CELEBRATE THE ARTS AT
THE PLACITAS HOLIDAY SALE
NOVEMBER 21-22

For 28 years residents and visitors have enjoyed the transition to the holidays while shopping, talking with the artists, and meeting old friends amidst the creative wonders of the Placitas Holiday Sale. Traditionally held on the weekend before Thanksgiving, the Placitas Holiday Fine Arts & Crafts Sale becomes a beacon for artists and art lovers. This year it will be Saturday and Sunday, November 21 and 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Placitas Holiday Sale has acquired an excellent reputation for extremely high quality fine arts and crafts, good food, fine wine and lots of fun. The fair takes place at 3 central locations in the historic village of Placitas, Site # 1 The Anasazi Fields Winery, Site # 2 Big Tent next to the Presbyterian Church and Site # 3 the recently remodeled Elementary School and features over 82 of some of New Mexico's finest artists.

We are pleased to be back at the school and the new added space will be very appreciated by the artists and public. The other two locations will be familiar to our faithful customers: Anasazi Fields Winery and the Big Tent east of Las Placitas Presbyterian Church. The Big Tent is large and heated with window walls to allow the light to shine in and light up the artist's artwork. The Anasazi Field Winery is another popular site close by and is held in a cozy adobe pavilion with a magnificent view of their vineyards and orchards. Colorful signs and banners will mark the way.

After the hectic autumn, the mood is more leisurely, with time to talk with old friends, enjoy the goodies, and discover what wondrous works of art the artists have brought to our village. This well-liked art show will feature many renowned artists from Placitas, as well as other areas across the state like Albuquerque, Bernalillo, Corrales, Chimayo, Santo Domingo, Pecos, Santa Fe, Taos, Tijeras, Reserve, Creston, Colorado and Silverton, Colorado just to name a few. Since 1982 villagers of Placitas and visitors have enjoyed the relaxed, comfortable atmosphere of the Placitas Holiday Sale. Its size is less intimidating than most shows of the season, which gives patrons a chance to enjoy the splendor of the wares and actually talk with the artists about their artwork.

A jury selected these special artists from an ever growing number of artists who submitted images of their work based on quality, originality and variety. The organizers feel that by maintaining the number of artists at about seventy they can assure high quality and variety.

At Anasazi Fields Winery they will be featuring a new release of their American Cranberry Table Wine, the perfect complement to the holiday dinner. They will also be serving cups of hot, mulled cranberry wine. Other wines available will be their two grape-based wines, Blanco Seco and Rojo Seco, and three wines produced exclusively from fruit grown in Placitas: Apple, Peach and Plum. More information about the wines and the winery is at anasazifieldswinery.com. Delicious fine chocolates like chile chocolates, coffee bean chocolates, pecan chocolates and more can also be found at the Anasazi Fields Winery from Amour Chocolates. Nancy Coonridge from Pie Town brings her many flavors of organic goat cheese to the Winery and offers free tastes of each unique blend.

Across the road at the Big Tent east of the Presbyterian Church, the Las Placitas Presbyterian Church will sell their own delicious frozen chile, "Just Coffee," and handmade Christmas gift bags to benefit Habitat for Humanity and other mission projects.

Delicious food will be available at all of the sites. At Site #1 Anasazi Fields Winery will feature Little Smokies where they will serve salmon on a stick with lettuce and cheese as well as shrimp dogs, shrimp tacos and cheese stuffed bread. West of the Big Tent at Site #2, the Presbyterian Church will also be selling homemade food for everyone out of their church kitchen featuring breakfast burritos, chili hot dogs, brownies and drinks. At Site #3 the Placitas Elementary School's 5th grade parents will be selling a variety of hot foods like frito pies, chili stew, burritos and desserts for all to enjoy. When you're doing your holiday shopping at the show, make sure you get something yummy to eat from all of these fine groups.

The artists have been donating a piece of their artwork for the last 6 years to raise money for a good local cause. This year Placitas Holiday Sale will be donating this money to the Placitas Elementary School Arts in the School program to buy art supplies for the children of the school. The public can purchase tickets costing $1 for the chance to win a nice piece of artwork donated by the generous artists and 100% of the proceeds will go to this program. All artwork for the raffle will be on display at the School. The Placitas Holiday Sale has raised over $6,000.00 from this art raffle in the past 6 years.

Warm hospitality and high quality arts and crafts will be found in this juried art show, as well as something for everyone on their holiday shopping list. Mark your calendars for this fun and festive holiday art event. The fair is from 10:00a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, November 21 and 22. Located 6 miles east of I-25 on Highway 165 (take exit 242). Colorful signs and banners will mark the way through the scenic hills to the historic village of Placitas. All locations are centrally located.

The Placitas Holiday Fine Arts and Crafts Sale is organized by several local artists and sponsored by the Placitas MountainCraft and Soiree Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the community, the arts, and artists.

Contact: Nancy Couch (505)867-2450 or email us.