EDITOR’S LETTER Ringing in a Bright and Colorful New Year!

February 17-19 brings the annual Bud Light Mardi Gras Festival and River Parade where Fat Tuesday becomes a weekend-long party. So many restaurants along the River Walk will transport you to NOLA, Rio or Venice for that Carnival atmosphere year-round! Of course, there is also Super Bowl Sunday where the big game will be gracing screens at several River Walk establishments and tailgating-inspired snacks are both traditional and elevated. And right after that, love is in the air with Valentine’s Day chocolates and plenty of activities for couples to share.

I am thrilled that you have chosen to begin 2023 in San Antonio! It may be the seventh largest city in the country with world-class arts, entertainment, sports, cuisine and outdoor recreation, but San Antonio is truly a small town at heart. It is a city defined by its diverse heritage, where a vibrant collection of cultures coexists and celebrates each other’s unique identities.

San Antonio’s diversity makes it a perfect setting for DreamWeek, January 13-29, the city’s annual meeting of the minds where individuals from all walks of life come together to share ideas. More than 200 multi-cultural events take place throughout the city with some right along the River Walk.

For those of you doing a holiday detox, you might need a little willpower during your visit. The River Walk’s food and bev scene is glorious any day of the year, but big celebrations between February and March encourage overindulgence!

Go green with the River Walk’s Bud Light St. Patrick’s Day Festival and River Parade, March 17-19. This annual event includes eco-dying the river a vivid green, live entertainment and the highlight of the weekend—the River Parade and serenading bagpipers. The budding landscape-lined River Walk is a perfect verdant backdrop for these early spring activities. March is also when Texans celebrate their independence with historic recreations of the events leading up to the Battle of the Alamo beginning February 23 and a commemorative ceremony honoring the defenders at sunrise on March 6. This coincides with the opening of the new Alamo Collections Center where artifacts depict even more of the Alamo’s story.

For art lovers, while you are strolling the new River Walk Public Art Garden, swing by the River Walk Artisan Shows—one each month—where more than 40 vendors display their crafts.

So much more awaits you during January, February and March on the San Antonio River Walk. It is a bright and colorful way to begin the new year!

Trisha Hutzler Editor, Rio Magazine trisha@travelingblender.com TheSanAntonioRiverWalk.com

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With over 100 locally owned shops, you’ll find cultural curios and artifacts, hand-crafted leather goods, and a diverse collection of traditional apparel.