Placitas: Art, Gardens and History

If you’re looking for a hotel in Placitas, art, gardens and landscape may help shape your travel plans. Recurring studio and garden tours, exhibitions at the Placitas Community Library and the Sandoval County Open Space offer different experiences. Some activities follow set event dates; others center on changing exhibitions or the landscape itself.

Open Space, History and Gardens

The Sandoval County Open Space is a 560-acre area in the heart of Placitas. It includes a section of Las Huertas Creek, with riparian and wetland habitats along parts of the watercourse. The Sandoval County Open Space has east and west entrances from Highway 165. Since access conditions can change, check the local status before setting out.

The Sandoval County Open Space has a high density of archaeological sites. It is designated a historic district and listed in the State Cultural Properties Register. The master plan identifies hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking as low-impact forms of recreation at the Sandoval County Open Space.

The gardens at the Placitas Community Library also have their own botanical focus: they consist mostly of native, drought-tolerant, or xeric plants suited to most of Placitas. Alongside nature and cultural experiences at the Open Space, visitors can also explore landscaped gardens and the plants chosen for them.

Garden Tours, Studios and Exhibitions

The Placitas Garden Tour is an annual, ticketed tour of exceptional gardens in the Placitas community that are open to the public. In 2026, it was scheduled for Sunday, September 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; that date has now passed. Check current event dates for a future visit.

The Placitas Studio Tour has a different focus: during this annual, free, self-guided, two-day event, more than sixty artists open their studios. The duration and number of artists may vary; dates and participating artists also change. Most guests drive between studios rather than walk. This is a practical point to keep in mind when planning your time for the tour.

Exhibitions at the Placitas Community Library change monthly or every other month. Artists hold a public gallery reception, usually on the second Friday of the exhibition from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. The library’s art program publishes dates and detailed information about upcoming exhibitions and receptions. If you’d like to plan your visit around a reception, you can find details of upcoming dates there.

The Wild Hearts Gallery also features changing art: a new Featured Artist takes center stage each month, alongside new offerings from other gallery artists. Exhibition plans may change, so it’s a good idea to check the latest information before planning around a specific date.

More Events and Places

East of the Placitas Community Library parking lot is a seven-circuit labyrinth. It serves as a place to gather, celebrate, meditate and heal. Both community gatherings and quiet personal use are among the stated purposes of this place.

The Placitas Holiday Market takes place on the traditional weekend before Thanksgiving and includes events at several locations on or near Highway 165. At the Placitas Community Library, visitors can buy arts and crafts, baked goods, secondhand jewelry and Talavera items. The library’s Spring Fling in April offers plants and baked goods for sale.

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Go to the main travel overview: Sandoval.