The Downs at Santa Fe is the site of a fall festival planned for Saturday that organizers say is aimed at "revitalizing" the former racetrack.

The La Cienega Valley Association partnered with Pojoaque Pueblo, the landowner, Santa Fe County and other sponsors to put on the festival featuring a costume parade, pumpkin carving and decorating, supervised children's crafts, gunny sack races, horseshoes, food vendors, growers and live music.

Last year, after state officials denied a request to reopen horse racing and gambling there, pueblo officials said they would look for ways to use The Downs. Around the same time, Santa Fe County established its Arts, Culture and Entertainment Task Force to explore what role the local government could or should have in promoting activities countywide.

"This is a beautiful complex that we want to see something happening in," said Carl Dickens, valley association president. "So when the racino didn't happen, now we are starting to think ... 'Let's look at ways that this will work for you and will work for us.' "

While the 4,000 residents who live within the association boundaries don't all agree, many want the area to have more economic development as long as safety, traffic and noise abatement are addressed, he said.

Neighbors have at times put up a fight about activities at The Downs, but Allen Mosley, pueblo chief executive officer, said the tide seems to have changed.

"It is a great property that has not been utilized," he said, "and, with the neighborhood in favor, I think it will make it easier to do things out there."

Since the county-approved master plan for The Downs was aimed at using the grounds for a racetrack and casino, Mosley said it's likely that the pueblo will at some point seek to modify the plan.

Santa Fe County contributed $1,000 of "community funds" to Saturday's festival, but many smaller donations and in-kind services have made it possible, said Dickens.

"Even if we have a snowstorm on Saturday, it is amazing what we have been able to accomplish. It's been our community connecting with other parts of our community," he said.

County Economic Development Director Duncan Sill said the festival is a pilot project that will help county officials decide whether to consider infrastructure investments for The Downs or other areas.

Saturday's events, which begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m., will take place on a paved "valet parking" area west of the grandstand while the last Northern New Mexico Soccer Association youth matches of the season are occurring on the infield. Almost all of the events, including parking, are free.

Contact Julie Ann Grimm at 986-3017 or jgrimm@sfnewmexican.com.