
VIA is offering free rides across its entire system on Saturday only.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio is preparing for a busy weekend with Paul McCartney’s return to the Alamodome and Dia de los Muertos festivities slated to welcome more than 100,000 people.
“Our priority and our focus for this weekend is for everybody to have an enjoyable, memorable experience downtown so we encourage everyone to plan ahead,” said City Manager Erik Walsh during a press event outside the Alamodome.
The last time San Antonio welcomed such a massive crowd was in April for the men’s Final Four between the University of Houston and Duke University.
For longtime San Antonians, McCartney’s Saturday night concert brings a bit of nostalgia. Paul McCartney performed on May 29, 1993, just days after the Alamodome opened to a crowd of nearly 50,000 fans.
This Saturday’s show is expected to bring in over 45,000 people.
Pre-concert festivities kick off at 2 p.m. at the Alamodome’s H-E-B Plaza, featuring merchandise, food, and drinks. Officials warn that parking will be limited.
To help ease congestion, VIA Metropolitan Transit will provide free Park & Ride service to the Robert Thompson Transit Station next to the Alamodome (183 Montana St.) on Saturday, October 25, from 3 p.m. to midnight.
Service will be available from:
Crossroads Park & Ride (151 Crossroads Blvd., 78201)
Brooks Transit Center (3026 Sidney Brooks Drive, 78235)
Frost Bank Center Lots 6 & 7 (3205 E. Houston St., 78219)
Riders can use Route 100 Primo Fredericksburg Road for convenient connections between downtown parking garages and event venues.
“Whether it’s your bus, VIA Link, or our Park & Ride service, all of it will be free on Saturday,” said VIA president and CEO Jon Gary Herrera.
Beyond the Alamodome, other downtown venues such as the Tobin Center, Majestic Theatre, and Aztec Theatre will also be hosting major events.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said officers will be out in full force to keep crowds safe.
“You’re going to see a lot of police,” McManus said. “If you see something suspicious or something doesn’t feel right, call us.”
At Muertos Fest, families like Amanda Ojeda’s are ready to celebrate.
“This event’s not normally too crazy,” Ojeda said. “My kids like the lights and all the alebrijes that everybody makes, so we enjoy it.”
To learn more about the VIA’s fare-free opportunities this weekend, go here.