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Major Events and Festivals

Plan your San Antonio trip around a major festival or event listed below. Smaller but no less important events are included in our comprehensive Calendar of Events. Note: Please reconfirm dates and ticket information though the event organizer at the contact information below.

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 January 2012

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January – April: San Antonio SPURS Season GO SPURS GO! The four-time World Champions take on their 2012 regular season from January through April in the AT&T Center. Admission. Get Details 7: U.S. Army All-American Bowl The game showcases the nation's top high school football players. Spot the talent that will be tomorrow's college and NFL superstars. A week of festivities leads up to the big game day. Get Details 16: Martin Luther King Jr. March and Rally Honoring the Civil Rights leader, this is the largest people's march in the country. Other events throughout the city include a rally, art exhibits, workshops and candlelight vigils. Get Details 26-29: San Anotnio Cocktail Conference  Modeled on the wildly popular Manhattan Cocktail Classic and New Orleans' Tales of the Cocktail event. San Antonio's own Cocktail Conference is the first of its kind in Texas. It is bringing together top bartenders for four days of education seminars, guided tastings and cocktail parties. Conference proceeds will benefit HeartGift San Antonio. Get Details 28: Asian Festival at The Institute of Texan Cultures This event honors Asian cultures and traditions from the Middle East to the Pacific Rim. With a variety of delicious foods (Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Pakistani, Filipino and Polynesian, just to name a few!) and an array of performances, including martial arts and dance demonstrations. Get Details

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 February 2012

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4: SeaWorld San Antonio Opens for 2012 Season SeaWorld San Antonio’s combination of unique animal attractions, entertaining shows that combine artistry, emotion and marine animals into amazing performances, the thrill of its state-of-the-art coasters and educational experiences for all ages make this park an exciting place to be! Admission. Get Details  More Big Thrills & Adventure  9-26: San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Features great entertainment with star-studded country, rock 'n' roll and Latin artists during all 20 PRCA rodeo performances. This spectacular of fun also includes shopping, a carnival and livestock centers. AT&T Center. Admission.  Get Details

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 March 2012

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All Month: Contemporary Art Month The month-long celebration of contemporary arts features more than 400 exhibitions and involves more than 50 venues. Events take place in galleries, museums, neighborhoods and studios. Some events have an admission charge. Get Details 6:Six Flags Fiesta Texas Opens for 2012 Season Let the fun begin. Check out themed rides, thrilling roller coasters, attractions and shows for every age, including opportunities to meet the Looney Tunes characters throughout the visually stunning 200-acre park. Admission. Get Details  More Big Thrills & Adventure  6: Dawn at the Alamo A pre-dawn commemorative ceremony kicks off an annual weekend to honor the fallen on both sides from the Battle of the Alamo. Alamo Plaza. Free. Get Details 10: Luminaria—Arts Come To Light All manner of creative endeavors -- art, music, poetry, performance, light shows  --  explode across San Antonio. Luminaria is San Antonio's annual celebration of art and artists. Held in March and overseen by San Antonio's creative leaders, it is free of charge and showcases all art forms in an outdoor setting and inside various venues downtown.Get Details 9,10, & 17: St. Patrick's Day Celebrations Make sure to get a good spot on the River Walk for the St. Patrick's Day River Parade and then head over to the Alamo for solemn ceremonies to honor the fallen heroes. Free. Get Details

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 April 2012

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13-15: Poteet Strawberry Festival More than just a celebration of the strawberry, this festival is one of the oldest, most popular events in the state and is recognized as the largest agricultural festival in Texas. Located just south of San Antonio, the Poteet Strawberry festival includes concerts, dancing, rides, gunslingers, rodeo performances and of course lots of strawberries. Get Details 19-29: Fiesta San Antonio! More than 100 unique events satisfy every taste and interest and draw spectators from around the city, nation and world. Since 1891 when the first Fiesta event, the Battle of Flowers, honored the memory of our Texas heroes, Fiesta has expanded the initial commemoration to include the recognition and celebration of San Antonio's rich and diverse cultures. Come celebrate Fiesta San Antonio! More than half of the events are FREE. Get Details.   Learn more about the Sights and Sounds of Fiesta! 16-22: Valero Texas Open The third oldest tournament on PGA TOUR (orginated and played in San Antonio since in 1922). It has been one of the top-three most charitable PGA tournaments on TOUR for the last several years. 72-hole. Admission. (210) 491-5800. Get Details 27: Splashtown San Antonio Opens for 2012 Season Splashtown San Antonio is 20 landscaped acres of cool, clean water excitement just three minutes North of downtown on IH-35 at the Splashtown exit. Get Details 28: Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort Opens for 2012 Season The original Schlitterbahn, in New Braunfels, just 20 minutes north of San Antonio, wins recognition, year after year, as the world's top waterpark. With over 65 acres of tube rides, water slides and uphill water coasters there is plenty of fun for the whole family. Get Details

