It's time for the opening event of Santa Fe's 400th Anniversary celebration.........

All week long Kiki's sleep has been disturbed by the large crew of workers and generators right outside her window at Fort Marcy/Magers Field Park who have been busy building stages and.....................

Building monumental arches.........

And pitching lots of tents to house the many activities planned................

There will also be lots of good old fashioned "Fiesta Booth" food and many tables set up to enjoy it in a civilized manner (no curb sitting)....................

And when the day of the opening finally arrives, this is the "mob" from Cielo Azul alone who is eager to attend. (Click on image to enlarge photo of group--of course, that will not help you see Margie who is hiding behind Diana's big head.)

Danny is ready to record the event................

Dwight and Diana are bursting with civic pride at the splendor of the event..................

Artie is beaming at the thought of the event..................

Sisi is utterly "possessed" about the event.......................

Cousin Paula came from far away to see the event.......................

Even Solange wants to go to the event......................

And Louie says: "All right, already--Let's go! Daylight's a' wastin'.........................."

And HERE WE ARE!!--at Santa Fe's version of a World's Fair.......................

This man is doing a demonstration on adobe making.....................

Don't let these kids know that their "fun" is really WORK..................

Dwight enjoys the shady lanes made by the colorful drapes connecting the many exhibition tents.......................

This was part of an exhibit of historical photos...............

More tents, more shady lanes....................

Bobbie's family had an exhibit on genealogy and quilting....................

Karen is enjoying the extravaganza in her back yard.........................

Kiki gets a hug from her favorite teacher (well, I guess EVERYBODY'S favorite teacher), Mr. Meyers...................

His art group prepared this nice mural that local kids are encouraged to embellish with their own ideas. It might have been a good idea to have a plexi-glass over the mural for them to paint on because eventually the kids totally covered the mural..............................

I borrowed this photo from Danny's blog--it shows us at the tables ready to eat and to enjoy the acts on the large stage......................

This was really a fine idea--such comfort!--SUCH TALENT!...............................

There were performers all day long on this largest stage, and storytellers etc. on the smaller stage near the arroyo.............................

The crowd doubled as did the excitement when these break dancers performed....................

This Native American girl awaits her presentation.......................

No celebration in Santa Fe would be complete without the dancers from our neighboring Indian pueblos...........................

This girl is dancing with a very little Buffalo dancer..........................

He is a very gifted dancer, but he is not the tiniest dancer.....................................

THIS LITTLE GUY IS!......................

The little "toddler dancer" awaits his time on stage....................

Where he did very, very well....................................

It's time to leave for the day, but the celebration continues tomorrow..................

At home, Keekers tries on a flamboyant dress she is considering for Fiesta.........................

Hyda helps her take off the price tag. Although I have worn the dress in the past, even I have not found an event for the Cha-Cha jacket, so it has never been worn....................

Later we settle down near the back fence to enjoy the gala concert at Fort Marcy Field, The snooty tailgaters at the Opera have nothing on us. The group Ozomatli (sp?--Frannie will correct me.) was thoroughly enjoyed by the crowd and by the tougher crowd at Cielo Azul.....................

Alice digs into her salad...................

Danny is still recording................(and sun burned)

Kiki gets a better view from the landing................................

Waymon is ready to enjoy.................................

And Frannie is amazed.....................

The boys check it out from the landing. Does this remind you of that sad little scene in BREAD AND CHOCOLATE where the poor Italians in the chicken coop peer out their window at the beautiful blonde Swiss swimming in the lake?

And, although they may not all be beaming in this photo, A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!