This Wonderful Organization, Centro San Antonio, Launches Tis the Season Website as the Complete Guide to Holiday Events, Activities and Happenings in Downtown San Antonio
Downtown San Antonio is truly magical during the holidays, offering residents and visitors a seemingly endless smorgasbord of holiday experiences. From festive trees and dazzling holiday lights to beloved traditions such as La Gran Posada and the Rotary Ice Rink presented by Valero, there are holiday events and experiences for everyone.
Centro San Antonio has launched a website as the go-to resource for the myriad holiday happenings in downtown San Antonio. The Tis the Season website, https://centrosanantonio.org/tis-the-season/, provides a trove of information on where to shop, eat and sip downtown, as well as information on all of the festive activities taking place downtown throughout the holiday season.
“The new Centro San Antonio Tis the Season website is the definitive guide to exploring all of the holiday season experiences that downtown San Antonio has to offer,” said Centro’s Director of Urban Activation + Play Elizabeth Burt. “Our goal is to present a one-stop site that is informative and invites all San Antonians and our visitors to experience the joy of the holiday season in our beautiful, historic downtown.”
Just a few of the downtown San Antonio can’t-miss events and activities include:
The Rotary Ice Rink presented by Valero
The Rotary Ice Rink presented by Valero returns this fall at Travis Park in downtown San Antonio. Since 2019, nearly 200,000 people have enjoyed the rink and surrounding festivities. The Rink opens on Friday, Nov. 18 and will operate daily through mid-January 2023. This year, the ice rink has nearly doubled in size to nearly 5,000 square feet. It offers several weekly themes, including Military & First Responders Night on Mondays, Date Night with live jazz on Wednesdays, Storytime with Santa on Saturdays, and Skating with the Stars Exhibition Skating on Sundays.
Downtown Holiday Lighting
Explore and enjoy festive lights and holiday pageantry available along the River Walk and in other treasured cultural and historical center city spaces. The Tis the Season website includes information on downtown venues featuring holiday lights, including Travis Park, Legacy Park, Main Plaza, Alamo Plaza and more.
The downtown holiday lights season dramatically kicks off on Friday, Nov. 25, with several holiday lighting events:
- The H-E-B Tree Lighting Celebration takes place from 3-6 p.m. The tree lights on the nearly 50-foot Nordmann Fir Christmas Tree will be illuminated for the first time at 6:20 p.m. H-E-B will provide free VIA bus rides to the tree lighting event as well as free ice skating to guests from 3-5:30 p.m.
- The Ford Holiday River Parade and River Lighting Ceremony take place from 6-9 p.m. This year’s parade theme is Tastes & Traditions Around the World and the parade’s Grand Marshall is The Grinch from the Broadway in San Antonio’s production of Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
- On December 1, from 4:30 – 6 p.m. Legacy Park, 103 W. Houston Street, will host its tree lighting ceremony with Santa, entertainment and refreshments.
- Holiday lights will also be glowing throughout the season on Main Plaza, in the Bohanan’s restaurant courtyard and throughout downtown.
Holidays on Houston Street
Want to support local small businesses with your holiday shopping? Look no further than Holidays on Houston Street, a retail incubator and pop-up shopping experience in downtown San Antonio. On Tuesdays through Saturdays, Nov. 8 through Jan. 14, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the historic Savoy Building at 122 E. Houston Street is transformed into a shopping mecca offering unique and creative gifts. Local small businesses and artisans such as Agave Muerto Clay, Interwoven Collective and Pria Handmade Accessories offer one-of-a-kind items.
Downtown Pop-Up Events
Travis Park offers a myriad of holiday activities alongside the Rotary Ice Rink. These include live ice sculpting on Mondays, Rink Reel movie nights on Tuesdays, live jazz bands on Wednesday evenings, live snow flurries on Thursdays, and beats and eats with live local DJs and food offerings every Friday. Details can be found on the Tis the Season website.
Paseo Market on Houston features a rotating selection of artisan vendors, with pop-up performances, DJ sets, and prize giveaways on Thursdays and Fridays, Dec. 1 – 23, from 5 – 8 p.m. The Paseo Market takes place along the Frost Tower promenade, located on Houston St. between Flores St. and San Pedro Creek.
The Santa Paws Dog Parade and Costume Contest is a part of the Downtown Dog Market on Saturday, Dec. 17 at Legacy Park.
“The 80|20 Foundation is proud to support the holiday initiatives put on by all our downtown partners! Creating holiday memories in downtown San Antonio has been a longstanding tradition for many families, and we are grateful to contribute additional opportunities for seasonal fun,” said Alexandra Frey, executive director of the 80|20 Foundation, a partner in the Tis the Season initiative.
Transportation and Parking info:
https://centrosanantonio.org/transportation/
About Centro
Centro is a placemaking organization working every day to create a more beautiful, playful, welcoming, and prosperous downtown highlighting the San Antonio spirit. While we are champions for all of downtown, our primary job is to manage the Public Improvement District. The PID covers about one square mile encompassing the most iconic, exciting and historic locations in our city, all of which weave together as the cultural, creative, and civic epicenters of San Antonio.
Learn more at https://centrosanantonio.org/about/
About the 80|20 Foundation
The 80|20 Foundation invests in San Antonio’s future by issuing grants to public charities that attract, grow, and retain San Antonio’s future workforce and job-creating entrepreneurs. To learn more visit https://8020foundation.com/.