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 May 2012

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All Month: S.A. Dance Umbrella Celebrates Dance Month San Antonio Dance Umbrella will celebrate Dance Month with numerous performances around the city. Some of the highlights of the month long dance celebration include: "The Cloggers' Showcase,” "Dance Around the World,” and "WIP Crème.” Get Details May – August: WNBA - San Antonio Silver Stars Go Silver Stars Go! San Antonio’s WNBA team will continue to rock the AT&T Center as they kick off their 2012 season. AT&T Center. Admission. Get Details May - Aquatica at SeaWorld San Antonio Grand Opening  The South Seas meets South Texas at Aquatica, a whimsical, one-of-a-kind waterpark only SeaWorld could create. Aquatica blends up-close animal experiences, waters from serene to extreme, high-speed thrills and white, sandy beaches. Get Details TBD: Cinco de Mayo Celebrations commemorate the Mexican Army's defeat of the invading French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Events include a festival with music and food at historic Market Square, concerts and other commemorations. Get Details  16-20: CULINARIA - A Wine and Culinary Arts Festival Giving wine and food aficionados one more thing to be thankful for this May, the Festival will showcase the Alamo City's finest restaurants and chefs as well as celebrity guests from Mexico, Miami, Manhattan and all over Texas as it celebrates San Antonio as a premier wine and food destination and an important culinary and cultural gateway to Mexico and Latin America. Get Details 18-20: Tejano Conjunto Festival en San Antonio Features live performances by more than 20 of the best musical groups from traditional Conjunto to progressive Tejano. Rosedale Park. Admission. Get Details 19: Military River Parade - Here's to our Heroes  A River Parade dedicated to the men and women of the Armed Forces. A NEW River Walk Event. On Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 19th, 2012 approximately 25 professionally decorated floats will travel down the River Walk, themed according to their participants- all branches of service, veterans of recent conflicts, military support groups, etc. The floats will feature live entertainment from military groups, as well as local artists who wish to dedicate their talents to honor the troops. Get Details TBD: 13th Annual Soul Food Festival & Gospel on the Plaza This event kicks off with a gospel choir  and continues with amazing food, arts, crafts, family events and more. Get Details May- August: Fiesta Noche Del Rio A San Antonio tradition, this performance features songs and dances of Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Texas and occurs Friday and Saturday evenings at the River Walk’s historic Arneson River Theatre. Get Details

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 June 2012

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TBD: San Antonio Summer Art & Jazz Festival One of San Antonio’s best Jazz Festival returns for the 9th season!  The San Antonio Summer Art & Jazz Festival is a free, three-day event featuring an outstanding line-up of local and nationally known jazz artists, an arts & crafts fair, and delicious local foods. Get Details 8-10: Texas Folklife Festival Join in the celebration of all things Texas at the Texas Folklife Festival. Hosted at The Institute of Texan Cultures, this three-day cultural extravaganza brings more than 40 ethnic groups together in one place to showcase their authentic food, traditional music and dance and authentic crafts. Come celebrate your heritage and share in a Texas tradition. The Institute of Texan Cultures is located in HemisFair Park, a short walk from the Alamo and the River Walk. Get Details 19: Juneteenth Observances throughout the city, including a picnic, festival, Freedom Fair, and cultural celebrations honoring the date, June 19, 1865, the day that Texas slaves received word of the Emancipation Proclamation.  Get Details

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 July 2012

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4 : Fourth of July Celebration Enjoy festivals, concerts and fireworks at locations across San Antonio celebrating Independence Day. Some highlights include Freedom Fest at Market Square, an arts and crafts show along the River Walk and extravaganzas at local theme parks. San Antonio Marketsquare & The San Antonio River Walk TBD : Balcones Heights Jazz Festival The Balcones Heights Jazz Festival has been captivating South Texas jazz fans for more than 16 years. The free concert series takes place each July and August, on Friday evenings at the spectacular outdoor Amphitheater at Wonderland of the Americas. Get Details

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 August 2012

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18-25: Culinaria: Restaurant Week 2012 Get great deals on amazing meals at San Antonio's top restaurants. Get Details   TBD: Texas Football Classic Ten of the top high school football teams in the state compete at this weekend football rumble in the Alamodome. Included schools have played in 12 state championships. Admission. Get Details 4: FORD Canoe Challenge Over 90 canoe teams including local celebrities, city officials, corporate teams and Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts compete in the FORD Canoe Challenge. River Walk. Get Details

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 September 2012

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All Month: FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA This annual international photography festival is a unique, eclectic, month-long celebration of the photographic arts. Dozens of exhibits showing traditional photographs, digital images, photography based works, photographic installations, funky camera, and alternative processes, are presented in galleries, museums, art centers and other exhibition spaces throughout San Antonio, the Texas Hill Country and in the festival’s web galleries. Free. Get Details 12-13: Taste of the River Walk Ticket holders enjoy sampling culinary offerings from 20 participating River Walk establishments from 6:00pm until 8:30pm. Then, all party-goers are encouraged to go to to the Post-Party. Get Details 9-10, 16: Diez y Seis Events Marking Mexico's independence from Spain, San Antonio celebrates September 16 with special events all over town including a street parade with floats and marching bands, a gala, Market Square celebrations, festivals, dance presentations and other special activities. Get Details 22-23:  Jazz'SAlive Some of the nation's top jazz entertainers, along with regional and local talent, take over Travis Park and dazzle the crowd with their smooth sounds. Travis Park. Free. Get Details

