User:Storoc868/Festival de la Luz

The "Festival de la Luz" is a popular festival that takes place in the city of San José, Costa Rica. Includes parades with floats, masquerades, live music and fireworks. Because it takes place in December, the Festival de La Luz is associated with the end of the year festivities in the Costa Rican capital.

History
The Festival of Light originates in 1996, when the Municipality of San José organized the first parade of floats and the best bands in the country, which along their route through Paseo Colón and Avenida Segunda, provide the Costa Ricans a great spectacle of color and joy, in the Christmas setting in which this activity is celebrated.

The firm rise in quality, beauty and national splendor of the Festival de la Luz, have proven that this has already become an inseparable and essential activity of the Christmas holidays.

They have also confirmed, the many and complimentary comments with which citizens and all social media and some international news such as CNN, TELEVISA, UNIVISIÓN among others, have referred to it, making it the most important popular event of the year, where 1 million people attend, apart from the fact that its transmission through all the television channels has constituted it in the program with the highest audience in the month of December, calculated in another million people.

It should also be noted, the arrival of large contingents of tourists visiting the city at this time attracted by the magic, quality, creativity and diversity of the Festival.

All those companies, institutions, community or student groups that have participated in the Festival of Light, have received the pleasant memory of having been on stage with the largest audience in all of Costa Rican history, within a framework of much order, hygiene and safety.

It has given greater prominence to the Festival the establishment of the figure of the Marshal, title that since 1999, the Municipality of San Jose has awarded him, in recognition of one or a Costa Rican that has given shine and pride to the name of our Capital and the country, both inside and outside our borders.

On the second Saturday of December, starting at 6:00 p.m., the light invades the city of San José, moving to the roofs of the National Bank, Agricultural Credit Bank of Cartago, Bank of Costa Rica and La Sabana Park, so that the fireworks indicate that the Festival of Light will start, starting from the National Gymnasium to take the Paseo Colón and Second Avenue and finish at the Plaza de la Democracia.

Description
The parade has an approximate distance of 3.2 km0, starting from the National Gymnasium and entering Paseo Colón west of the capital. After crossing Paseo Colón, turn to continue through Avenida Segunda until you reach Plaza de la Democracia.

Since 2005 a parade has been added to the festival that precedes it and usually starts at 3:00 p.m where comparsas, choreography, stilt walkers, maroons, masquerades and bands take part. Before the festival the trees of the Paseo Colón and the route of the Second Avenue are illuminated to give brilliance to the route followed by the parade.

The Festival de la Luz starts at 6:00 p.m with pyrotechnic games from the roofs of the tallest buildings in the Metropolitan Area and ends at 12 a.m.

Marshals
As of 1999, the title of marshal was designated to one or several Costa Ricans who have excelled internationally. The marshal is the decorated of the parade.

Awarding of floats
Each year, the floats are awarded in various categories:


 * float that shines the brightest
 * greater originality
 * greater elegance
 * best mobile elements
 * best light effects

1996
On that occasion 16 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Corporación de Supermercados Rayo Azul
 * Best non-commercial float: Parque Nacional de Diversiones
 * Best float Costa Rican traditions: DEMASA

1997
On that occasion 12 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: DEMASA
 * Float with the best movements: Parque Nacional de Diversiones
 * Float with better light effects: Coca Cola
 * Float with better child effect: Librería Universal

1998
On that occasion 10 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Parque Nacional de Diversiones
 * Most elegant float: Grupo DEMASA
 * Float with better child effect: Librería Universal
 * Float with better light effects: Coca Cola

1999
On that occasion 15 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Librería Universal
 * Float with the topic: Librería Universal
 * The most colorful float: Grupo DEMASA

En el año 1999 el Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica resultó ganador de 4 categorías: La más elegante, la más original, la más creativa y la que más brilló. fuente: arquitecto William Monge, Teatro Nacional

2000
On that occasion 11 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Librería Universal
 * Most elegant float: Banco de Costa Rica
 * Float with the best movements: DEMASA

2001
On that occasion 13 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Refrescos Tropical
 * Second place float: Banco de Costa Rica
 * Third place float: Megasuper
 * Float with better child effect: Librería Universal

2002
On that occasion 9 floats participated..


 * The float that shone the most: Librería Universal
 * Most original float: Librería Universal
 * Most elegant float: Librería Universal
 * Float with better child effect: Librería Universal
 * Float with the best movements: Librería Universal

2003
On that occasion 10 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Parque Nacional de Diversiones

2004
On that occasion 10 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Banco Interfin
 * Most elegant float: Más x Menos
 * Float with better child effect: Banco Interfin
 * Most original float: Banco Interfín

2005

 * The float that shone the most: Banco Banex
 * Most original float: Instituto Costarricense de Turismo
 * Float with better child effect: Banco Banex
 * Third place float: Corporación de Supermercados Unidos

2006
On that occasion 11 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Cámara de Comercio y Turismo de Sarchí
 * Most original float: Cámara de comercio y Turismo de Sarchí
 * Second place float: Cadbury Adams
 * Third place float: Instituto Costarricense de Turismo

On that occasion 15 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Colonia China de Costa Rica
 * Most original float: Colonia China de Costa Rica
 * Float with better child effect:: Scotiabank
 * Second place float: Instituto Costarricense de Turismo.

2008
On that occasion 8 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Instituto Costarricense de Turismo
 * Second place float: Wal-Mart Centroamérica
 * Third place float: El Gallito Industrial
 * Float with better child effect: El Gallito Industrial
 * Most original float: El Gallito Industrial

2009
On that occasion 8 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad
 * Second place float: Instituto Costarricense de Turismo
 * Float with better child effect: Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad
 * Most original float: Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad.

2010
On that occasion 12 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Coca Cola
 * Float with better child effect: Coca Cola
 * Float with better light effects: Coca Cola

2011
On that occasion 14 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Kolbi
 * Float with better child effect: Banco de Costa Rica
 * Most original float: Claro Costa Rica

2012
On that occasion 11 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Samsung
 * Second place float: Coca Cola
 * Third place float: Movistar
 * Float with better child effect: Leche Mú
 * Most original float: Coca Cola

2013
On that occasion 8 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Samsung
 * Second place float: Banco de Costa Rica
 * Third place float: Hospital Nacional de Niños - Banco Nacional
 * Float with better child effect: Empate en el primer lugar Banco de Costa Rica y Hospital Nacional de Niños - Banco Nacional
 * Most original float: Empate en el primer lugar Claro e Instituto Costarricense de Turismo

2014
On that occasion 9 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most:: Banco de Costa Rica
 * Second place float: Samsung
 * Third place float: Coca Cola
 * Float with better child effect: Coca Cola
 * Most original float: Banco de Costa Rica

2015
On that occasion 6 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT)
 * Second place float:: Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS)
 * Third place float: Movistar
 * Float with better child effect: Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT)
 * Most original float Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT)

2016
On that occasion 14 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Grupo INS (Instituto Nacional de Seguros)
 * Second place float: Claro Costa Rica
 * Third place float: Banco Popular y de desarrollo Comunal
 * Float with better child effect: Florida Bebidas, Grupo INS, Huawei y Kolbi (empate)

2017
On that occasion 12 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Demasa
 * Second place float: Kolbi
 * Third place float: Grupo INS
 * Most original float Banco Nacional
 * Float with better child effect: Demasa y Kolbi

2018
On that occasion 10 floats participated.


 * The float that shone the most: Museo de los Niños
 * Second place float: Instituto Costarricense de Turismo
 * Third place float: Grupo INS
 * Float with better child effect: Museo de los Niños

Floats of the Municipality of San José
1996 Year in which the Festival of Light is inaugurated. In addition to the floats and bands, San Jose illuminated pixies, giant bears and beauty queens. The municipal float sported a beautiful Temple of Music illuminated with hundreds of light bulbs and surrounded by beautiful finalists from the reign of the Fiestas de San José.

1997 Light and joy was present with the Child God, Mary, Joseph, St. Nicholas, the reindeer, the goblins and the angels who paraded along with the 12 floats and nine bands. The float of the Municipality of San José invited to play with traditional games such as the dollhouse, spinning tops, yaxes, balls and giant clown.

1998 San Jose was taken by 10 floats and 17 bands, along with characters that left the light in the eyes of the thousands of attendees. The municipal coach was inspired by the story The Little Mermaid and its characters as the god Neptune, the perverse Úrsula and the Little Mermaid in her two moments: when she was a sea being and when she became a princess.

1999 A million people celebrated the traditional Festival of Light. The municipal float rescued the Costa Rican cultural identity, paraded an indigenous child and an Afro-Caribbean girl; at the same time he showed his interest in science by representing an immense astronaut. In this edition, the tradition of presenting a festival marshal to astronaut Franklin Chan Díaz begins.

