AARP Sponsors Indian Market, Returns with Fun, Interactive Booth; Jewelry Drawing

AARP will once again be a sponsor of the 2017 Indian Market in Santa Fe bringing back its interactive booth with some fun new additions.

“We were a sponsor for the first time last year and we had such a tremendous response that we knew we wanted to come back to support the event and community again,” said Gene Varela, AARP New Mexico State Director. “People were pleasantly surprised to see AARP New Mexico at Market and had fun at our interactive booth, learning more about AARP and what resources we have to offer. It was a fun and different way for AARP to interact with people from Santa Fe and all over the world.”

This year’s booth will feature a free photo booth where people can commemorate their visit to Indian Market. There will also be a community listening wall where attendees can share their thoughts with AARP and enter a sweepstakes for the chance to win a beautiful piece of jewelry.

“We know that people primarily attend Indian Market to view all the beautiful Native American artwork so we wanted to participate in that tradition by featuring a New Mexico artist and give people the chance to take something beautiful and traditional home with them,” Varela said.

The sweepstakes prize is a beautiful serpentine and turquoise necklace by the Abeyta family of Santo Domingo. (See article featuring the Abeytas this page.) Visitors to the AARP booth will have the opportunity to enter the sweepstakes.*

The Santa Fe Indian Market is celebrating its 96 ^th anniversary, this weekend, Aug.  19-20. According to the event website, it began in 1922 as the Indian Fair created by the Museum of New Mexico as part of the Santa Fe Fiestas.  It was a way to showcase the art of Native Americans. Today it is one of the largest such events in the country. While the main event, organized by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, is Saturday and Sunday, there are many activities that take place in conjunction with the Market over the course of the weekend, beginning Friday, Aug. 18.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Must be 21 years or older to enter. Employees of AARP, their immediate family members and members of their same household are not eligible. Ends on Aug. 20, 2017. Sponsor: AARP. For official rules visit the AARP booth at the 2017 Santa Fe Indian Market.