College Luminaria Display: Dec. 7

Mary’s Kitchen will have snacks and beverages available for sale from 5 to 8:30 p.m. San Juan College’s listener-supported radio station, KSJE 90.9-FM will broadcast your favorite Christmas carols. Weather permitting, the Planetarium will host its annual Star Gaze from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., in the inner courtyard. A telescope will be set up to view the night sky. The Silhouette Performing Arts Series will have a special presentation of Christmas Carol: A Western Tale at 7 p.m. in the Little Theatre.

From San Juan College:

Start your holiday season with a peaceful glow when San Juan College provides its gift to the community with the 41st annual Luminarias display, Saturday, December 7. 

A glimmering array of bags will shine from rooftops, along sidewalks, in courtyards and select campus parking lots throughout the evening. The community can choose to drive or walk through. Walkers can begin enjoying the display at 5 p.m., while the driving route will open at 6 p.m. Others will want to take advantage of the Park n’ Ride Red Apple Luminaria Trolley available from 6 to 8 p.m.

            Only two entrances will be open during the event. Walkers may park in one of the following lots: Quality Center for Business (Lot #O), the School of Trades and Technology (Lot #K), and the north Child and Family Development Center (Lot #P), which are accessible by traveling south on College Boulevard from Pinon Hills Boulevard.

            Drivers will enter the College from Butler Avenue traveling north on Sunrise Parkway. They will then follow the marked route through the campus and exit at College Boulevard, where traffic will be required to turn south to 30^th Street. Please note that the Pinon Hills Boulevard entrance to the college will be closed during the Luminaria display. As a courtesy, all drivers are asked to turn their lights off as they drive through the display.

            Mary’s Kitchen will have snacks and beverages available for sale from 5 to 8:30 p.m. San Juan College’s listener-supported radio station, KSJE 90.9-FM will broadcast your favorite Christmas carols. Weather permitting, the Planetarium will host its annual Star Gaze from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., in the inner courtyard. A telescope will be set up to view the night sky. The Silhouette Performing Arts Series will have a special presentation of Christmas Carol: A Western Tale at 7 p.m. in the Little Theatre. Ticketed guests will enter through the south side doors as characters from Christmas Carol: A Western Tale guide them to their seats.

            The Office of Student Engagement and Campus Life coordinates the event with help from the San Juan College Physical Plant, students, staff and community volunteers who set up and light the candles. The week prior, hundreds of area school children help fill paper bags with sand and candles, which are then set out by the College students and staff.

            San Juan College invites community members and groups to contribute to this annual tradition by assisting with the set-up of bags on Friday, December 6, or lighting the candles at 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 7.

Prior to the Luminarias, a new tradition has been started at San Juan College West in Kirtland. They will host a Christmas Tree Lighting event on Friday, December 6, at 6 p.m. There will be hot chocolate, arts and craft vendors, music and a “Special Guest” to greet visitors.

For further information on this event or to volunteer, contact the San Juan College Office of Student Engagement and Campus Life at 505-566-3403.