2000 In the fifth edition, 15 floats and 18 bands shone. The Municipality of San Jose recreated in its float the story Cinderella which left the audience speechless. The marshals were the swimmer Claudia Poll (gold medal in the Olympic Games of Atlanta 1996) and her trainer Francisco Rivas.

2001 They paraded 12 floats, 17 bands and 4 groups of cheerleaders. The float of the Municipality of San José paraded with an impressive circus in which there were acrobats, clowns, zebras, elephants, seals and lions ... all a circus. The marshals were the members of the National Soccer Team that represented us in the World Cup Korea-Japan 2002.

2002 Children's themes and traditions was the theme in this edition. 9 floats, 10 bands and 5 cheerleaders participated. The municipal float wore the story The Beauty and the Beast. Impeccable costumes, music and interaction with people made her one of the favorites. The marshal was actress based in Mexico, Maribel Guardia.

2003 Children, young people and adults lit up with 10 floats, 10 bands and 6 groups of cheerleaders. The float of the Municipality of San José participated with the theme Thousand and One Star, with beautiful palaces, geniuses, lamps and magic carpets. It corresponded to the sculptor Jorge Jiménez Deheredia to be the marshal in this edition.

2004 The ninth edition of the festival was recorded in the eyes of the large number of people who attended, especially the children's audience. The Municipality of San José represented the fantastic world of the Lion King, based on the homonymous film. The audience applauded the CNN journalist, Glenda Umaña, very much as the marshal.

2005 10 floats, 9 bands and 3 groups of cheerleaders, filled with joy those who attended or followed on television the tenth edition of the festival. Our national identity was the theme of the municipal float, the wheel of the typical cart, the Guaria Morada and beautiful ladies dressed in traditional costumes. The Marshals were the members of the musical group Éditus.

2006 In its eleventh edition, once again the audience marveled at the floats and bands. The Municipality of San José recreated the mythological theme of Hercules. It was great to see the beauty of the figures of Pegasus, the minotaurs, fauns and maidens. The marshal was Humberto Vargas, winner of a silver gull at the Viña del Mar Festival, Chile.

2007 Once again San José dressed in light. 15 floats, 14 bands, cheerleaders and parades delighted more than one million people. In this edition the municipal float brought us an enchanted world of the baroque era in an ode to joy. The marshals were the delegation of the athletes that represented us at the Special Olympics in China.

2008 In the thirteenth edition, the Festival de la Luz once again amazed the Ticos in their journey of 3.2 km. The municipal float delighted with a medieval world, full of wizards, castles, captive maidens, dragons, unicorns, fauns, phoenixes and enchantments. The marshal was the singer who obtained the second place of the reality Latin American Idol 2008, María José Castillo.

2009 The Cat, the Hatter, the Queen of Hearts. On this occasion the municipal float recreated one of the universal stories, Alice in Wonderland. The marshals were the members of the U20 National Soccer Team, winner of the fourth place in the U20 World Soccer Championship held in Egypt.

2010 Fantasy has always been the material with which the floats that the Municipality of San José presents at the Festival of Light have been built. This year will not be the exception: the municipality proposed to rescue in its proposal the toys and games that the children of Costa Rica enjoyed in the past. Gigantic rag dolls - figures of stereophone more than two meters high - large spinning tops, trading cards, a dancer, cherubs, a beauty dresser, kites and a plush toy star in the carriage called Games of yesteryear.

2011 They have not yet publicized about the subject and how it will be represented, but all they announced was that it would be inspired by the Chinese Culture, due to the support provided by this sovereign nation of Southeast Asia. The municipal chariot was inspired by the I count "Mulan" but in an older version and I carry in his float Avez Fenix, dragons spitting fire, Chinese knights, and traditional houses of that Asian nation.

2012 Central American Games, San José 2012.

2013 This year was based on Brazilian and African-American culture. With the theme of Carnival.

2014 The fantasy full of colors this chariot, since it was inspired by the story "PETER PAN", a ship with Captain Hook, the country of never again, the Big Ben clock and of course Peter Pan, transported us in a magical chariot that decorate the joseph streets.

2015 Clay pots, pre-Columbian and indigenous gold figures were what filled the Chariot of the Municipality of San José as a tribute to the Wealth of Pre-Columbian Culture that Costa Rica has.

2016 In 2016 the Municipality of San José takes up the theme in children's series, so the dinosaurs, mammoths, casino and a lot of magic will give life to "The Flintstones in Rock Vegas". The Municipality wore a spectacular float inspired by this renowned children's series that even today entertains adults and children.

