Albuquerque Luminarias a Holiday Event

Long before there were twinkling Christmas lights, the humble paper bag luminaria lit the way to the door of houses each Christmas Eve. Albuquerque luminarias are part of a southwestern tradition that has its roots in the 1500s, when bonfires were lit along roadways to light the way to midnight mass. They started as a Christian tradition, commemorating the birth of Christ, and the journey of Mary and Joseph as they found their way to the stable.

In the early 1800s, people began to use inexpensive paper bags instead of building bonfires. These small lanterns (called farolitos in norhtern New Mexico), have become a tradition, and are no longer limited to Christmas Eve.

The simple beauty of the luminous paper bags sitting along adobe buildings creates a quiet feeling of journey. Enjoy the magic that a luminaria tour offers as you stroll through the Albuquerque neighborhoods where the tradition brightens the darkness every year.

Luminaria Tours
For some families, touring the luminarias through Albuquerque neighborhoods is a tradition. Walking can be fun, but many choose to take a bus tour, eliminating the need to find parking or getting caught in traffic delays. The City of Albuquerque offers an annual luminaria tour through Old Town and the Country Club area via bus. Sit and relax in the warmth of the bus, where you can forget the crowds and walking in the dark.

Self Guided Luminaria Tours

Old Town
Many choose to walk through Old Town, which has the highest density of luminarias to buildings. It is a wonderful tour and well worth the effort. Old Town is closed to driving tours with the exception of the city bus tours. Parking can be found at the lots east or south of Old Town. There is also parking in the museum lots nearby (Albuquerque Museum, Explora and the Museum of Natural History). While in Old Town, enjoy the San Felipe de Neri Church, which opens its doors to the public, and has several nativity scenes. Look for the Cottonwood Madonna behind the church. The Plaza Don Luis across from the church has a giant Christmas tree that is made of multiple Christmas trees; see if you can discern how it is made. Many like to visit the shops while in Old Town, with some favorite stops being the Christmas Shop and the Old Town Card Shop. Don't miss the kaleidoscopes at Casita de Kaleidoscopes.

Country Club
The Albuquerque Country Club neighborhood creates a winter wonderland every year, dotting the streets with paper bag lanterns. Most people choose to walk, but some do drive, so caution is taken on both sides. The streets in this area meander in all directions, so any route is pleasant. The large houses are decorated in seasonal garlands and the walk can take as little or as long as you like.

Ridgecrest
The Ridgecrest tour can be a walk through, but it is a long walk, so most choose to drive. Begin at Ridgecrest and Carlisle and drive southeast along Ridgecrest Boulevard until Jackson or Truman. Turn at either street and turn around in the Parkland Hills neighborhood before continuing back in the opposite direction along Ridgecrest again.

Before Heading Out

When crossing streets from Old Town to the Country Club, use well lit intersections. Cross at Central and Rio Grande or Lomas and San Pasquale.

When driving, turn off lights and move at a very slow pace, about 5 miles per hour, for safety reasons. Walkers can dart into streets and act unpredictably.

Be sure to dress warmly; don't forget hat and scarf, mittens and gloves. Even on warm nights, the temperatures in Albuquerque drop drastically once the sun has set.

Children enjoy the tours, but tire easily. Bring strollers, wagons and flashlights, and be sure they are bundled in. Bring extra blankets to cover anyone in strollers or wagons. For older children, glowsticks make the walk more enjoyable.

Map your route ahead of time. Choose one destination and savor the pace that walking brings. Stop at local touchpoints, such as the Albuquerque Little Theater in the Country Club area, where hot chocolate can be purchased. See the sights along the way.

Older children enjoy the tours, and it can be made more fun when a route is mapped out ahead, and they can look for landmarks and destinations. Make a game of finding the Rattlesnake Museum skull or the hot chocolate stand at the Little Theater, or the tiny park in the Country Club neighborhood.

If you choose to walk the Old Town circuit, there are places to stop for warm drinks such as coffee or hot chocolate, so be sure to bring a little cash. Local merchants stay open late during luminaria tours for holiday shopping ease; consider taking a handled bag.