HomeNewsPHOTOS: The 2019 Festival de la Luz in San José

PHOTOS: The 2019 Festival de la Luz in San José

The holiday season was in full swing Saturday night during the Festival de la Luz in San José, where thousands of Ticos gathered to watch lively performers, synchronized marching bands and decorative floats parade down the city’s main avenue.

Here are some of our favorite shots from the evening.

The streets are lined with onlookers as they wait for the Festival de la Luz to begin
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times
A child watches performers at the Festival de la Luz
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times
The floats keep coming!
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times
An Egyptian-themed float in the parade
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times
A municipal government band performs
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times
A toucan costume in the Festival de la Luz parade
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times
Dancers perform aboard their float
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times
Children watch performers during the parade
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times
A child watches the floats parade down Avenida 2
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times
Performers in the parade
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times
A performer on stilts in the parade
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times
A traditional Costa Rican float
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times
One of the many floats in the parade
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times
One of many floats in the parade
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times
The Kolbi float at the Festival de la Luz
Nate Doughty / The Tico Times

Trending Now

US Warns Costa Rica Town Halls Off Chinese Cameras, China Pushes Back

The US Embassy warned Costa Rica's municipalities about Chinese cameras and plate readers. China called the claims unfounded.

Costa Rica’s Grynspan Wins 12 of 15 Votes in Eighth UN Secretary-General Poll

Rebeca Grynspan won 12 of 15 Security Council votes in the eighth UN secretary-general straw poll.

Costa Rica Mourns Actor and TV Host Leonardo Perucci, Dead at 87

Leonardo Perucci, the Chilean-born actor and host of the 1980s TV hit Fantástico, died Tuesday at 87 after more than four decades on Costa Rican stages and screens.

Costa Rica’s Dollar Slides Back Toward Its Record Low

The dollar closed Tuesday at 448.43 colones on Monex, 1.63 colones above its all-time low.

Red Tide Spreads in Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya and Cooking Won’t Make Shellfish Safe

SENASA widened the Gulf of Nicoya red tide ban. Cooking doesn't make oysters, mussels or pianguas safe.

French Woman Found Shot Dead Inside Her Guanacaste Home

A 64-year-old French woman was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head inside her home in Cabo Velas, Santa Cruz, on Friday...

Costa Rica Paid $701 Million More for Fuel This Year as Diesel Soared

Costa Rica's fuel imports cost $2,267 million through September, up 44.77%, as the average barrel rose 37% and diesel led the increase.

Salvadoran Troops Turn Haiti National Stadium Into Base After Retaking It From Gangs

Salvadoran and Haitian forces retook Port-au-Prince's Sylvio Cator stadium from gangs. Bukele says it will now serve as a base for the next push.

Prison Cases at Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court Jump 124% Amid Crackdown

Prison-related cases at Costa Rica's Constitutional Chamber rose from 2,130 in 2020 to 4,780 in 2025, as tougher prison rules collide with the state's duty to feed and treat inmates.
Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel