Mission Marquee Plaza hosts Viva Poesía Festival

Published on April 07, 2025

SAN ANTONIO (April 7, 2025) — On Saturday, April 5, the City of San Antonio’s World Heritage Office and the Department of Arts & Culture presented the 11th Annual Viva Poesía Festival at the historic Mission Marquee Plaza.

This year’s theme, “Ónce Pon a Time at the Mission Marquee Plaza,” celebrated 11 years of storytelling with highlights from past performances. As San Antonio’s official kickoff to National Poetry Month, the event featured current Poet Laureate Eddie Vega, in addition to past Poets Laureate Carmen Tafolla, Laurie Ann Guerrero, Octavio Quintanilla, and Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson, along with a stellar lineup of literary and musical artists.

“Viva Poesia is a celebration of the power of words, creative spirit, and cultural heritage that thrives in San Antonio,” said Colleen Swain, Director of the World Heritage Office. “We are honored to have hosted this event for over a decade at Mission Marquee Plaza. Viva Poesia is a testament to the artistic expression that continues to unite our community and inspire new voices in San Antonio."

The evening included performances by the new BX3 Poetry Slam Team, Amalia Ortiz, Tomas Castillo-Roque, Natalia Treviño, Jessica Tilton Zertuche, and San Antonio Poet Laureate Eddie Vega, with Anthony The Poet as emcee. Live music was provided by Los De Esta Noche, Juan & Armando Tejeda, violinist Lauren Logan, cellist Luke William Bonecutter, and DJ Caliente. Joyous Windrider and Nate Zen led community writing workshops while local artist Terry Ybanez hosted interactive activities for all ages. Additionally, the event included a tree adoption of 500 shade, ornamental, and fruit trees courtesy of San Antonio Parks and Recreation. 

"Viva Poesia is the highlight of National Poetry Month in San Antonio," said Krystal Jones, Director of the Department of Arts & Culture. “It’s a celebration of our city’s rich literary legacy and the incredible talent of local artists, and it kicks off a whole month of events—more than 40 readings, workshops, and happenings—all designed to continue to inspire and spark creativity in our literary scene."

Viva Poesía is an annual event celebrated in April, made possible in part by the City’s Department of Arts & Culture, to raise awareness of the importance of poetry in our culture and honor the artistic influence of local poets in our community. The event was free and open to the public.

For more information on cultural and community events at Mission Marquee Plaza, visit MissionMarquee.com. Information on the World Heritage Office is available at SanAntonio.gov/WorldHeritage.