The Downtown Parade of Lights and Festival are hitting the streets on Saturday, December 16.
First, the festival begins at 4 p.m. with food trucks, vendors, live holiday music, free photos with Santa Claus, and other entertainment at Armory Park (on Sixth Avenue between 12th and 13th Street). Then, the parade kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at 17th Street and Stone Avenue, ending at Armory Park with more than 75 floats.
This year’s participants include floats created by Ballet Folklorica Tapatio, Truly Nolen, El Tour de Tucson, Saguaro National Park, Tucson Electric Power, Tucson Comic-Con, The Arizona Bowl, Tucson High Magnet School Marching Band, Pima County Public Library, and many others.
The 2023 Grand Marshal is Dr. Dante Lauretta. Dr. Lauretta is a Regents Professor of Planetary Science and Cosmochemistry at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and the principal investigator of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return mission.
Keep scrolling for the full lineup of food trucks parked nearby to keep your energy up.
Food Trucks (next to Armory Park at 100 E. 12th St.)
- Churros El Rey
- The Sweet Coqui
- Mafia Kitchen
- Charly’s BBQ & Grill
- Jackie’s Food Court
- Sushi Hana
- Biggie Boy BBQ
- Gigi’s Peruvian/Mexican Fusion
More Food Trucks (across the street from St. Agustine Cathedral at 141 S. Stone Ave.)
- Cody Coyote Kettle Corn
- Al Gusto Coffee Co
- Tacoqueta Tacos
- Lahaina’s WaffleDogs
Parade Route
The Spanish language emcee, Esperanza Madrid, of La Urbana Radio and Estrella TV is sponsored by Visit Tucson/Vamos a Tucson and will be located on Stone Avenue.
The English language emcee, Ken Carr, of What’s Up Tucson and The Drive Tucson 101.7 FM/AM 830 is sponsored by The Arizona Bowl and will be located in Armory Park.
For schedule, parade info, parking info, and a full list of sponsors, visit downtownparadeoflights.com.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
