Local Government ExplainedFive examples of local government-led festive celebrations
Sid Hayward, LGIU
In this article, we’ve curated five case studies of local governments leading holiday celebrations and events in their local area. Examples this week come from Ireland, Ecuador, Columbia, New Zealand and the U.S.
In this article, we’ve curated five case studies of local governments leading holiday celebrations and events in their local area. Examples this week come from Ireland, Ecuador, Columbia, New Zealand and the U.S.
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Case studies on community spirit and festivities from across the globe
IRELAND: Dublin Winter Lights transforms city features into festive artworks
Dublin City Council has transformed its city centre for its festive celebrations, with specially commissioned dynamic light projections onto the capital’s landmarks. Several of Dublin’s bridges and key landmarks, including the General Post Office, Merrion Square Park, Custom House, Bank of Ireland, Trinity College, and others, have been adorned with festive artworks and projections. Notably, George’s Dock is now home to a 16-minute audio-visual installation, where light is projected onto invisible water particles to form abstract shapes and structures.
Dublin Winter Lights
USA: City celebrates agricultural heritage with illuminated tractor parade
Calistoga, California has for decades hosted an Annual Lighted Tractor Parade. The city, located in the heart of Napa Valley, trades traditional parade floats for decorated and illuminated farm equipment, tractors and antique trucks. Originally a small community event, the parade now attracts tens of thousands of people to stay in the town and kick off the holiday season.
Visit Calistoga
ECUADOR: Pase del Niño attracts festive revellers from across the globe
One of South America’s most colourful Christmas celebrations, Pase del Niño attracts swarms of festive revellers and religious pilgrims alike to Cuenca, Ecuador. Uniting Christian and Indigenous traditions, the city is home to a full-day procession, where children are elaborately costumed, floats are embellished wildly, and biblical characters, musicians and street performers join locals and visitors to parade through the street to venerate a statue of the infant Jesus.
El Nuevo Ecuador / Apullacta
NEW ZEALAND: Major parade marks the start of the festive period
For 91 years, the Farmers Santa Parade in the City of Auckland has marked the start of the holiday season at the end of November. Featuring an appearance from Saint Nick himself, the parade is host to marching bands, floats, and tens of thousand of participants across nearly a mile-and-a-half of parade route. Commemorating the festive period in the midst of summer, the parade also features amusement rides and summer holiday themed attractions. This year, Hamish Kerr, 2024 high jump gold medallist, was the parade’s Grand Marshal.
Santa Parade
COLUMBIA: Day of Little Candles
The Day of the Little Candles (Die de las Velitas) is a festival held across Columbia on December 7, the eve of the Immaculate Conception, marking the start of the country’s Christmas celebrations. Lanterns and candles are lit across homes, streets and shops, but celebrations differ slightly across the country: In Barranquilla, residents hang multicoloured lanterns in their homes at 3am. In Santa Marta, the city holds processions, fireworks and other festivities from very early in the morning until dawn.
Columbia One
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