Luminarias 2021: San Juan College's Gift to the Community

Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 10:41 AM

The sounds of the season will ring campus wide as San Juan College’s listener-supported radio station, KSJE 90.9-FM broadcasts your favorite Christmas carols.

From San Juan College

Thursday, November 18, 2021

As San Juan College celebrates its forty-third year of the luminarias display, the community will enjoy a glimmering array of bags that will shine from rooftops, along sidewalks, in courtyards and select campus parking lots throughout the evening. Returning this year, guests can choose to either drive or walk through the display. Walkers can begin enjoying the Luminarias at 5 p.m., while the driving route will open at 6 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 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.

The sounds of the season will ring campus wide as San Juan College’s listener-supported radio station, KSJE 90.9-FM broadcasts your favorite Christmas carols. Weather permitting, the San Juan College Planetarium will host its annual Luminaria Stargaze from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., in the inner courtyard. A telescope will be set up to view the night sky.

Mary’s Kitchen will have the c-store open during the Luminaria display from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The dining area will have a limited seating capacity and masks must be worn inside the building.

The Office of Student Engagement and Campus Life coordinates this 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 and high school students help fill paper bags with sand and candles, which are then set out by the College students, staff and volunteers.

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 3, or lighting the candles at 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 4. Dinner will be provided to volunteers on Saturday, December 4. Volunteers who help pick up luminaria bags on Sunday, December 5, at 9 a.m. will be provided breakfast burritos from Mary’s Kitchen.

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.

More from Local News

SJRMC & San Juan College agree to expand Nursing Program

Full-time nursing faculty members will receive a $10,000 annual stipend on top of their base salary to enhance the program’s capacity. In addition, students will have an opportunity to enter into an agreement with SJRMC to receive a substantial $4,800 living stipend per semester,
Downtown Farmington gets National Main Street Accreditation

Historic Downtown Farmington’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization’s personnel and board of directors, and New Mexico MainStreet, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify local programs that meet rigorous national community evaluation standards.
Man Arrested for Fruitland Murder

Following verbal arguments at the house of Adrian Begay (age 45), De Andre Julian (age 23) left with his girlfriend, Adrian Begay’s daughter, Adriana Begay (age 21) to a nearby residence. Adrian Begay followed them to the exterior of the residence when De Andre Julian produced a handgun and shot Adrian Begay multiple times in the chest at close range.
Arrest Made in Farmington Killing

After a lengthy investigation, Ms. Greenfield’s death was determined to be a homicide and detectives identified 27-year-old Serrono Rippingale as the suspect. On June 26th, 2025, an arrest warrant for Murder (2nd degree felony) and Tampering with Evidence (3rd degree felony) was obtained and served on Serrono Rippingale.
Farmington Hires New Museum Director

“Nathan’s expertise in the museum industry, combined with his global perspective and passion for community engagement, make him a tremendous asset to Farmington,” said Christa Chapman, Director of Cultural Affairs. “We’re excited to see how his leadership will shape the future of the Farmington Museum System.”
San Juan Co. Child Contracts Measles

While the child caught measles outside San Juan County, people may have been exposed to this latest case of measles at the following locations, days and times: San Juan Regional Medical Center Emergency Room, 801 West Maple Street in Farmington on the following days and times: Monday, May 26 from 10:30 p.m. - Tuesday, May 27 at 4:15 a.m. Wednesday, May 28 from 2 - 4 p.m. San Juan Regional Medical Center Health Partners Pediatrics Clinic, 407 South Schwartz, Suite 102 in Farmington: Friday, May 30 from 8:15 - 10:30 a.m.