San Antonio, 2018 — When it comes to Día de los Muertos, there is no place in the United States to celebrate this traditional Mexican festivity like San Antonio. This year, when the city celebrates the tricentenary of its Foundation, more than 20 exclusive events will be offered from October 20 to November 3, more than any other city in Texas, and probably more than any other city in the country.
The Mexican roots are deep in San Antonio (formerly a colonial capital of Nueva España and the state capital of the Mexican state of Coahuila and Texas). The city is a three-hour drive from the Mexico-U. S. border, and more than 60% of the city’s population is of Mexican descent. This cultural heritage is evident in the tireless festive spirit of San Antonio — the city is home to a seemingly endless list of festivals and events each year, including the 10-day Fiesta San Antonio in April — and also feels Markedly as far as Día de Los Muertos is concerned.
This year’s activities range from small encounters with traditional altars and face painting, to multi-day festivals with the presence of live music, walking on stilts, Mexican food and festive parades. In addition to the official celebrations, restaurants and cafes throughout San Antonio will showcase altars, traditional décor and freshly baked pan de muerto, a popular type of sweet bread that is also used as an offering for loved ones who have passed away. This collective spirit offers an unforgettable way to experience the city, as well as to know in depth this singular historical festivity that contemplates death with lightness and humour rather than fear. Most of the activities are for the enjoyment of the whole family, which allows the children to learn about the rich traditions of the festivity in order to help keep it alive for many future generations.
To see a calendar of activities, visit here.
About Visit San Antonio:
Visit San Antonio is a 501 (c) 6 organization, and serves as the sales and marketing unit of San Antonio as an important destination for conferences and leisure. Each year, San Antonio is home to 20.9 million of leisure visitors. The tourism sector is one of the five main economic sectors of the city, and contributes $13.6 billion to the local economy and employs more than 130.000 people. More information is available at visitsanantonio.com.
