Recreation

Santa Claus is Coming to the River Walk!

The 40Th AnnuAl Ford river PArAde ushers in The holidAys in sAn AnTonio

By Drew Henry

You may not know this, but Santa’s favorite vacation destination is the San Antonio River Walk. After all, it is a lot warmer than the North Pole, and Santa does have a soft spot for tacos and margaritas. For 40 years, Santa has helped the City of San Antonio turn on the holidays at the annual Ford Holiday River Parade. This event features a fantastic lineup of river floats and the big reveal of the holiday lights. Here is everything you need to know about the big day and how to get in the holiday spirit—San Antonio-style!

THE 40TH ANNUAL FORD HOLIDAY RIVER PARADE

Friday, November 26 – 6:00pm

The Ford Holiday River Parade has been a San Antonio holiday tradition ever since Santa decided to cruise the river 40 years ago. Over 50,000 people attended the first Holiday River Parade, and it only continues to grow. USA Today declared it the 4th best holiday parade in the United States for the last two years!

This year, Santa and Mrs. Claus are back with more glitter and glee to carry on this wonderful tradition and celebrate four decades of magical fun. This year’s theme is “40 Years of Magic,” and the parade will feature illuminated floats and costumed parade participants harking back to some of the most popular parade themes through the decades. It is going to be a blast from holiday’s past!

Santa and a few of his San Antonio-based elves have spent the whole year planning the parade, and they cannot wait for the big reveal. Tony Villejo and Tina Sturchio are two of the “head elves” in the year-long planning process. Tony is the lead parade float artist. He and a team come up with the themes, and he draws the floats by hand months ahead of time. Tina then brings his designs to life. Her company, Sturchio Events, has brought San Antonio events alive for more than 50 years, even helping plan the 1968 World’s Fair. Tony builds new props and Tina’s team assembles the floats in the marina in the days leading up to the parade. It is all hands on deck to build all twenty-seven floats in time for Santa’s arrival. The hour-long parade starts at Lexington Avenue at 6:00pm. Twenty-seven brightly decorated floats will cruise along the downtown River Walk and they will make a stop at the historic Arneson River Theatre at 7:00pm for a televised live broadcast that is syndicated nationally throughout the holidays. Here, the parade’s grand marshal kicks off the holidays by magically turning on the lights in the Arnesan River Theatre. This year, San Antonio actor Cody Garcia will star as the Grand Marshal Willy Wonka from the hit Broadway play Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and he will resume his role the following week at The Majestic Theatre. (Performances run from December 7–12 at The Majestic Theatre, if you’d like to catch the show on your visit.)

The Arneson River Theatre is a great place to grab a seat for the show because this is where all the action happens! Here, the parade is broadcast live on CW35. So, you may even get your shot at being on TV, where over one million people tune in every year. However, there is nothing like catching the parade in-person and waving to Santa.

Ticket prices for the parade range from $15–$40 depending on the viewing area, and they come with a designated seat along the river. Tickets sell out every year, so it is best to secure them early on The San Antonio River Walk website, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com. First-comefirst-serve free viewing areas are also available along the parade route between Pecan Street and Richmond Avenue.

NOTABLE GRAND MARSHALS THROUGH THE YEARS

Today’s Willard Scott – 1983 Bud Light’s Spuds MacKenzie – 1987 The Peanut’s Snoopy – 1990 Jeopardy’s Alex Trebeck – 1992 Gilmore Girls’ Jared Padalecki – 2000

The Spur’s Coyote - 2004 Olympian Jimmy Feigen – 2012 HUD Secretary Julian Castro – 2015 Charlie’s Angel Cheryl Ladd – 2017 Texas State Speaker of the House Joe Straus – 2018

ZZ Tops’ Billy Gibbons – 2019

BELOVED PARADE THEMES THROUGH THE YEARS

Holiday Traditions Around the World – 1984

Winter Wonderland – 1986

River of Lights – 1995 Holiday Toyland – 1996 Lone Star Christmas – 2000

River Walk Spectacular – 2002 Texas Country Christmas – 2003 A Blast from the Past – 2005

Christmas at the Movies – 2017

RESTAURANTS OFFERING PARADE DINING PACKAGES

Call or visit online to inquire about details, pricing and availability. Don’t forget to ask about special Parade Packages, where guests can experience the lights on the River Walk aboard a reserved GO RIO boat after the parade.

• Biga on the Banks • Boudro’s Texas Bistro • Casa Rio • Iron Cactus • Paesanos • Rio Rio • The Republic of Texas

Popular River Walk restaurants offer Holiday River Parade dining packages for those who like dinner and a show. Offerings vary among restaurants, so you are sure to find an option with delicious eats and fantastic parade views. Visit www.sanantonioriverwalk.com for updates.

