San Antonio Holidays Bring Luminarias, Tamaladas and River Walk Caroling

2012-11-30 — /travelprnews.com/ — What’s better than relishing in the holiday season? Doing it in San Antonio! In this cultural and historic city, visitors can relax with a cup of Mexican hot chocolate while beautifully decorated river barges parade along the River Walk. Bazaars and Mexican markets sell one-of-a-kind gifts. Plus, tamale festivals provide the most delicious treats of all.

This year, thousands of holiday lights adorn the River Walk while cultural festivities promise an unforgettable getaway. Along the river, almost 200 trees are wrapped with twinkling lights and 20 stone bridges are colorfully illuminated with various patterns. The City of San Antonio holds a Light Up Downtown Holiday Contest that encourages downtown business owners to compete for the most decorative and creative use of LED lights. The result is a lit up river and street that combines for one magical holiday destination.

The River Walk is also home to Fiesta de las Luminarias. This centuries-old tradition takes place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 30-December 16, when the River Walk is lined with 6,000 luminarias (small paper lanterns) to symbolically light the way for the HolyFamily. Another River Walk favorite is the Holiday River Boat Carolers. November 29-December 23, more than 185 choirs ring in the holidays by singing traditional carols on cruising barges. The eclectic mix of participants includes bell choirs, folk groups and Latino ensembles.

Need more reasons to spend your 2012 holiday season in San Antonio?  Here are just a few of the many festivities that await:

SeaWorld San Antonio’s Christmas Celebrations — (November 17- December 31) – A wintery, water wonderland that enchants guests with stunning live shows, a sea of sparkling holiday lights, and fun with a jolly sea lion.

Ford Holiday River Parade & Lighting Ceremony— (November 23) The city’s holiday festivities kick off the day after Thanksgiving, when a switch is flipped to illuminate the River Walk’s holiday display and kick off the Ford Holiday River Parade. Some 150,000 patrons will line the riverbanks to experience the sounds and colors of the season with an entourage of radiant floats. The parade goes on, rain or shine.

Wonderland Christmas – (November 23-December 22)Morgan’s Wonderland will host its first Wonderland Christmas every Saturday and Sunday during the holiday season from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.  Ride on the Wonderland Express Train, enjoy the lights, carolers and petting zoo, plus all that Morgan’s Wonderland has to offer.

The Nutcracker— (November 23-25; November 30-December 2) A family tradition, the San Antonio Ballet and San Antonio Symphony team up to present this magical tale at the Majestic Theatre.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas’ Holiday in the Park — (November 23-January 6) – Six Flags Fiesta Texas transforms into a winter wonderland for all visitors.

Helicopter Holiday Lights Tours — (November 24-December 29) Take in the beautiful lights of the holiday season from sky high. Holiday lights tours aboard Alamo Helicopter Tours include flyovers over the beautiful River Walk Lights Downtown, plus the University of the Incarnate Word and Trinity University.

Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza — (November 27-December 4) a weeklong mariachi music festival that draws the world’s top mariachi artists.

Ford Caroling Nights with Santa — (November 29- December 2)Enjoy a magical evening on the River Walk with Luminarias, Christmas Lights and Carolers singing to everyone. Bring your camera and take a picture with Santa on a decorated river barge

Fiesta de las Luminarias — (November 30- December 16) This centuries-old tradition will take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from, when the River Walk is lined with 6,000 luminarias (small paper lanterns) to symbolically light the way for the Holy Family.

Hecho a Mano Fine Arts and Crafts Market— (November 30- December 2) – a specialty market put on by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center offering artwork by local and regional artists. It’s the perfect place for unique holiday shopping.

Santa’s Railroad Wonderland at Texas Transportation Museum — (December 1-29) Santa’s Railroad Wonderland is an extravaganza of holiday activities. Every Saturday and Sunday in December, there are nighttime train and hayrides. Just about every part of our forty-acre site is decorated, from the historic depot, the trains, the garden railroad, our three other scale model railroad layouts and everything else in between. We have our own character, Choo Choo Claus. Bring your camera and make your own Christmas memories.

La Tamalada at the Witte— (December 1)  A South Texas holiday tradition is eating delicious, fresh, steaming hot tamales. Don’t miss this La Tamalada workshop where you can create and flavor your own half dozen tamales. Two sessions will be offered this year.

Tamales! At Pearl— (December 1) 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.

Kids’ Gingerbread Decorating —(December 1-2; 8) The San Antonio Children’s Museum will host this traditional holiday event at two locations; at the museum on December 1-2 and at North Star Mall on December 8.  Decorate a gingerbread house or gingerbread man cookie.

Holiday Arts and Crafts Show — (December 7- December 9) A perfect setting for unique holiday shopping—the banks of the San Antonio River Walk will feature local and regional artists, craftsmen, and jewelers offer holiday gift items everyone on your gift list. Located along the River Walk near the Chamber of Commerce, this Arts and Crafts Show displays some of the most unique handmade merchandise available anywhere.

15th Annual Chanukah on the River — (December 9) Arneson River Theatre comes alive as San Antonians celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights.  Chanukah river barge cruises and concert by by nationally acclaimed Jewish rock band, Describe Nation!  New for 2012: Chanukah Hands On! Featuring, crafts activities, games, prizes

Art.i.copia —(December 10)Shoppers 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.

La Gran Posada(December 16) – the symbolic reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter through historic downtown. It begins in downtown’s Milam Park and ends with sanctuary in San Fernando Cathedral.

Holiday Pops at Municipal Auditorium — (December 21-22)  What better way to celebrate Christmas than with the angelic voices of children and the majestic San Antonio Symphony conducted by  Akiko Fujimoto.

Cowboy Christmas at Enchanted Springs Ranch —(December 22-23)Experience the holiday season “old west” style with music, skits, crafts, and food.

20th Annual Valero Alamo Bowl — (December 29) Major college football comes to the Alamodome in San Antonio. The Valero Alamo Bowl is an annual post-season collegiate bowl game featuring the #2 Pac-12 Conference selection (after the Rose Bowl) and the #3 Big 12 pick (after the Fiesta and Cotton Bowls). 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.

Kids Countdown – (December 31) Young children can enjoy a child friendly New Year’s celebration at the San Antonio Children’s Museum as they countdown to 12 noon on new year’s eve day.

Celebrate San Antonio —(December 31-January 1, 2013) Ring in the New Year San Antonio style! Enjoy spectacular fireworks, live music on multiple stages, food booths, family activities and more. On South Alamo between Durango and Market streets; La Villita and HemisFair Park. Free.

 

For more details and to discover the many other adventures and exciting lodging and dining experiences San Antonio has to offer, please visit www.visitsanantonio.com or call (866) 517-7779.

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The San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau, a department of the City of San Antonio, is funded through the hotel/motel occupancy tax. The bureau is a marketing, sales and service organization dedicated to the promotion of San Antonio as a meetings and visitor destination for the purpose of positively affecting the city’s economy.

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