Centennial flames: Celebrating 100 years of Zozobra and the legacy of Old Man Gloom

Old Man Gloom up in flames during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

Tens of thousands gather to witness the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

20240830-news-em-zozobra-8 — The 100th burning of Zozobra took place at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, Friday, August 30, 2024.

Dancers with the Moving Arts Española Ballet Folklorico perform during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

20240830-news-em-zozobra-12 — The 100th burning of Zozobra took place at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, Friday, August 30, 2024.

Ava Montoya, 8, listens to the National Anthem being performed by Aria Hernandez during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

The Fire Spirit prepares to burn Old Man Gloom during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

20240830-news-em-zozobra-4 — Donnie and Sora MacDonald, from Colorado, take a selfie during the 100th burning of Zozobra, at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, Friday, August 30, 2024.

20240830-news-em-zozobra-2 — Patty Cervantes, from Corrales, 2nd from right, and others write down glooms to burn during the 100th burning of Zozobra, at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, Friday, August 30, 2024. She is wearing a t-shirt from the 1993 Zozobra, the first one she brought her daughter to.

Julia Goldberg carries a box full of gloom to be burned with Old Man Gloom during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

Ana Jimenez, 4, cuddles with Irail Mendez during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. a crowd of more than 60,000 was expected in celebration of the 100th anniversary.

Old Man Gloom up in flames during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

20240830-news-em-zozobra-3 — Michelle Martinez, from Santa Fe, gets blasted with bubbles by her nephew Sebastian Hita, 3, during the 100th burning of Zozobra, at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, Friday, August 30, 2024.

20240830-news-em-zozobra-5 — Alex Stover and Sarah Albro came from California to watch the 100th burning of Zozobra, at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, Friday, August 30, 2024.

Old Man Gloom during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

Old Man Gloom up in flames during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

20240830-news-em-zozobra-6 — People scramble for beach balls during the 100th burning of Zozobra, at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, Friday, August 30, 2024.

20240830-news-em-zozobra-10 — The 100th burning of Zozobra took place at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, Friday, August 30, 2024.

20240830-news-em-zozobra-7 — The 100th burning of Zozobra took place at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, Friday, August 30, 2024. A drone show was part of the performance.

Dancers with the Moving Arts Española Ballet Folklorico perform during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

20240830-news-em-zozobra-9 — Anna Lucero, from Taos, and Alfonso Rodriguez, from Albuquerque, watch the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, Friday, August 30, 2024.

20240830-news-zozobraballoon-1 — Linda Garcia, left, has her picture taken by Katherine Garcia-Gallegos in front of a Zozobra shaped hot air balloon, at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, Friday August 30 2024. Hundreds of people and school kids gathered to watch the balloon be inflated and watch Old Man Gloom being put together for the 100th burning of Zozobra.

20240830-news-zozobraballoon-3 — The Zozobra hot air balloon will be one of 16 new special shape hot air balloons at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta that runs Oct. 5-13.

20240830-news-zozobraballoon-4 — Rickey Gates, Liz Thorp and their daughter Willa Gates, 2, watch a Zozobra shaped hot air balloon, at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, on Friday.

20240830-news-zozobraballoon-5 — Ray Valdez, who helped put together the burning of Zozobra for several years, helps inflate a Zozobra shaped hot air balloon, at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, on Friday.

Flame runner prepares for the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

Tens of thousands attend the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe on Aug. 30, 2024.

Martine Lopez-Bowers spins her seven-year-old son, Reed, during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

Remington Martinez, 12, makes bubbles with his bubble gun as he celebrates his birthday during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

Starr Woods, of Florida, takes a selfie during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

Tens of thousands during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

Heather Kissinger and her partner Tuiren Hearth, who are visiting from Washington DC, share a moment during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

The 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe on Aug. 30, 2024.

Myla Tafoya, 6, dances with her mother, Candice Tafoya, during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

The 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

20250829-venue-v06zozobra — The 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe in 2024.

Julia Goldberg carries a box full of gloom to be burned with Old Man Gloom during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

People write down their glooms and put them in a box to be burned with Old Man Gloom during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

The 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

The 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

The 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

Friends embrace during the 100th burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

20240830-news-em-zozobra-14 — Hethr Griego, left, and Lisa Garcia, from Rio Rancho dance during the 100th burning of Zozobra, at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, Friday, August 30, 2024.

20240830-news-em-zozobra-13 — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham took part in the 100th burning of Zozobra, at Fort Marcy Park, in Santa Fe, Friday, August 30, 2024.

20240830-news-em-zozobra-11 — Ray Sandoval, left, and Jacob Romero, with Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe, get the 100th Zozobra ready to burn, at Fort Marcy Park ing, in Santa Fe, on Friday.

Chancey Bush

Chancey Bush Chancey Bush Chancey Bush Photographer

Eddie Moore

Eddie Moore Eddie Moore Eddie Moore Photographer

Published August 31, 2024 - 1:00 a.m. Modified October 6, 2025 - 2:00 a.m.

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