Luminaria Tour 2005 Made for a Holiday to Remember

The 2005 Luminaria Tour was a smashing success. More than 3,000 people gathered at UNM's South Parking Lot on Christmas Eve to board buses and view some of the most amazing holiday decorations and luminarias in the nation. The tour gave people an unobstructed view of the lights in the Albuquerque Country Club, Old Town, Los Altos and Old Coors neighborhoods.

This year the Luminaria Tour sold out in record time. The last four tickets were given free of charge to the Hills family from New Orleans. Robin Hills and her family were sent to Albuquerque after losing their home from Hurricane Katrina. This was their first opportunity to experience a New Mexico Christmas.

“The Luminaria tour is an amazing way to view the holiday displays in several of the most decorated neighborhoods in the city,” said Mayor Chávez.  “It has become a tradition for many families on Christmas Eve to go on the tour.  Due to the Tricentennial Festival of Illumination this year, we have had more interest than ever before.”

Tickets went on sale through Ticketmaster outlets during the last weekend of November.  By late in the day on Wednesday, December 21, all of the tickets had been sold. 

According to ABQ RIDE Director Greg Payne, tickets for the Luminaria Tour have sold out in previous years, but this is the earliest that all 3,350 tickets have gone.  “We are thrilled with the response from the community,” said Payne.  “We plan to expand and enhance the tour even more in the years to come based on how quickly the tickets sold this year.”