INDEPENDENCE DAY AND BEYOND ON THE RIVER WALK

By Ann Koehler

San Antonio is called Military City USA®, with the largest concentration of military bases in the country, as well as the Department of Defense’s largest medical center at Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston. We are proud of our service members, and we hope you enjoy the River Walk’s Independence Day celebrations as we pay our respects to the men and women who have earned their stripes defending our country.

STARS, STRIPES & LIGHTS

June 30-July 4

The River Walk will be patriotically decked out during the long Fourth of July weekend. Downtown bridges and trees will be sporting red, white and blue ribbons, and 1,000 American flags will line the banks of the downtown River Walk. This celebration of independence is free to enjoy and is the perfect backdrop for photos!

FOURTH OF JULY RIVER WALK ARTISAN SHOW

June 30-July 3

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 11:00am to 11:00pm

Monday, 11:00am to 8:00pm

There are plenty of reasons to attend the Fourth of July River Walk Artisan Show—in fact there are more than 40. This collection of handmade artisan booths features pottery, textiles, jewelry, woodworking, paintings and beading. It is a bright and brilliant display of craftsmanship that both locals and tourists look forward to each year. Enjoy the beauty of the River Walk while you shop for friends, family and yourself!

Here are two more opportunities this summer to shop from more than 40 artisan booths. Each Artisan Show is located at the River Walk Extension, near the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Building and the Shops at Rivercenter. Free to attend.

RIVER WALK SUMMER ARTISAN SHOW

August 4-6

Friday & Saturday, 11:00am to 11:00pm

Sunday, 11:00am to 8:00pm

LABOR DAY ARTISAN SHOW

September 1-4

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 11:00am to 11:00pm

Monday, 11:00am to 8:00pm

ARMED FORCES RIVER PARADE PRESENTED BY BUDWEISER

Sunday, July 2, 6:00 to 7:00pm

It does not get more patriotic than a military parade during Independence Day weekend in Military City USA. The Armed Forces River Parade is dedicated to the men and women from all branches of the United States Armed Forces. Red, white and blue decorated floats carrying military personnel, and numerous businesses and non-profits who honor and support active and retired military, cruise through the downtown portion of the River Walk beginning at the International Center at 203 S. St. Mary’s Street. This free parade is a 40-minute celebration of service.

View the parade for free on the downtown section of the River Walk, and for even more fun, make a reservation at your favorite River Walk restaurant for prime patio viewing of the parade while enjoying delicious food and cold drinks! You are also welcome to bring folding chairs and sit along the parade route (parade route map is available on website). Please do not block pedestrian traffic, and come out early to secure a good spot.

Click On This

FIESTA NOCHE DEL RIO www.FiestaNocheSA.com

REY FEO & QUEENS RIVER PARADE FOR EDUCATION www.ReyFeoScholarship.com

STARS, STRIPES & LIGHTS, RIVER WALK ARTISAN SHOWS, ARMED FORCES RIVER PARADE www.TheSanAntonioRiverWalk.com

THE TOBIN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS www.TobinCenter.org

VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL www.VietnamVeteransMemorialOfSanAntonio.com

WEATHER: The Armed Forces River Parade will take place rain or shine. However, the event will be canceled if severe weather creates an unsafe situation for the float riders or the public. Please check the website starting at 7:00am on the event date. The final determination will be made at 4:00pm.

Memorable Memorials

There are other ways to pay respect to the men and women who have served our country. The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts was built on the site of the San Antonio Municipal Auditorium — which was built in 1926 as a World War I Memorial. Today it is a grand center for culture, arts and entertainment.

For a more somber moment of reflection, visit the military memorial sites downtown. You can cross the infamous line in the sand at the Alamo. Or cross Auditorium Circle, just steps from the Tobin Center entrance, to Veterans Memorial Plaza, where visitors are given space to honor those who have served and those who did not return. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a heroic bronze sculpture that shows a Marine Corps radio operator lending aid to his fallen friend. Inside the “Hill 881 South” sculpture is an air-tight compartment with a list of more than 60,000 names, serial numbers, branches of the military and dates of service of the San Antonio soldiers who served in the Vietnam War. And across from the Vietnam sculpture is the Korean War foxhole memorial statue entitled, “Night Watch.”

This summer also brings the return of two events dedicated to fundraising for kids in San Antonio. Fiesta Noche del Rio is certainly a colorful and energetic variety of performances, but proceeds from the shows benefit children in need. The Rey Feo and Queens River Parade raises money for deserving kids to attend college.

Fiesta Noche Del Rio

Arneson River Theatre

Fridays and Saturdays, July 2–August 5, 8:30pm

It is vibrant! It is lively! It is for a good cause! Now in its 66th season, Fiesta Noche del Rio is lighting up the Arneson River Theatre once again. The show began in 1957 on the River Walk, and it has been a staple ever since. San Antonio’s “First Lady of Song,” Rosita Fernandez, was the original performer who dazzled hundreds of thousands of patrons. Since then, the show has continued to take on new life each year under the direction of Elizabeth “Lisa” Sanchez-Lopez and now Katie Rodriguez Hall.

This iconic cultural performance along the banks of the river is an artistic blend of colorful costumes, talented dancers and the sound of San Antonio’s deep musical roots. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the Arneson comes to life, and proceeds from the event have helped raise more than $2.85 million for disadvantaged children in San Antonio through the Alamo Kiwanis Club. Tickets available on their website.

REY FEO & QUEENS RIVER PARADE FOR EDUCATION

Arneson River Theatre

Saturday, September 23, 7:00 to 10:00pm

Join Rey Feo LXXIV Larry Kurth, Reina de la Feria de las Flores Renee Victoria Vasquez and Reina Linda IX Natalie Gamez along the San Antonio River Walk for a festive parade benefitting the Rey Feo Scholarship Foundation. The Rey Feo Scholarship Program awards deserving high school seniors with financial support to attend a college or university. Visit their website for more information.