New Mexico Historic Sites has announced the annual Pueblo Independence Day celebration at Jemez Historic Site. This event honors the anniversary of the Pueblo Revolt.

According to New Mexico Historic Sites, the Pueblo Independence Day celebration will begin with a 13-mile run from the plaza in Jemez Pueblo to Jemez Historic Site early on Sunday morning, Aug. 11. Starting at 10 a.m., attendees can watch traditional Pueblo dances, explore arts and crafts, enjoy food vendors, and visit Gisewa Pueblo and the San Jose de los Jemez Mission.

Pueblo Independence Day commemorates the August 10, 1680, Pueblo Revolt, led by Po’Pay of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo against Spanish colonizers. This successful uprising forced the Spanish out of New Mexico. The annual run symbolizes the historic efforts of runners who communicated the revolt’s timing through knotted cords. Admission is $7 for adults, with free entry for children, museum members, Native/Tribal affiliations, disabled veterans, and foster families.

"The celebration of Pueblo Independence Day at Jemez Historic Site is our most important event of the year because it brings together the people of Jemez (Walatowa) Pueblo and the public to commemorate the resistance and resilience of the Indigenous peoples of New Mexico," said regional site manager for Coronado & Jemez historic sites in a press release by New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. "It also helps us educate the public about one of the most significant events in New Mexico’s complex history."

The Jemez National Historic Landmark, located near Albuquerque and Bernalillo in Jemez Springs, features remnants of a 700-year-old village and the historic San José de los Jémez church from 1621-22. This site, originally called Gisewa, was established by ancestors of Jemez Pueblo and includes a heritage center with exhibits on the Jemez people's history and a 1,400-foot interpretive trail.