No matter how you watch it, the 40th Annual Holiday River Parade is a magical experience for all ages. Happy Holidays, San Antonio!

THE HOLIDAY FUN CONTINUES

FORD HOLIDAY BOAT CAROLING

Begins December 2

Mon–Thu: 6:00–8:15pm; Fri–Sun: 6:00–9:30pm

Sing in the holidays by caroling with friends and family from your private, one-hour rented boat on the River Walk, and encourage spectators along the banks of the river to join in the fun as you drift by! Each boat can accommodate a maximum of 15 people (children under the age of 2 are not counted toward boat capacity). Other types of festive holiday music such as mariachis, bell-ringers and bands are also welcome to book a caroling boat.

With two timeslots on Mondays through Thursdays and three on Fridays through Sundays, merry songs fill every evening during the holiday season. Reserve your own caroling boat on The San Antonio River Walk website.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS ON THE RIVER WALK

November 12–January 10 at dawn

5:30pm–8:00am

The Holiday Lights on the River Walk have been a San Antonio tradition since 1975. Experience a spectacular display of over 100,000 lights draped over the towering bald cypress trees that line the River Walk. The Holiday Lights are free to enjoy and stretch from the downtown portion of the River Walk all the way to the Pearl District one mile north. The River Walk is a public park and is open every day of the year, 24 hours a day. So, the holiday lights are ready when you are!

WRITER’S BIO

Drew Henry is a writer, content creator and founder of the Design Dude’s Life blog. When he’s not writing, he’s out exploring all Texas has to offer. View his work at DrewHenryWrites.com and get some home design tips at DesignDudesLife.com. Follow on Instagram: @ designdudeslife & @drewhenrywrites

Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk

Where Urban Contemporary Design Meets Authentic Hospitality

San Antonio is a city that blends diverse cultures from around that world and marries modern design and culinary concepts with rich history and architecture. From the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park to the burgeoning distillery and craft beer scene, to the myriad art galleries of Southtown, there is always something new to explore in the Alamo City for visitors and residents alike.

Nestled in the heart of downtown, the Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk boutique hotel opened in April 2021 to mirror these eclectic attributes of its city and share these with guests traveling from near and far. Its team, or enthusiasts, act as local guides and go above and beyond to ensure a positive stay while sharing their favorite places to visit and dine in the city.

Designed by Gensler and Mark Zeff with Lake | Flato as the architects, the classic, chic hotel is situated on the historic San Antonio River Walk across from the Aztec Theatre and within walking distance from the Alamo and the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The building’s central location dates back to the mid-19th century where it originally stood as a bustling financial institution until it transformed into Fish Market & Bakery in 1977. Several historical artifacts were preserved within the hotel’s riverfront restaurant, including the original wall of the fish market and a large cistern previously used by ranchers traveling into the city seeking fresh water and refuge.

Canopy’s 195 “Just-Right” rooms, including eight well-appointed suites, possess a modern, industrial feel with local art from Blue Star Contemporary and Ruiz-Healy Art galleries, among others. Standout artists throughout these rooms, suites and common spaces include Cruz Ortiz, Ethel Shipton, Chuck Ramirez and Carlos Betancourt. Small details make the difference in the guest rooms, with features such as leather chairs, handwoven textiles and custom shower tiles whose quatrefoil shape honor San Antonio’s four pillars: people, promise, passion and pride. Bar. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, Domingo is an open-air restaurant offering the flavors of South Texas and an agave-forward beverage program. Led by Mexico-born executive chef, Arturo Trevino, popular menu items include the inventive Short-Rib Quesadillas, Cilantro Marinated Halibut and the Green Chile and Chicken Enchiladas. The Churro Waffle stands out as a locally inspired brunch item not to be missed.

Three floors up, Otro is a terrace bar that protrudes over the iconic San Antonio River Walk. Otro features a curated cocktail list by a knowledgeable bar staff with light fare such as Adobo Chicken Tacos, Halibut Ceviche and Guacamole, complemented by views of the native Cypress trees and river below. Vibrant floor tiles imported from Mexico add to the breezy, relaxed atmosphere. Once per month, Otro hosts an “Asanas and Agave” event, which includes a yoga class followed by a refreshing tequila cocktail.

“We aim to bridge that gap between paying homage to the warm, inviting hospitality culture that has always existed in SATX and the sophisticated, art deco design and lively atmosphere you might find in a larger city,” said Canopy San Antonio General Manager Daniel Haughan. “We pair these concepts together to reach an urban, contemporary feel without sacrificing our passion and outstanding service.”