The Christmas spirits of hope and giving will come alive this Saturday night, when 4,000 luminarias (sand-filled paper bags with a candle) will be aglow at nightfall along El Paso’s Scenic Drive during the 25th Annual Navidad de La Fe Luminarias.
The luminarias’ amber light will guide vehicles slowly westward along Scenic Drive — past the serenity of campfires manned by event volunteers — and toward Santa Claus, his cousin Pancho Claus, their elves, and a live nativity scene.
Santa and Pancho Claus will be collecting canned foods or cash donations to help El Paso families in need.
Each Christmas season, more than 100 Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, Inc. (La Fe) staff members and volunteers work together throughout the day to stage this beloved holiday tradition.
La Fe CEO Salvador Balcorta MSSW said, “This is our organization’s gift to El Paso. Luminarias are traditional, shining beacons of hope for peace and social justice. They are a symbol of the commitment that La Fe has had to our community’s families since 1967.”
The 4,000-plus Navidad de La Fe Luminarias will symbolize much more than just La Fe’s Christmas spirit.
“These luminarias represent La Fe’s hope that every El Paso child and family gets peace, health, quality housing, education, and social justice in the New Year. It’s up to each of us to work together to make that happen. It is what La Fe’s founders believed in 1967. It’s what we believe today,” Balcorta added.
The event is free and open to the public. Vehicles can enter Scenic Drive at Richmond Avenue (eastside of the mountain) beginning at 6 p.m. Vehicles will exit Scenic Drive at Rim Road. Drivers are asked to dim their vehicle’s lights and proceed slowly and cautiously along the event route.
For safety reasons, participants are asked to remain inside their vehicles at all times. Display time runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016.
Canned foods can be dropped off at the top of Scenic Drive with Santa or Pancho Claus. Cash donations to help feed El Paso families in need are also welcomed.
Checks can be made out to “Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe” or to “La Fe.” For more information, the public can call (915) 545-7190.
