Celebrate the Holidays on Houston Street

Published on November 28, 2023

City of San Antonio Center City Development and Operations Department

Celebrate the Holidays on Houston Street


SAN ANTONIO (November 28, 2023) — Set against the backdrop of one of the city’s most historic and charming streets, San Antonio Holidays on Houston Street kicked off November 24 and runs through January 2. The City of San Antonio, Centro San Antonio and Visit San Antonio have partnered to bring more holiday sparkle to five blocks of Houston Street (from Legacy Park to the Alamo).

Here is a sampling of San Antonio Holidays on Houston Street highlights:

Ongoing: November 24 – January 2

  • Almost 400,000 mini-LED lights light up 80 trees, creating a canopy of holiday glow.
  • Adding culture and vibrancy to Houston Street (and nearby locations), art is everywhere with more than a dozen murals and art installations by local artists. Visitors and residents will not want to miss the new 75-foot-tall mural on the corner of Houston and Navarro streets celebrating the world-champion San Antonio Spurs.
  • Enjoy family-friendly holiday themed movies throughout the season at Legacy Park.
  • The nearby world-famous San Antonio River Walk is illuminated in thousands of lights from November 24 – January 7.
  • Visit nearby Travis Park to see the H-E-B Christmas tree and enjoy the Rotary Ice Rink from November 17 – January 15.

Featured Events

  • Taste of Houston Street Community Dinner, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 6-8 p.m.: Join us on Houston Street between Navarro and North St. Mary’s streets to experience the food and drink of the diverse Houston Street restaurants and bars. This special evening will feature a block-long communal table, inviting residents and visitors to dine and celebrate under the glistening enhanced holiday lighting of historic Houston Street in the heart of downtown San Antonio. Enjoy Downtown Tuesday free parking from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. in City-owned parking facilities. More information and tickets.
  • Holidays on Houston Street Fun Run, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 6:30 p.m.: The City of San Antonio presents the inaugural Holidays on Houston Fun Run! Holidays on Houston brings nostalgic, holiday fun to historic downtown San Antonio throughout the holiday season with festive lights, family-friendly events, a holiday market, outdoor movies, and other activations. The route includes Houston Street and the River Walk Museum Reach River of Lights (5K route), and Houston Street to downtown’s Travis Park (one-mile route). The race will be followed by a free concert by The Spazmatics at the Race After Party! Enjoy Downtown Tuesday free parking from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. in City-owned parking facilities. For more information or to register for the Run, visit the event’s website.

Plan Ahead

The holiday season is busy in downtown San Antonio – plan ahead! There are numerous street closures in the downtown area as well as the potential for heavy traffic with many large events taking place throughout the holiday season. Take public transportation, ride-share, bike, walk, or consult a navigation and traffic app before you leave. Visit the City's street closure website for more information, and sign up for downtown street closure notices by subscribing to our street closure updates email.

Visitor Parking

Check out the City's SAPark website for easy, convenient, and affordable parking! A full list of City-owned garages, lots and meters can be found on the interactive map. Downtown Tuesday offers free parking on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. in City-owned parking facilities, and City Tower Sundays offers free parking on Sundays from 7 a.m. to midnight at the City Tower Garage located at 117 W. Commerce.