Lighting Ceremony and River Parade

San Antonio River Walk
Friday, November 28, 2008 at 7 PM

The lighting ceremony marks the official beginning of the Paseo Del Rio Holiday Festival. On the Friday evening after Thanksgiving, over 122,000 twinkling lights–draped through and from the Cypress trees, bridges and stairways–illuminate a mystical world below street level on the San Antonio River Walk. The lights are lit every evening through January 1, 2009.

Now, the parade begins! Featuring lavishly decorated and illuminated floats, overfilled with celebrities, local bands and costumed dignitaries, the theme for the parade this year is A Theatrical Christmas. Over 150,000 people will gather along the Paseo Del Rio to watch the lighting ceremony and river parade.

For Ticket Information Please Call (210) 227-4262 ext. 101

Fiesta de las Luminarias

San Antonio River Walk
At dusk on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only
December 5-21, 2008

This centuries-old tradition begins at dusk on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Luminaries line the walkways and symbolically re-enact the lighting of the way for the Holy Family’s journey to Bethlehem. The river flows by quietly as you walk under the ancient Cypress trees as dusk darkens into night, your path guided by more than 2,500 glowing soft lights.

The lights are on display until January 1, 2009.  If you cannot make it for one of the two events, visit the River Walk during the holidays for the lights.  It is an incredible sight.