Courtesy/Kiwanis
Santa Fe Kiwanis Club News:
SANTA FE — The 101st Annual Burning of Zozobra takes place on Friday, Aug. 29, and the Santa Fe Kiwanis Club is fired up to find super fans with a burning desire to help make Santa Fe, New Mexico’s most fiery cultural event an even bigger hit. Ask anyone – being part of Santa Fe’s iconic tradition is an unforgettable moment!
Zozobra is the enemy of all that is good, and he thinks a big party is his best chance to spread darkness and despair over the City of Santa Fe. After Zozobra arrives at Fort Marcy, he becomes irritated waiting for everyone to pay him homage. Casting a spell over Santa Fe’s children, he drives hope and happiness from their minds, replacing those good feelings with misery and malevolence. They turn into his minions, the Gloomies!
The Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe is thrilled that, in an agreement with our insurance provider, kids from our community can perform as Gloomies at the 2025 Zozobra!
There will be an audition process for interested children to ensure the highest standards of safety and performance, in which kids must demonstrate their ability to follow directions and show they and their parents comprehend the risks involved in their child’s participation.
It is imperative that children applying for this role understand the significance of this opportunity and the responsibility it entails.
Participants will be required to attend every rehearsal and receive fire protection and safety training to prepare them for their performance. This initiative is not only a nod to our city’s rich history but also an investment in the youth who represent the future of Santa Fe.
The Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe is dedicated to serving the children of our community and is proud to create experiences that educate, inspire, and ignite imagination.
Children Ages 11-14
Here’s your chance to perform as a Gloomie at the 101st Burning of Zozobra! Sorry, but there are no exceptions to the age requirements.
Apply by 5 p.m., Monday, July 28, 2025. Auditions will be held at Fort Marcy Park, 9-11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 2.
Before applying, please make sure you are able to attend all rehearsals.
All rehearsals are mandatory with no exceptions for failure to attend. If you are unable to fulfill these requirements, we ask that you kindly not audition.
Those who apply must be present at Fort Marcy Park on the following mandatory dates:
- Try-outs: 9-11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 2
- Rehearsal: 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 9
- Rehearsal: 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16
- Rehearsal: Saturday, August 23,10 am-2 pm
- Dress Rehearsal: 5–8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 27
- THE MAIN EVENT: 8 p.m., Friday, August 29, 2025, at Fort Marcy Park, expect to be there until Zozobra is just ashes!
Minimum Qualifications:
- Good listener and pays attention
- Good at following directions
- Not shy about performing in front of an audience of 50,000 people
- Able to coordinate movements of their arms and legs
- Able to be physically active for extended periods of time without getting tired or agitated
- Not afraid of Zozobra, loud noises, fire, or fireworks
- Gets along well with others
Children will be escorted by adult chaperones pre-selected by Kiwanis. Due to the large number of people onstage during the performance, we’re sorry, but parents and/or family members will need to watch from the ballpark.
For questions, please contact the Zozobra Gloomies Chair, Savannah Bolleter-Baca, gloomies@burnzozobra.com.
Future Gloomies, we can’t wait to see you at tryouts on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at Fort Marcy Park!
