ALBUQUERQUE, NM (KRQE) – After a year, a popular Albuquerque Christmas Eve tradition returns. While the neighbors were busy setting up, the locals are ready to hop on the ABQ Ride buses for the annual Luminaria tour. The warm glow of the Luminarias in the neighborhoods of Albuquerque brings with it a new theme – “A Storybook Christmas” as people come together again this Christmas season.
The tour began in 1955 and has brought years of Christmas Eve memories since then. After the cancellation last year due to COVID-19, it is compulsory to wear a mask for this year’s tour, both in the waiting area of the convention center and in the buses during the tours.
While some have feared Friday’s rain might dampen the luminarias, other neighbors say they are just ready to see this Christmas Eve tradition return to town. “I think it will be good. I think people keep going and I think it will be fun. If it’s not pouring rain, I think we’ll be fine, ”said Tim Sample.
“It’s really pretty. It’s like a big communal gathering and everyone really feels connected, so it’s always a great feeling to see everyone out here together, “said another person.
Some teenagers have been making Luminarias in the Country Club neighborhood for the past four years – they spend much of the day making the Luminarias and handing them in to the neighbors while trying to keep them dry. They came back late Friday afternoon to start construction and they said they were ready to watch people’s buses go through and see how their hard work pays off.
If you don’t have tickets for the bus tour, you can still explore the glowing neighborhoods on foot. The 45-minute bus tours leave the Convention Center every 20 to 30 minutes. The last one leaves at 19:25. Previous topics on the Luminaria tour included an Elvis-centric blue Christmas, the Grinch, and giving to the needy.
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