortillas with black beans, sautéed bananas, feta, and fiery roasted chile.
- Location: Downtown / Plaza, Santa Fe
- Cost: $$
- Best for: Brunch lovers
- Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=Huevos%20Motule%C3%B1os%20at%20Caf%C3%A9%20Pasqual%27s%20Downtown%20%2F%20Plaza%2C%20Santa%20Fe

### Autumn Green Chile Bowls at La Choza
Settle into the colorful adobe dining rooms near the tracks for house-made blue corn enchiladas and slow-simmered green chile stew.
- Location: Railyard District, Santa Fe
- Cost: $$
- Best for: Comfort food seekers
- Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=Autumn%20Green%20Chile%20Bowls%20at%20La%20Choza%20Railyard%20District%2C%20Santa%20Fe

### Red Chile Posole in the Hacienda at The Shed
Tucked off the Plaza since 1953, serving steaming bowls of red chile pork posole and garlic French bread under low-beamed viga ceilings.
- Location: Downtown Plaza, Santa Fe
- Cost: $$
- Best for: Authentic dining
- Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=Red%20Chile%20Posole%20in%20the%20Hacienda%20at%20The%20Shed%20Downtown%20Plaza%2C%20Santa%20Fe

## New & Notable

Coming up on the cultural calendar

### Silkroad Up Close at Lensic Performing Arts Center
Clarinetist Kinan Azmeh, harpist Maeve Gilchrist, and percussionist Kaoru Watanabe bring global folk improvisations to town.
- Venue: Lensic Performing Arts Center
- Location: Downtown, Santa Fe
- Date: 2026-10-22 7:30 PM
- Cost: $$
- Best for: Music lovers
- Link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/Z7r9jZ1A7Pk87

### Ax and the Hatchetmen at Meow Wolf
High-energy indie surf-rock inside the neon dimensions of the House of Eternal Return music venue.
- Venue: Meow Wolf
- Location: Southside, Santa Fe
- Date: 2026-10-23 8:30 PM
- Cost: $$
- Best for: Concertgoers
- Link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/Z7r9jZ1A70YvV

### Día de los Muertos Celebrations on Santa Fe Plaza
Preparations are underway for the landmark fifth annual celebration featuring Route 66 lowriders, marigold ofrendas, and mariachi.
- Location: Santa Fe Plaza, Santa Fe
- Cost: $
- Best for: Families & visitors
- Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=D%C3%ADa%20de%20los%20Muertos%20Celebrations%20on%20Santa%20Fe%20Plaza%20Santa%20Fe%20Plaza%2C%20Santa%20Fe

## Quick Escape

Scenic day trips within driving reach

### High Road to Taos: Weavers, Chapels & Golden Cottonwoods
Wind along Highway 76 through Chimayó for heirloom chimayó chile and Santuario blankets, stopping in Truchas and Peñasco before an afternoon coffee on Taos Plaza.
- Location: Chimayó & Taos \(1.5 hours north\)
- Cost: $$
- Best for: Scenic drivers & history buffs
- Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=High%20Road%20to%20Taos%3A%20Weavers%2C%20Chapels%20%26%20Golden%20Cottonwoods%20Chimay%C3%B3%20%26%20Taos%20(1.5%20hours%20north)

### Bandelier National Monument & Jemez Mountain Springs
Climb wooden ladders into ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings along Frijoles Canyon beneath turn-of-season yellow cottonwood canopies, then soak at Jemez Hot Springs.
- Location: Los Alamos / Jemez \(1 hour northwest\)
- Cost: $$
- Best for: Adventurers & history enthusiasts
- Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=Bandelier%20National%20Monument%20%26%20Jemez%20Mountain%20Springs%20Los%20Alamos%20%2F%20Jemez%20(1%20hour%20northwest)

## Ready-made Santa Fe, NM itineraries

- [3-Day Santa Fe Weekend for Couples](https://wonderkit.app/itineraries/santa-fe-nm/3-day-weekend-for-couples)
- [All Santa Fe, NM itineraries](https://wonderkit.app/itineraries/santa-fe-nm)

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