Published on Monday, December 16, 2024
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) float and the Orotina Canton community band took first place in the Christmas Lights Festival, Festival de la Luz, on Saturday.

The BCR float scored 310 points from the judges, winning first place as the brightest float.

"Kingdom of the Tides," the float motto designed by Edward Loo Morcillo inspired by Costa Rica's coral-rich maritime ecosystem.

The 17-meter-long, 5-meter-wide, and more than 16-foot-tall float took three months to build. It also included 1,500 meters of LED lighting, iron structures, wood, cloth, paper, and cardboard, among other materials.

The National Insurance Institute's (INS) float finished second with 286 points. This year's festival was dedicated to the institute which served as its chief marshal. The state-run life, health, and asset insurance organization was chosen to commemorate its 100th anniversary of foundation.

Banco Nacional float won third place with 274 points.

In the category of marching bands, the panel awarded first prize to the Orotina Canton community band from Alajuela Province.

The Orotina band, led by Professor María Paula Madrigal-Abarca, comprises 250 performers, including 150 musicians and 100 folklore dancers.

This is the only band to have participated in every event since 1996. The group had earned 19 first-place awards since their very first participation in the festival.

In 2021, the Orotina band participated in London's New Year's Day Parade (LNYDP) through the streets of London's West End, UK.

La Fortuna Canton community band from Alajuela Province took second place. The third place went to the Cedes Don Bosco band from San José.

The Christmas Lights Festival has already become an integral part of Costa Rican holiday traditions. According to the Municipality of San José, the event gathered over 1 million people along its route in the city, with an estimated million more watching it on television.

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