Old Town State Historic Park to Host 68th Las Posadas
Las Posadas procession is a walking reenactment of what is traditionally a nine-day event in Mexico depicting the biblical story of Mary and Joseph’s search for a birthplace for Jesus.
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park will be decked out in historic holiday finery this year and will be the scene of an expanded Las Posadas celebration on Saturday, December 15.
Now in its 68th year in Old Town, the annual Las Posadas procession is a walking reenactment of what is traditionally a nine-day event in Mexico depicting the biblical story of Mary and Joseph’s search for a birthplace for Jesus. Everyone is invited to join the candlelit procession, starting at 4:45 p.m., and sing traditional holiday songs in both Spanish and English as the players go from inn to inn, symbolically asking for lodging. The procession will include local actors playing the parts of Joseph and the innkeepers.
An Old Town Celebration, the 2018 event will mark an expanded celebration in the park with a day full of activities, crafts, choir and stage performances, and more in addition to the procession. Choir performances and activities will begin at noon and extend until 4 p.m.
The park will be decorated to represent the historical setting of Pueblo de San Diego. Choirs will select and perform music that might have been heard during this period. Christmas trees will be decorated with pinecones and bows, with shop windows lighted by candles as carolers stroll through the park.
Traditional historic kids’ crafts such as corn grinding, ojo de dios (stick weaving), whirley gig making, and advent paper-chain garland construction will be situated in the plaza along with other entertainment and activities. Park exhibits and demonstrations will include blacksmithing, wool spinning, candle dipping, a Jewish exhibit and more.
Street performers and carolers will roam the park throughout the day leading up to the 4:45 p.m. gathering for the Las Posadas candle-lit procession which will begin at 5 p.m. and culminate in front of Casa de Estudillo with a live nativity scene and musical performance. Following the procession there will be a bonfire with complimentary hot chocolate and s’mores and caroling. The bonfire will be held every Saturday in December.
These events are sponsored by Fiesta de Reyes and The Old Town State Park Merchants Association. There is free parking available in the Caltrans parking lot on Taylor Street in Old Town after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends. For more information about any of these events, visit Fiestadereyes.com or call (619) 297-3100.
Category: Entertainment, Events, feature, Local News
