Heading to Zozobra? Here are some tips to ease your worries

With each second, we are closer to the burning of Old Man Gloom.

For the 99th time on Friday, Sept. 1, New Mexicans will gather for Will Shuster’s Burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe to burn the giant marionette at dusk.

Gates open at 4 p.m. and there are ways to navigate a trip to see one of New Mexico’s most iconic events.

Traveling north on the New Mexico Rail Runner is one way to get to the event.

According to organizers, eventgoers can catch the bus to Zozobra from the South Capitol Parking Lot. The bus will drop off at the east corner of Washington Avenue and Paseo de Peralta, 6/10th of a mile from the venue.

If riding the bus back to the South Capitol Parking Lot, please look for the return bus stationed on the south side of Paseo de Peralta just east of Washington Avenue.

Zozobra wants all his fans on the field, and that includes those ADA patrons. Park free at the State of New Mexico South Capitol Rail Runner parking lot on the southwest corner of Cordova Road and St. Francis Drive.

A free ADA shuttle will take eventgoers to the correct accessible gate at Fort Marcy Park. Please be sure to choose the ADA shuttle and note the drop-off location, which is where the shuttle will pick you up after the event. We recommend that you board the ADA shuttle no later than 8 p.m. to ensure that you can settle in at the special ADA viewing area.

Please take note of the drop-off location as this is the same place where you will board the return shuttle. Because ADA patrons may need more time to exit the field, the return shuttle will depart 30 minutes after the lights go back on when the event ends.

GLOOM-FREE QUICK TIPS

• Get to the venue before 8:45 pm. The less you bring the easier it will be to get through the multiple layers of security and into the field.

• CLEAR BAGS ONLY. No purses and even diaper bags must be clear. Locker trucks on site in case you brought non- allowed items but it’s $10.

• Grab a bite at one of Santa Fe‘s awesome restaurants before you show up or get treats from the many vendors on-site.

• No liquids or water bottles allowed. Enjoy free purified drinking water and cool collectible Zozobra cups or buy soda or lemonade from the vendors.

• Plan ahead to walk in or catch the last shuttles at the South Capitol Railrunner station on time. Last ADA shuttle 8:15 p.m., last regular bus 8:35 p.m.

ROAD CLOSURES

According to the Santa Fe Police Department, here are the road closures for Zozobra:

• At 3:30 p.m., Bishops Lodge Road will close from Paseo De Peralta to Artist Road, allowing for the final set up of the main ticketing and security checkpoint area.

• At 5 p.m., the following closure will occur:

Artist/Hyde Park closes from Bishops Lodge to Gonzales Road. Through traffic will be able to pass on Gonzales Road, but with adjacent road closures, streets may experience congestion.

• At 5 p.m. the following closures will occur and no vehicle traffic will be allowed on the closed streets:

• Old Taos Highway closes from Paseo De Peralta to Murales Road.

• Rosario Boulevard closes from Griffith Street to Old Taos Highway.

• Grant Avenue closes from Rosario Boulevard to South Federal Place.

• Hillside Avenue closes from Paseo De Peralta to East Marcy Street.

• Washington Avenue closes from Paseo De Peralta to East Marcy Street.

• Paseo De Peralta closes from North Guadalupe Street to East Marcy Street.

The following streets will have limited vehicle access:

• Guadalupe Street from Park Street/Catron Street intersection to Alamo Drive, limited vehicle access.

20+ pictures of Zozobra through the years

Road closures will remain in effect until the conclusion of the event and all pedestrian traffic is able to clear the area.