The day after Thanksgiving means many different things to families throughout the country. For some, it’s the best day of the year to save on consumer electronics, for others it’s about leftover helpings of turkey and pumpkin pie and for the city of San Antonio it means holiday lighting festivities.
Despite the heavy dose of downtown rain, I stayed optimistic while I photographed the holiday festivities that lead up to the H-E-B tree lighting at Alamo Plaza, an event that brought hundreds of guests covered head to toe in ponchos. This year’s tree, which stands at 55 feet, was decorated to celebrate our own San Antonio Spurs. The Silver Dancers and the Spurs Coyote were in attendance, along with the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, aka “The Spurs Nuns.” The tree towered over Alamo Plaza, covered in Spurs-themed ornaments and multi-colored lights.
Weather conditions forced the Ford Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony to a slow start before officials cancelled the event for the safety of the riders on floats.
The Paseo del Rio Association made the following statement:
“The decision to cancel the Ford Holiday River Parade was a difficult one to make due to the year-long planning and hard work by sponsors, volunteers and staff. The event organizer, Paseo Del Rio Association, share in the disappointment by everyone. This is the first time in the parade’s 34 years history the parade was cancelled. The decision to cancel by Paseo and the City of San Antonio River Walk operations staff was to ensure the safety of the over 250 people riding on floats. The rapid water flow from street drain-off into the river created an unsafe condition for boat riders.”
Many public officials, including HUD Secretary Julián Castro and his family, participated as riders in the parade. The rain may have cut the festivities short, but the holidays have arrived with the lights shining brightly along the San Antonio River.
*Top Image: San Antonio Police Officer Rendon stands in the street after being handed a novelty light saber to direct traffic. Photo by Scott Ball.
Related Stories:
Your Guide to the Holidays in San Antonio
Photo Gallery: San Antonio Kicks Off the Holidays
Having Thanksgiving Dinner with 25,000 San Antonians
Sad, but it was the right thing to do.
Build an Ark!
We stuck it out despite being 5 soaked souls. People in the Arneson were good spirited. Only a few refused to abide by No Umbrellas, but it didn’t matter much. Seats were not numbered and ushers were seating people incorrectly, then making them move, despite most seats being empty. Happened to us. Ridiculous.
Kudos to Paseo for making the right decision. Nancy Hunt is truly wonder woman and I know she was disappointed. To all the participants whose floats never made it under Rosita’s bridge, I am so sorry and hope you get an opportunity to ride a float in the future.
Thought the Mayor’s black outfit was weird, even with Spurs colors featured at the tree.
Growing up in Seattle, the show
Must go on! We arrived for our reservations and were graciously accommodated by Rio Rio out of the rain waiting for the parade. The only way it should have been cancelled for safety was lightening. So I am assuming all the tickets, dinners and other reservations will be reimbursed by the Chamber of Commerce.
sad, but you got some great photos!
great post at http://www.wikipedia.org/
wiki