Albuquerque’s "Twinkle Light Parade"
November 29, 2008

THEME: NIGHT MAGIC, LIGHT MAGIC

On Saturday, November 29, 2008 the “Twinkle Light Parade” will take place in downtown Albuquerque, showcasing a variety of parade entries all decked out in festive holiday lighting.  The parade will take place at night, stepping off at 5:15 pm along with the official lighting of Central Ave.  

AFTER FESTIVITIES: Following the parade spectators and parade participants may enter the Rio Grande Botanic Garden and enjoy the magic of hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights and dazzling holiday displays at the River of Lights. Santa Clause will also be on hand to visit with both young and old.  Note: there is a fee to enter the River of Lights ($7 for Adults, $3 for children 3-12, no charge for babies up to 2 years old).   

PARKING FOR SPECTATOR VIEWING: Free Parking will be available from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at the following City parking lots:Civic Plaza, Convention Center, 5th & Copper, 2nd & Gold, & 3rd & Copper, on November 29, 2008.

FREE RAPID RIDE AND EXTENDED HOURS: Spectators may ride the Rapid Ride for free between the hours of 3:00 and 10:00 pm. ABQRIDE SERVICE INTERUPTION: (Route 66 and 766 Rapid) Westbound: beginning at 4:00 pm north to 2nd, west to Lomas, west to Central, to regular route.  Eastbound: east to Central, east to Lomas, south to 2nd, east to Gold, to regular route. For Rapid Ride and general bus information citizens will need to call (505) 243-7433.

FREE SHUTTLES TO THE RIVER OF LIGHTS: ABQ Ride will offer free shuttle service from Atrisco Plaza (Central and Atrisco) to the Rio Grande Botanic Gardens and back. Shuttles will run from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Atrsico Plaza shuttle pick up and drop off will be located on the South side of Atrisco Plaza parking lot, adjacent to Central Ave. Rio Grande Botanic Garden pick up and drop-off will be located in the west parking lot.

VIEWING PARADE:  Spectators may view the parade along Central Ave. between 3rd St and San Pasquale from both sides of Central.  However, west of San Pasquale, it is best to view the parade on the south side of Central because westbound Central traffic will be allowed starting at Rio Grande Blvd.

PARADE ROUTE: The parade route will begin on 3rd St. and Central Ave., head west on Central Ave., and continue to the Rio Grande Botanic Garden, approximately two miles in length.

Parade Entries Sought

PARADE PARTICIPATION:  To participate in the parade an application must be submitted by November 14, 2008. Download a Parade Application here  or call 311, 711 or Relay NM.

AWARDS This year cash prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in each category as follows: First Place - $150., Second Place - $100., and Third Place $50. All entries must meet the minimum number of lights. Please refer to the Parade Application for the official Parade Guidelines.

FEE: There are no fees required for qualified entries.  The parade is free for spectators. 

SPECIAL ALERT! PARADE STREET CLOSURES

TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN:Parade staging will occur along Third Street north of Central Avenue, but will be discontinuous through the intersections of Marquette Avenue, Tijeras Avenue, and Copper Avenue. These three streets will remain open to traffic until the parade actually starts at approximately 4:45 p.m. 2nd St. by way of Copper Ave and the alley north of Central Ave. will remain open for access to the Acropolis (3rd & Copper) Parking structure.  From 4:45 pm until around 7:00 pm, traffic on Marquette Avenue, Tijeras Avenue, and Copper Avenue will be closed by APD while the parade crosses. ALL east-west streets intersecting Third Street between Central Avenue and Lomas (except Marquette Avenue, Tijeras Avenue, and Copper Avenue) will be TOTALLY CLOSED from noon until approximately 6:30 pm. Additional streets used for staging include: 4th Street between Lomas and Marquette; 5th St. between Lomas and Marquette; Fruit St between 6th and 5th; and Roma between 3rd and 6th. 

Starting at approximately 3:00 pm, the parade barricading will occupy both directions of Central Avenue between 2nd Street and San Pasquale Drive. West of San Pasquale Drive, the parade will occupy only the eastbound lanes of Central Avenue. Only one lane of westbound Central Avenue will remain open between the Lomas Blvd. intersection and Rio Grande Blvd.  Rio Grande Blvd. will be TOTALLY CLOSED to through traffic at Central Avenue. All southbound Rio Grande Blvd. traffic will be diverted westbound.  Westbound Lomas Blvd. will remain fully open throughout the event all the way to Central. Eastbound Central Avenue will be TOTALLY CLOSED between Atrisco Drive and Second Street.  All north – south streets intersecting the parade route will be totally closed, except those streets west of San Pasquale Drive and north of Central Avenue, where all southbound traffic will be forced to turn right (westbound).

All businesses, except those along Central Avenue and Third Street, will have direct access.  Westbound Central traffic will be detoured to Lomas Blvd. at 2nd Street starting at 3:00 pm, when the parade route barricading begins. Direct access to the Civic Plaza parking structure, the Convention Center parking structure, the Convention Center, the Acropolis Parking Structure, the Hyatt Hotel, and the Doubletree Hotel will all be unaffected. 2nd Street will remain open at ALL times for north-south continuity through the downtown area. Lomas Blvd., Lead, and Coal will remain open at all times for east and west continuous access to the downtown area.  All westbound through traffic into downtown will be directed to Lomas Blvd. at 2nd St. where traffic will continue to flow across the Rio Grande to the west-side throughout the event period from 3:00 pm until 12:00 midnight.  Event disbanding will occur along the eastbound lanes of Central Avenue between Atrisco Drive and Tingley Dr.

PROBLEM AREAS: NO access from the west-side of the Rio Grande to the east-side along Central Avenue by the general public after 3:00 pm, and limited access to both the Barelas neighborhood area and the Country Club area from the north and west after 4:00 pm. Southbound traffic on Rio Grande Blvd. wishing to turn east at Central Avenue must turn east onto Mountain Road, or be forced west across the Rio Grande.  There will be no in/out access from the Beach Apartments during the parade from approximately 5:00 to 8:00 pm.  Between 3:00 and 5:00 pm all vehicles exiting the Beach Apartments will have to use westbound Central Avenue.  Vehicles will not be allowed to travel eastbound on Central Avenue during the parade.

Twinkle Light Parade Sponsors

For more information on becoming a Sponsor please call 505-768-3452.