Not all of the drama occurs on stage at the Santa Fe Opera. There is the see-and-be-seen. The outfits, fine China, and crystal. It’s all part of the pre-performance delights of a tailgate party. We gathered TABLE Magazine contributors to experience it for ourselves.

A Santa Fe Opera Tradition: A Tailgate Party for Everyone

Chilled rosé? Check. Tomato and tapenade tart? Check. Ice, ice buckets, side dishes, napkins, tablecloth, plates, and cutlery safely stowed in the back of our Mini Cooper and we were off. The occasion was my maiden voyage hosting a tailgate at the Santa Fe Opera along with some of our beloved writers and contributors.

Summer Nights with Wine and Good Company

The only rule was no work talk (or not much). Wine and spirits writer Bill Smith kindly brought his favorite wines for tailgate imbibing – a sparkling and a still rosé that were just the thing for an early evening that was reluctant to dip below 90 degrees. Photographer Tira Howard magically managed to fit a table and six chairs in her car, already full to overflowing with camera equipment.

The opera kindly opens its parking lot early to welcome tailgaters like us to enjoy the show before the show. There’s everything from candelabras to costumes, so you can count on people-watching opportunities. “I just love the fact that we can say tailgate and opera in the same sentence,” says Jenna Scanlan, who’s an opera tailgate veteran of 25 years.

And even when a tailgate goes awry – that is, the heavens open up – it’s still memorable. Jenna remembers friends hosting a tailgate one year complete with china and crystal when summer monsoons decided to join the festivities. “Luckily, they had an SUV, so they put the seats down, and we piled in the back, enjoyed it anyway, and then made our way to the opera. We were soaked, but happy,” she says.

How to Join the Santa Fe Opera Tailgates

JB Peña has been an avid opera-goer since she was a child but is relatively new to the joys of tailgating. “One suggestion is to get a good parking space if you like the views. Now, if you want to be in the thick of it, then you can just park right in the middle and have everybody walk by and ooh and aah and say, ‘Can I have a bite of that?’”

And it’s that conviviality that makes tailgating such a joy. Amy Owens got her first taste as an apprentice singer in 2014 (she now directs the Santa Fe Opera’s Young Voices program), but it was post-pandemic when she fell in love. And while she likes to don a ballgown and go OTT-elegant, she’s just as happy tucking into a takeaway salad and meeting fellow opera buffs at the picnic tables the opera kindly provides. “I feel like I’ve done all versions of tailgating and every one is a fun experience. There’s no one way to do it,” she says.

Connecting the Experience to the Show

This year, JB is toying with the idea of wearing one of her vintage kimonos for Madama Butterfly, while Jenna has her eyes set on Lili Elbe. “I’m so proud of our opera for hosting the American premiere,” she says. Amy is looking forward to Rodelinda by George Frideric Handel. “I always find that early music really does well here at Santa Fe Opera. It has this feeling of freshness, even though it’s quite old,” she says.

As we finished off a slice of cake with poached plums and orange mascarpone and took a last sip of L’Oiseau du Paradis Côteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rosé 2024, the lure of the tailgate was clear. The temperature had dropped, there was laughter in the air, and the sun was doing its own performance for us as it slowly started to set. It was a wonderful reminder that a ticket to the opera is always a joy, and a tailgate makes it even better.

A special thanks to the Santa Fe Opera for so generously hosting us for a magical night!

Tailgating Tips from the Santa Fe Opera

We asked out good friends at the Santa Fe Opera for their dos and don’ts for a happy, stress-free tailgate. The dos list is much longer than the don’ts.

• Arrive early. The parking lots open three hours before showtime.
• Lean into the theme. Show-inspired foods, drinks, and table settings set the mood for the evening. Perhaps sushi and chilled sake for Madama Butterfly, or
  smoked salmon blini and a vodka cocktail for Eugene Onegin.
• Make use of the scenic grounds. Picnic tables are scattered throughout the scenic grounds.
• Bring the sparkle (safely). If you have a candelabra begging for its moment, opt for flameless candles.
• Catch a Prelude Talk. These talks are free to ticket holders and offered two hours and one hour before most performances. No reservations required.
• Plan for the elements. Santa Fe evenings can bring sun, wind, or sudden showers. Sunblock, sunglasses, and a light layer or poncho are wise companions.
• Let the opera handle the picnic. Preordered tailgate picnics from the opera are a delicious, easy option.
• Keep it simple. A bottle of wine, good company, and the breathtaking setting are more than enough.
• Don’t forget your layers. The high desert mountain air can change its mind quickly after sunset.
• No flames! Open fires, generators, and propane or gas cooking equipment are not permitted.
• No pets. Fido needs to sit this one out.

The Menu and Guests

What We Ate

• Cold almond soup with melon, pastis & crispy prosciutto
• Peach & burrata salad with greens & fried basil leaves
• Giant couscous salad with beans & summer vegetables
• Tomato & tapenade tart
• Vanilla pudding cake with caramelized plums & orange mascarpone

What We Drank

• L’Oiseau du Paradis Côteaux d’Aix-en- Provence Rosé 2024
• Philippe Fourrier Champagne Rosé de Saignée NV Magnum

Who Was There

• Lynn Cline
• Cullen Curtiss
• Cheryl Alters Jamison
• Natassja Santisteven
• Bill Smith
• Julia Platt Leonard
• Tira Howard

Story, Food, and Styling by Julia Platt Leonard
Photography by Tira Howard

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