As part of the celebration of the 271st birthday of Laredo, a spectacular laser show on the exterior walls of San Agustin Cathedral is on tap for the evening of May 16. The free community event is sponsored by the Laredo Cultural District in collaboration with Daphne Art Foundation, Laredo Center for the Arts, Laredo Film Society, and the Webb County Historical Commission.
This public event, which begins at 8 p.m., will also feature Ballet Folklórico performances and live music in San Agustín Plaza.
“As night falls the façade of San Agustín Cathedral will transform into a canvas of light. The laser show will unfold as a breathtaking spectacle of abstraction, celebrating the birth and spirit of Laredo. From the sacred ground where the remains of Don Tomás Sánchez rest, to the cathedral’s spire, beams of light will dance across the historic structure, creating an experience never before seen in downtown Laredo,” said Jorge Santana, Operations and Creative Director of the Laredo Cultural District.
According to Santana, the laser show will be brought to life by Tim Walsh of Laser Spectacles, a leader in immersive laser entertainment.
Walsh is a founding member of the International Laser Display Association (ILDA). He blends music with dance, film, and visual storytelling. He is also a co-founder of Brave Combo, the Grammy-winning polka band that continues to perform today.
Walsh has brought his work to audiences worldwide — from churches and corporate events to raves and large outdoor festivals. He has earned more than 28 awards for excellence along the way.
Santana recalled his first meeting with Walsh at La Posada. “I immediately sensed his work would be something special. His calm, almost hippie-like demeanor came alive as he described the show and talked about Brave Combo’s Grammy-winning journey in electronic polka. I felt his work would be the perfect fit for this celebration of Laredo’s 271st birthday — especially when he said he would incorporate Cielito Lindo from his 1970s album.”
Santana said he felt in that moment the perfect convergence of “a match made in laser heaven” as he recounted to Walsh the personal memory of how, in Nuevo Laredo, the marble clock at Plaza Hidalgo — about eight blocks from Bridge I — plays Cielito Lindo at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. “It can be heard in downtown Laredo on quiet nights and early mornings. I can hear it from my home on Victoria Street. The clock was built in the 1920s by the Academia Verdi to bring a touch of European charm to the border,” he said.
Santana said he was left speechless when Walsh and a longtime collaborator staged a private test run in front of the cathedral.
