San Antonians can enjoy new arts and cultural events with free parking this summer, as the city shifts its popular perk to complement Downtown Thursdays.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonians who like to explore the River Walk or catch a movie at the Rivercenter IMAX know to make their plans around Tuesdays to save a few bucks. That’s when the city offers free parking at its garages and lots from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Starting next week, however, that perk will shift from Tuesdays to Thursdays for the summer.
The reason: a new lineup of arts, music and food-tasting opportunities that will make its debut in 2026.
A downtown block party on Thursday, June 4, will mark the kickoff to Downtown Thursdays, which the city is touting as a way for visitors to “enjoy live entertainment, food and drink specials, outdoor programming, cultural experiences and community partner-hosted events across downtown.”
The block party, held at Legacy Park from 5-7 p.m., will be free to attend and feature music, activities and giveaways. The Local SATX, a downtown-centric fleet of electric trolleys, will be providing free, short-distance transportation to Downtown Thursdays events thanks to a partnership with the city.
The city is also collaborating with Centro, Hemisfair, Main Plaza, the Fairmount Hotel, Majestic Theatre, and other downtown businesses and areas for Downtown Thursdays. Residents can stay in the know about future plans and programming by following the City of San Antonio on social media, as well as here.
As for the no-cost parking adjustment, the city says it’s only temporary. The perk will return to Tuesdays starting Sept. 2.
Legacy Park is located at 103 W. Houston St.