VIDEO: Fans weather rain to celebrate Festival de la Luz

Dragons, geckos, and castles floated down Paseo Colón on Saturday as San José celebrated another Festival de la Luz. Spectators numbered in the thousands, crowding the sidewalks for miles. Like a nocturnal Macy’s Day Parade, the massive event incorporates elaborate floats, marching bands, a brief fireworks display, and corporate sponsors like Kölbi and Claro. The municipality founded the festival in 1996.

Things took a turn for the wetter when rain started falling around 8 p.m., but the crowd seemed well-prepared: They huddled under awnings, opened umbrellas, and slipped into parkas. Led by the San José Fire Department, the parade continued through the drizzle, filling the streets with music and floodlights.