Thousands swarm Apodaca Park for the annual Las Cruces Electric Light Parade

Leah Romero, Las Cruces Sun-News
·2 min read

Thousands of Las Crucens turned out Monday evening, July 3 for the city’s annual Electric Light Parade ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.

People lined up their lawn chairs and picnic blankets all around Apodaca Park Monday evening in preparation for the evening light parade. According to a news release, over 60 floats entered the parade this year. The theme was “Red, White, and BOOM!”

Every year, the sidewalks are packed with families and children excited to see how floats decorate with lights. Glow-in-the-dark necklaces and light up wands were brandished by people of all ages as the sun went down.

Debra and Mario Gomez told the Sun-News that they have been taking their son, Cortez, 9, to the parade since he was a baby. They snagged a spot along the sidewalk near the start of the parade.

Members of the Heart for the World Church dance on their float during the Electric Light Parade on Monday, July 3, 2023, at Apodaca Park.
Members of the Heart for the World Church dance on their float during the Electric Light Parade on Monday, July 3, 2023, at Apodaca Park.

“It excites him,” Mario Gomez said. “He likes the police cars, he likes the lights.”

Debra Gomez added that the whole community coming together for one night adds to the anticipation.

Jacqueline de Butler and her sister-in-law Marissa de Butler set up a picnic for their children in the grass. The kids ran back and forth from the picnic to the park’s playground equipment while they waited for the sun to set.

Jacqueline de Butler said she moved to Las Cruces in 2006 and started bringing her family to the parade soon after.

Diane Montez was camped out on a sidewalk corner on Madrid Avenue with her large family Monday night.

Jocelyn Muñoz hands her brother, Calogero Uranga, a sparkler during the Electric Light Parade on Monday, July 3, 2023, at Apodaca Park.
Jocelyn Muñoz hands her brother, Calogero Uranga, a sparkler during the Electric Light Parade on Monday, July 3, 2023, at Apodaca Park.

“It’s been a tradition. I used to live up Solano so we used to have it like in my front yard,” Montez said. “It's just been something to bring all the community together. It's a nice experience for the family.”

Ahead of the parade, the Las Cruces Running Club hosts the annual Electric 5k and One-Mile Fun Run.

The parade started at 9 p.m. with first responder vehicles flashing their lights and sirens, followed by dozens of floats, ATVs, motorcycles and lowriders, the latter of which received a loud cheer from the audience.

The city announced the parade winners for Best Overall, Commercial and Non-Commercial floats in a news release Wednesday. The winners include:

Best Overall Float

  • Hernandez Plumbing

Commercial Float winners

  • The Salvation Army

  • Francy Emilade

  • HD2 Studio

Non-Commercial Float winners

  • Mayfield Cheer

  • Friends of the Community

  • Mesilla Valley Aerostat Association

Others are reading:

Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Thousands swarm Apodaca Park for Las Cruces Electric Light Parade