Zozobra is too big for Fort Marcy park
Zozobra needs to move (“Lifting the gloom,” Sept. 2). It’s the one night of the year I dread because it means drunken kids parking along the narrow streets near my home, young men peeing beside their cars and leaving their empty beer cans (or whisky bottles) behind.
You would think the noise coming from the loud speaker would violate a city ordinance.
The attendance projection I heard for this year’s Zozobra was 60,000 people.
Isn’t this too large a crowd for such an event (at night) within the city limits? It’s certainly disruptive for the residents living near Fort Marcy park who don’t attend Zozobra.
Burning Man has the good sense to hold its event away from populated areas.
Does it require a Santa Fe citizen bringing a lawsuit against the city in order to move this annual hazard? Cynthia Lamb Santa Fe
Well done, Kiwanis
We headed to our first Zozobra celebration with a little trepidation. We moved to Santa Fe in December ,and Zozobra was something we had never heard of. As the celebration approached, we went to the mall to view the huge marionette. We placed our gloom in the box. We were advised by co-workers to arrive early, park far away and be prepared for a crowd. No one mentioned the fireworks, the Gloomies, the Fire Spirit dancer, the torches, the Fiesta Council — oh my goodness, I could go on and on. Three cheers to the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe for a wonderful Zozobra event. We will attend many more. From the police presence to the friendly volunteers, bands, food and crowd control, the Kiwanians did an extraordinary job. We were grateful that alcohol was not allowed to be brought in (or served) and appreciated our bags being checked to ensure so. We are encouraging our friends to put Zozobra on their bucket lists. Well done, Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe. Terry Strle Santa Fe
So much gloomier
Poor Zozobra — he must be so much gloomier than usual these days; I know we are (“The heat is on,” Sept. 1). Up until a few years ago, our friends and our multigenerational families would gather at Zozobra to listen to local bands, eat delicious homemade New Mexico soul food, visit, play and laugh for the couple of hours before the burn just after dusk. Zozobra is no longer the beloved community event that brought our families together for picnics, camaraderie and the burning of our gloom as the focus. It is now full of superfluous acts and regimental rules. We would love to see this event once again be user friendly. B. Michelle Williams
Albuquerque