Decorating the River Walk with holiday lights took place for the first time in 1975, sparking an annual lighting event the day after Thanksgiving.
The switch transforming a 3-mile portion of the San Antonio River Walk into an illuminated holiday display was first flipped 49 years ago this week. On Nov. 28, 1975, Mayor Lila Cockrell launched the holiday lights celebration atop a decorated barge carrying other city officials and various community leaders. From a spot near Crockett and Commerce streets, the mayor kicked off the display of 35,000 lights.
Before H-E-B, these were the grocery store icons of San Antonio including Handy Andy A downtown merchants group approved $25,000 to cover most of the lights display, according to newspaper archives, and KTSA radio station helped raise money to pay for the rest. Its fundraiser asked listeners to buy a sponsorship of the River Walk light bulbs for 55 cents each. The cost was a nod to the station’s frequency of 550 AM. As with most traditions, people don’t like anyone messing with them.
Texas' fajita history sizzles with inventor claims from Kyle to San Antonio and Rio Grande One of the biggest criticisms was the switch from dangling lights. “The cascading lights hanging overhead and the twinkling they produce on the water are part of the magic of the holiday season in San Antonio. Tourists flock to the River Walk and wait patiently in long lines for barge rides for the experience. Let’s not shortchange them,” the Express-News wrote.
Do you hear what I hear? A guide to holiday concerts in San Antonio Also, this week in San Antonio history, City Council considered a resolution that would urge merchants to remain closed on Sundays. On Nov. 25, 1964, the resolution died when Mayor Walter McAllister failed to ask for a second, according to San Antonio Public Library archives. Jack Martin, president of the San Antonio Building Trades Council, predicted San Antonio’s economy would “fall” with a seven-day week.
First National Bank Joske Express-News KTSA San Antonio Building Trades Council Editorial Board Visit San Antonio River Walk Straus-Frank Saddlery Company Paseo Del Rio Association San Antonio River Walk Division William ``Bill'' Mccormick Joe Straus Jack Martin Walter Mcallister Lila Cockrell Crockett Kyle Handy Andy A San Antonio San Antonio River Walk Texas Commerce Rio Grande One San Antonio Public Library River Walk Christmas H-E-B
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