Celebrating Luminarias, Light and the Winter Holidays: ¡Iluminarte! Magical Light and Bike Parade

November 11th, 2019

(Albuquerque, New Mexico) -- ¡Iluminarte! Magical Light and Bike Parade is a one-of-a-kind, winter holiday celebration inspired by luminarias and farolitos - a New Mexico tradition. This afternoon/evening event, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019 from 5 - 8 p.m, includes a magical light and bike parade along the Paseo del Bosque Trail and short performances by Story Riders--a bilingual elementary school program focusing on bike safety and storytelling - with Circo Latino, AirDance New Mexico and Albuquerque Poet Laureate Michelle Otero.

¡Iluminarte! Magical Light and Bike Parade is a creative partnership between the National Hispanic Cultural Center, Story Riders, the City of Albuquerque, Artful Life, Circo Latino, AirDance New Mexico and the Albuquerque Poet Laureate Program.

The event begins with a 4:30 p.m. performance on the plaza of the National Hispanic Cultural Center by AirDance New Mexico with Story Riders (Dolores Gonzales, Reginald Chavez and Valle Vista elementary school students).

From there the illuminated bike parade begins and follows the Paseo del Bosque Trail to the City of Albuquerque BioPark. At 6 p.m, the NHCC’s Circo Latino and Story Riders perform during the “Magic Hour” of River of Lights.

At 6:45 p.m. the parade returns to the trail and rides to Tingley Beach where Albuquerque Poet Laureate Michelle Otero and the Story Riders present poetry about luminarias and farolitos.

Finally, at 7 p.m, the parade rides back to the NHCC where everyone will enjoy hot chocolate and biscochitos in the History and Literary Arts Building.

All events are free and open to the public, including those who want to ride in the parade with the ¡Iluminarte! ensemble of performers.  Kids and families are welcome to join the parade or simply attend the performances at each site.

To participate in the illuminated bike parade, the general public should register here: https://nhccnm.wufoo.com/forms/iluminarte-2019-parade-registration-form

Learn more: http://www.nhccnm.org/event/iluminarte-2019/

For more information, contact Valerie Martínez at the NHCC: valerie.martinez@state.nm.us; 505-383-4724.

About the National Hispanic Cultural Center:  The National Hispanic Cultural Center is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and advancement of Hispanic culture, arts and humanities, and is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. 

The National Hispanic Cultural Center is located at 1701 Fourth Street SW in Albuquerque, New Mexico. General admission tickets can be purchased in advance from the National Hispanic Center box office, 505-724-4771 or the NHCC website, www.nhccnm.org. Click here for directions.