Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) – ABQ RIDE will no longer operate its annual Luminaria Tour beginning this year. In a press release, ABQ RIDE said while tickets for the tour through the Huning Castle and Old Town neighborhoods usually are reserved very quickly, a large number of ticket holders ultimately don’t show up for the tour. According to the city, over the last 10-years around 62% of reserved tickets have gone unused.
In 2025, the tour cost the city approximately $200,000 to serve 586 attendees, that comes to about $341 per person, including transit operations, staffing, barricades, police traffic control, signage and other event costs. ABQ RIDE is a zero-fare transit system and the tour does not generate fare revenue to offset those operating costs.
ABQ RIDE and the Huning Castle Neighborhood Association are now working with neighbors and community partners to come up with alternative tours. Some of the options being discussed include a walking tour or a revised bus tour that offers residents and visitors an opportunity to enjoy in a more sustainable way.
