May 16th – 18th
Most events are FREE, donations optional. Luncheon is $20, Concert is $20 in advance or $25 at door.
Festival Sefardí, New Mexico’s only annual celebration of the unique history and culture of the Sephardic Jews in the Southwest, enters its 16th year with a focus on the Indigenous experience in relation to early settler Jewish history in New Mexico and its continued impact on contemporary society. The festival will feature music, dance, poetry, art, workshops, delicious food, and talks by scholars, diving into the complex intercultural dynamics that continue to weave the fabric of New Mexico’s cultural tapestry.
The descendants of Jews who arrived in New Mexico in the late 16th century fleeing the Spanish Inquisition—known today as the “Conversos,” “Anusim,” “crypto-Jews,” or “Hidden Jews”—constitute a significant but often overlooked portion of New Mexico’s Hispanic population. Over the course of the festival, an extraordinary group of artists and scholars will help illuminate this profound history and identity that is part of New Mexico’s multicultural fabric.
The festival will begin with an exhibit opening and gallery talk. Please visit Congregation Nahalat Shalom’s website for the full festival schedule.
