By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

One of the major Christmas events is the Festival de la Luz organized by the Municipality of San José. This year it is scheduled for Dec. 14 starting at 3 p.m.

This year the municipality has banned the sale and consumption of liquor for 24 hours in the streets near the festival. The parade route is north on Paseo Colón, then along Second Avenue to the Plaza de la Democracia.

The goal of this alcohol rule is to prevent people under the influence doing inappropriate acts during an activity that is dedicated to Christmas in a family peaceful environment.

People who disobey this municipal order are exposed to being detained by the police who will be located along the route of the festival.

According to the municipality, already chosen are the 10 professionally crafted floats and the 16 bands that will be marching through the streets of San José.


Also,  the three marshals to whom the festival will be dedicated are the athletes Andrea and Noelia Vargas and their mother and coach, Dixiana Mena.

"The title of marshal has been awarded since 1999 by the Municipality of San José as recognition to a Costa Rican who has given brightness and pride to the name of our capital and the country," said the municipality in its statement.

Andrea Vargas was the first athlete to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. She also won the gold medal in 100 meters competition at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

His sister Noelia, also a national athlete, holds the national record as a runner. She also won a gold medal in the Central American competition of 300 flat meters.

Mena, the mother, was nominated for a Panam sports awards as the best coach on the continent.

A major attraction of the parade are the floats. This year the institutions and companies that will compete for the first place are, among others: the Children's Museum, the Kölbi brand of the Costa Rican Electrical Institute, the National Insurance Institute, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, Huawei, Coopenae, the private Autonomous University of Central America, the food processor Demasa and the Bank of Costa Rica.

The Municipality of San Jose will also have its float, but it will not be a competitor for awards.


The bands that will march and play in the festival parade, are mainly from schools, high schools and municipalities. These won in the audition held by the municipality in October. Among these are: Cedes Don Bosco College, Santa Cruz Professional Technical College, Valle La Estrella Professional Technical College, the community band of Orotina, the Nicoya band, the Zarcero band, The Tarrazú band and, of course, the Municipal Band of San José

The Festival of Light was created in 1996 when the Municipality of San José organized the first parade of crafted floats and bands of the schools.

According to the municipality, at least 1 million people are expected to attend the festival, in addition to another million watching the parade on television.

Many tourists arrive in the country specifically to go to the parade, citing "the arrival to our capital of a large number of tourists who visit us attracted by the magic, quality, creativity and diversity of the festival," said the municipality.

The festival has free admission. However, the municipality will provide areas with reserved seats for people who prefer to watch the parade in a more comfortable place. Tickets can be purchased at the municipality information desk.

The money raised by the sale of tickets will be given to the benefit of some non-profit organization or foundation.



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