san antonio's festival of lights!

​San Antonio, TX has really come into it's own as a vacation destination and the holiday season is especially wonderful.  Between the profusion of lights (literally everywhere!), the amazing multi-cultural food scene as well as the natural wonders, San Antonio does not disappoint.
 
In December, thousand of lanterns are lit along the river for the Fiesta de las Luminarias.  This is an old tradition that symbolizes “lighting the way” for the Christmas family and is one of the highlights of the season in San Antonio.  The Riverwalk is a center point for many of the holiday activities.
 
If you're looking for a quick holiday getaway, consider San Antonio.  It's especially beautiful this time of year.
 
- Cindy -

destination of the week
san antonio, texas

San Antonio's River Walk is a year-round hotspot for the city's visitors. The River Walk is a central area made up of shops, restaurants, and hotels, and a lovely place to be thanks to the walking paths, bridges, and canal boats. During the Christmas season, decorations and festivities take over this scenic tourist paradise, making it the perfect place to get into the holiday mood, eat out, and do a little shopping.
Every year on the day after Thanksgiving, the switch is thrown and over 100,000 twinkling lights form a magical canopy over San Antonio's River Walk.
 
Traditionally, the lighting ceremony is the official kickoff to the Holiday Light Fest and is preceded by the Ford Holiday River Parade, one of the best holiday parades in the U.S. that is streamed all over the country. For over 20 years, the spectacular one-hour parade along San Antonio's River Walk has featured decorated, illuminated floats with celebrities, bands, and lavishly-costumed participants. Typically, over 150,000 people will gather along the River Walk to watch the spectacle live along the parade route.
 
In December, enjoy San Antonio's Fiesta de Las Luminarias, a ceremony where over 2,000 paper lanterns are lit along the river, creating a magical effect. This centuries-old Mexican tradition symbolizes the "lighting of the way" for the holy family. 
 
At the Pearl Brewery, you can do some shopping on Thursday nights when the city's famous brewery puts on its Holiday Night Market. The market typically features live music and holiday treats from tamales to artisanal chocolates. Pearl Brewery is located right on the river and the event is free and open to the public.
 
For a special treat, consider having a holiday dinner on the San Antonio River. There are several restaurants that offer dinner on the river barges, such as Boudro's, one of the top restaurants on the River Walk. The staff will take orders for entrees before you set off on a short cruise, arriving back to the restaurant to enjoy the main course and dessert. Gliding underneath the canopy of Christmas lights as you sip wine and munch on tasty food is one of the best ways to enjoy the season in San Antonio. Make your reservations far in advance!
 
https://christmasmarketguides.com/christmas-in-san-antonio-texas/

travel tip of the week
christmas at the caverns

The area surrounding San Antonio is known for its caves and caverns, and nearby Natural Bridge Caverns really draws the crowds each year. In December, Natural Bridge Caverns fully embraces the Christmas spirit with “Christmas at the Caverns.”
Visitors to the caverns get the rare opportunity to sing Christmas carols inside the caverns and experience the magical echo of these songs reverberating all around.
Other festivities include a Christmas maze, visits with Santa “Spelunker” Claus, outdoor movies, and a Christmas lights trail.

virtual vacation of the week

​An overview of the famous Christmas lights on the Riverwalk in San Antonio.
Video by Tim Macy and found on YouTube

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