2017 Inspired by the magic and splendor of a Venetian carnival, the municipal float "Dulce Mascarada", more than 30 meters high and illuminated with 3,800 meters of LED light hoses, led the 22nd edition of the Festival de la Luz.

Awarding of Marching Bands
Important Note: The Municipal Band of San José exists since 2006 and participates from it but does not compete for any prize.

The bands were awarded in the following categories:


 * band that shines the most (in execution, repertoire and choreography)
 * Best elementary student band
 * best high school student band
 * best communal band

The prize for the band that obtains the first place is a bronze star.

1996
12 bands participated.


 * Best professional band: Banda Nacional de Cartago
 * Best Student Band: Banda del Instituto de Guanacaste

1997
9 bands participated.


 * Best student-primary band: Banda Escuela Primo Vargas, Orotina
 * Best student-secondary band: Banda del Liceo de Heredia
 * Best communal band: Banda Comunal de Heredia

1998
17 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Comunal de Heredia
 * Best communal band Banda del Liceo de San Carlos
 * Best student-secondary band: Liceo de San Carlos
 * Best student-primary band: Banda de la Escuela Primo Vargas, Orotina

1999
12 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Nacional Cartago
 * Best student-primary band: Banda Escuela Primo Vargas
 * Best student-secondary band: Banda del Liceo de Heredia

2000
13 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most:: Banda Comunal de Orotina

2001
12 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Comunal de Orotina
 * Best student-secondary band: Banda del Liceo de Costa Rica
 * Best student-secondary band: Banda Escuela de Riojalandia
 * Best communal band: Banda Comunal de Puntarenas

2002
10 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Comunal de La Unión
 * Best student-primary band: Banda de la Escuela de Riojalandia
 * Best student-secondary band: Colegio Saint Michel
 * Best communal band: Banda Comunal de La Unión

2003
10 bands participated.. En esta ocasión no registra información sobre bandas ganadora, porque este año los directores de bandas, propusieron a la organización del festival no calificarlas en el desfile por el mero hecho de ser ganadoras con sólo haber sido escogidas. En esta edición las bandas participantes fueron:


 * Mar Vista High School
 * San Diego California
 * Banda Comunal de la Unión
 * Colegio Saint Michael
 * Banda Comunal de Orotina
 * Instituto de Guanacaste
 * Banda Juvenil de Palmares
 * Banda María Inmaculada de San Carlos y Moravia
 * Banda del Ejército de Salación de California
 * Banda Comunal de Limón
 * Instituto de Alajuela.

2004
9 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda de marcha de La Unión
 * Best student-secondary band: Banda del Instituto de Guanacaste
 * Best communal band: Banda Comunal de La Unión

2005
7 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda de Marcha de La Unión
 * Best student-secondary band: Colegio Profesional Francisco J. Orlich, Sarchí
 * Best communal band: Banda Comunal de Orotina

2006
11 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Comunal de Orotina
 * Best student-secondary band: Colegio Tec. Profesional Francisco J. Orlich
 * Best communal band: Comunal de Orotina

2007
13 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Comunal de Orotina
 * Best student-secondary band: Banda Cedes Don Bosco
 * Best communal band: Banda Comunal de Orotina

2008
9 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Juvenil de Orotina
 * Best student-secondary band: Banda del Colegio Francisco J. Orlich, Sarchí
 * Best communal band Banda Juvenil de Orotina
 * Second place: Banda Municipal de Acosta

2009
8 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Juvenil de Palmares
 * Best student-secondary band: Banda del Colegio Francisco J. Orlich, Sarchí
 * Best communal band Banda Juvenil de Palmares
 * Second place: Banda Municipal de Acosta

2010
12 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Juvenil de Orotina
 * Best communal band: Banda Juvenil de Orotina
 * Best student-secondary band: Banda Colegio Técnico Francisco J. Orlich, Sarchí

2011
13 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Colegio Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados
 * Best communal band: Banda Comunal de Orotina
 * Best student-secondary band: Banda Colegio Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados
 * Second place: Banda Municipal de Acosta

The bands began to be awarded in different categories:


 * Band that shone the most (in execution, repertoire and choreography)
 * Second place
 * Third place

2012
14 bands participated.s


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Comunal de Orotina
 * Second place: Banda Municipal de Acosta
 * Third place: Banda Juvenil Francisco J. Orlich, Sarchí

2013
12 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Comunal de Orotina
 * Second place: Banda Colegio Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados
 * Third place: Banda Municipal de Acosta

2014
12 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Comunal de Orotina
 * Second place: Banda Juvenil Francisco J. Orlich, Sarchí
 * Third place: Banda Municipal de Zarcero

2015
13 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Municipal de Acosta
 * Second place: Banda Comunal de Orotina
 * Third place: Banda Juvenil Francisco J. Orlich, Sarchí.

