A Point Loma holiday tradition focused on simplistic beauty will return once again on Christmas Eve. The 37th annual Plumosa Park Festival of Lights will line the streets with luminarias from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 24. “It’s very heavenly. It’s not brash and it’s not overpowering,” said Dell Schroeder, local resident and festival participant. Neighbor Carol Settles brought the tradition of luminarias — votive candles in lunch sacks lining sidewalks in area neighborhoods — from Arizona in 1956. The tradition expanded and became an annual ritual in 1973 when the city was in a power crisis and urged local residents to shy away from putting lights on their houses. “If you haven’t seen [the luminaria festival] before, you have to see one at least once. It’s time for [visitors] to come see it,” Schroeder said. The festival now includes all of the streets with flower names in Loma Portal. Schroeder said about 300 local residences will participate, with each house putting out an average of 10 luminarias. “Dress warmly, walk slowly and enjoy the evening,” Schroeder said. “Lots of people are on the run constantly and it’s a much slower paced little festival of lights.” LUMINARIA LESSON Keys to the luminaria tradition: 1. Move all cars off the streets during the event at Plumosa Park. Encourage alley parking while leaving room for vehicles to pass 2. Turn over a one-inch cuff on the top of a No. 8 lunch sack 3. Put one cup of beach sand, potting soil or kitty litter in the bottom of each sack 4. Place votive candle in center of sand 5. Place a sack every two to three inches along your curb 6. Clean up afterward Candles can be purchased at Stump’s Market, 3770 Voltaire St., or online at www.generalwax.com or www.candles.com