At 6pm on the nose the fireworks were set off, kick starting the 18th Festival de la Luz in San José, with Costa Rica’s national soccer team, La Sele, heading the parade from the La Sabana park through Paseo Colón, onto Avenida Segunda and ending at the Plaza de la Democracia.
This year, the fireworks display was spectacular, a fiery finish lit up the eyes of children and adults alike. Due to restrictions, the fireworks display were set off only from the La Sabana park. In years past, fireworks were sett simultaneously from the top of the Banco Nacional and INS buildings.
The winning float was from Samsung, with theme this “Llena tu vida de colo” (Fill you life with colour). According to the judges, the float was the one that most shied in the parade.
Coming in second was the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) float, designed by Edward Loo Morcillo with the theme “Un dulce regalo de Navidad” (A sweet Christmas).
Third place went to the Banco Nacional and the Hospital de Niños. Tying for “most original” were the float from Claro and the nstituto Costarricense de Turismo.
According to San José mayor, Sandra Garcia, the event was a “total” success. Entire families were out, the weather was great and the quality of the floats incredible.
In addition to the eight floats (down four from previous years) were six cheerleading groups, 12 marching bands and a host of local personalities, street comedians and a variety of entertainment to keep the audience occupied in between the floats.