2016
15 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Municipal de Acosta
 * Second place: Banda Comunal de Orotina
 * Third place: Banda Municipal Café Tarrazú

2017
14 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Comunal de Orotina
 * Second place: Banda Café Tarrazú
 * Third place: Banda Municipal de Acosta

2018
10 bands participated.


 * Band that shone the most: Banda Municipal Café Tarrazú
 * Second place: Banda Municipal de Acosta
 * Third place: Banda Comunal de Orotina

Parade
Due to the great participation of Costa Ricans in the Festival de la Luz, families arrive earlier each year to be located on the Festival route to witness the show more comfortably, generating this, lapses of up to 12 hours of inactivity.

That is why the Municipality of San Jose decided in 2005 and within the framework of the celebration of the X anniversary of the Festival of Light, to present an artistic show which was called "The Festival Parade".

This is an artistic show that collects characteristic features of our cultural identity and reflects from the conceptual, joy, color, music and magic of the Christmas season, for the enjoyment of families waiting for the arrival of the floats and bands that participate in the Festival.

The Department of Cultural Services of the Municipality of San José, is in charge of this event, which starts at 3:00 pm and its route is the same as the Festival of Light, decreasing, over the years, the tiredness of the wait and prepare the good mood of the spectators to receive at 18:00 the main course: the Festival of Light.

These have been the versions of the Festival Parade:

2005

As part of the celebration of the X Anniversary of the Festival of Light, the show focused on showing the cultural diversity that makes up the Costa Rican reality, at that time the cultural centers and associations of countries that have contributed to the construction of a culture full of diversity. We have the participation of China, Brazil and Nicaragua among others.

2006

Within the declaration San José Iberoamerican Capital of Culture, a proposal was developed that involved more than 25 national and international folkloric groups. We highlight the international delegations: Nicaragua brought its folkloric folklore with the Güegüense from Managua, Honduras accompanied us with its traditional dance full of color and joy, Venezuela with a coastal proposal, and China brought us back to past dynasties remembering all their culture.

2007

"Carnival, Christmas and traditions": In its third edition the Parade of the Festival of Light proposed to create a kind of carnival; the idea arises from the suspension of the carnivals in San José. We have 17 artistic groups, in a selection of the best comparsas in the country, maroons, choreography, bands and circus, all in a 100% national artistic proposal.

2008

This year, the Parade of the Festival of Light changed its format to present to the public for the first time a unified thematic street show. Under the artistic direction of the Kocinarte Project, this super organism called "Being ... human" was conceptualized.

2009

Continuing the line of work of 2008 and under the same artistic direction, we propose the parade show called "Dance with the Jaguars", whose objective is to make known the cosmogonies, - or visions of the world -, of the indigenous communities Costa Ricans and Latin Americans.

The main indigenous rituals and dances of the Latin American peoples were represented, with a cast of 250 artists. In addition, the entertainment included the presentation of the best circuses in the country, in a party of joy and family togetherness, consistent with the values inherent to the Christmas season and end and beginning of the year. Four indigenous communities from different regions of Costa Rica, such as the Ngobe, the Bri-Bri, the Boruca and the Cabécar, also participated. They showed some of their ancestral forms of art and their ancient traditions.

2010

"Los Sueños de Carnaval", this year in the celebration of the 15th anniversary the structure of the parade will be a carnival like the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro but adapted to what is Costa Rica

2011

For the 2011 edition of the Parade of the Festival of Light, the elect theme to enjoy an anteroom is "Pasito Navideño Tradición Costarricense", the pasitos are the traditional representations of the crib of the baby Jesus in each of the Costa Rican homes.

Festival de la Luz photographs

 * Fotos de la Municipalidad de San José
 * Imágenes del Festival de la Luz 2010-Costa Rica
 * Festival de la Luz 2006
 * Festival de la Luz 2007
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 * http://www.facebook.com/pages/Banda-Municipal-de-San-Jos%C3%A9-CR/103982306302330?fref=ts