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 October 2012

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TBD: Oktoberfest San Antonio Head over to the Beethoven Halle & Garten to celebrate the ultimate German festival! Music, food and dancing plus German specialties like bratwurst, reubens and beer will be available to help put you in the spirit! Suggested donation is $5 at the gate. Get Details TBD: International Accordion Festival  A three-day festival of music, dancing, food and fun which celebrates the versatility of the accordion and accordion-based international styles of music. La Villita. Free. Get Details 26-28: AT&T Championship The PGA Champions Tour returns to San Antonio for its 25th year. Numerous environmental elements distinct to the Texas Hill Country were incorporated into the course design. Stands of oak and cedar trees, and panoramic views of the adjacent Cibolo Canyons creating a breathtakingly beautiful and enjoyable challenge for scratch golfers and novices alike. TPC San Antonio - ATT Canyons is the perfect setting for this tournament and charity event. Admission. Get Details

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 November 2012

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2: El Dia de los Muertos Translated literally as "the Day of the Dead," this Mexican cultural tradition is a celebration in which the family welcomes back departed loved ones, sharing the joys of life with them as their memories live on. Creative and respectful altars are set up around town at galleries, cultural centers, cemeteries and restaurants to commemorate loved ones who have passed on. Poetry readings, and calavera processions (participants dress as skeletons) are typical events as well. Citywide. Some events have an admission charge. Get Details 2-11:  Wurstfest A unique celebration rich in German culture and full of Texas fun! During this 10-day salute to sausage, you’ll find a variety of entertainment options including a polka contest, games, rides, food and drinks on the Wurstfest Grounds in Landa Park as well as special events throughout New Braunfels and Comal County. New Braunfels at Landa Park. Admission. Get Details TBD: Diwali San Antonio; Festival of Lights Diwali is one of the biggest festivals largely celebrated in India and for the second year is being celebrated in the Alamo City. Event starts at 5:00 p.m. Experience this colorful event filled with Indian music, dance, food and a special lighting ceremony as a thousand tea lights are released into the fountains at HemisFair Park. Get Details 11: San Antonio Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon & ½ Marathon This one of a kind marathon features over 70 bands along the course which passes several historic missions and wraps up at the Alamodome. Get Details November 19 – January 6: Light the Way at the University of Incarnate Word A million twinkling lights will illuminate the night sky at the University of Incarnate Word to celebrate the holiday season in style.This walking or driving experience has been going on for more than two decades and is truly a San Antonio-style holiday event. Free. Get Details   23: Ford Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony The day after Thanksgiving, our river parade kicks off the holidays as decorated floats wind through the river in one of the country's only nighttime river parades. Admission for all river-level access. New this year, nearly 1.8 million lights will illuminate the River Walk trees and bridges throughout the holiday season.  Get Details 30- December 16: Ford Fiesta de las Luminarias   Experience the Holiday serenity of the River Walk as you stroll along the lush banks of the San Antonio River guided by more than 6,000 Luminarias. Warmly glowing candles in sand-filled bags line the walkways to symbolically mark the "lighting of the way" for the Holy Family. This century’s old tradition begins at dusk Friday, Saturday & Sunday only. Get Details

 

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 December 2012

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TBD: Mariachi Vargas Experience the best of mariachi music during the holiday season with the world renowned Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan. San Antonio's 16th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza features numerous free and ticketed events. Get Details  TBD: Hecho a Mano/Made by Hand Fine art exhibit and sale is open to individual artists selling their own original work. In order to maintain a high quality of traditional and contemporary crafts sold every year, Hecho a Mano/Made by Hand is a juried show. Each year an invited panel of jurors selects the participating artists. Sponsored by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. Get Details 8: Tamales! At Pearl - A Holiday Family Festival The restored Pearl Brewery, the city's newest culinary star, celebrates all things tamale. Sample dozens of tamales, from traditional to dessert, plus storytellers, dancing, live music and finally, fireworks. Get Details 8: Art.i.copia Locals on the lookout for creative and unusual gifts flock to the Southwest School of Art's annual shopping celebration. The setting -- a centuries-old convent on the banks of the San Antonio River -- will inspire a little holiday serenity. Get Details TBD: Valero Alamo Bowl Major college football comes to the Alamodome in San Antonio.The Valero Alamo Bowl showcases two of the premier conferences in the country, the Big 12 and Pac-12. The Bowl has quickly become one of the most popular bowls in the country, producing some of the most-watched bowl games in ESPN history while selling out four of the last six years. Get Details 31: Celebrate San Antonio Ring in the New Year San Antonio style! Enjoy spectacular fireworks, live music on multiple stages, food booths, family activities and more. On S. Alamo between Durango and Market streets; La Villita and HemisFair Park. Free. Get Details

 

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