The San Antonio River Authority is hosting the free holiday event on December 13.
SAN ANTONIO — Bundle up — the river’s about to get a whole lot cooler.
You won’t have to travel far for a taste of winter magic this year — in fact, you won’t even need to leave San Antonio!
The San Antonio River Authority is rolling out 100,000 pounds of real snow for its annual River of Lights celebration, transforming the Museum Reach into a frosty, glittering holiday escape on Saturday, December 13, from 4–8 p.m. The free event will take place at the Lock and Dam near the Brooklyn Avenue Bridge.
Kids — and kids at heart — can swoosh down two full snow slides, dive into a snow play area, or simply wander through the Museum Reach as it glows under brand-new light pole decorations, 47 illuminated trees, and the debut of an all-new pixel tree light show set to light up the riverwalk heading into 2025.
This year’s celebration is made possible in partnership with Opportunity Home San Antonio, which provided the space to bring the winter wonderland to life.
Of course, no holiday party is complete without Santa. Visitors can snap free photos with the big guy in red, enjoy performances from the Live Oak Singers, Stephanie Bergara, and Sideman Syndicate, and grab festive bites from local food trucks.
Kristen Hansen, Director of Parks & Recreation for the River Authority, says the team aims to make each year more magical than the last.
“When designing and planning our holiday events, the River Authority strives to provide the community entertaining and one-of-a-kind experiences to enjoy with their families and create lifelong memories along the San Antonio River,” Hansen said.
Whether you’re there for the lights, the music, the food, or the once-a-year chance to play in a mountain of snow in South Texas, River of Lights is shaping up to be one of San Antonio’s most dazzling holiday traditions yet.