SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Santa Fe Kiwanis Club is gearing up for the 101st Burning of Zozobra in August with a series of new changes, including limiting the number of guests and adding more seating. "We've decided to impose a self-occupancy restriction of 50,000 for this year. So we're lo pping off 15,000. We think that's going to make things a lot better for folks because it's going to be a lot roomier," said Zozobra Event Chairman Raymond G. Sandoval, explaining that last year, the crowd of nearly 70,000 led to people bumping into each other and struggling to navigate the park, raising concerns over safety. Because there will be a smaller crowd to watch "Old Man Gloom" burn in Fort Marcy Park, Sandoval said event staff were able to add more seating. "So all of our now platforms are now going to have seating. And we've also added two new bleacher sections, which are just 10 bucks above general admission." Other changes planned for the event include separate bathrooms for men and women, new water stations supplied with water bottles, and a food stand with options to get on-site cooked meals or prepackaged box lunches. Sandoval said event organizers made changes for the 2025 event based on guest feedback from last year. "We want to make the next century all about our attendees," explained Sandoval. "We really want people to love this event, to be able to come and to enjoy the event without having to take some of that anxiety." With a new year, also comes a new theme. This year's Zozobra will be steampunk—a science fiction subgenre that draws inspiration from the Victorian era and incorporates elements of steam-powered machinery and clockwork gadgets. "Steampunk is all about turn of the century, right? So you're going from the 1800s  into the 1900s, and we thought, 'Oh my God, what an amazing way to do this'," Sandoval said, later adding, "We thought this is the perfect idea to do steampunk to introduce Zozobra into his next century." Organizers also want to get the crowd more involved in the event this year by adding a raised platform for people to take photos on, and all guests will receive free LED wristbands. "As soon as the lights go out and the gloomies come out, the entire field is going to turn purple, and blue, and green, for those gloomies. And when the fire spirit comes out, everyone's wristband will turn red. And as Zozobra is on fire, your wristband will look like it's on fire," said Sandoval. Tickets for the 101st Burning of Zozobra on Aug. 29 went on sale Monday, about five months earlier than usual. Sandoval said he hopes this change will allow New Mexicans and out-of-state visitors more time to make travel plans to the event in Santa Fe. Click here to access Zozobra’s website. ...read more read less