SAN ANTONIO – Celebrate and honor San Antonio's history and culture at the 9th Annual World Heritage Festival in September.
The celebration will feature a variety of events each day at each of the San Antonio missions from September 5th through September 8th, highlighting the history of the missions.
“The World Heritage Festival is a wonderful event that celebrates San Antonio's shared history, culture and unique heritage,” said City Council Member Phyllis Viagran, District 3. “It's a time to come together as a community to honor San Antonio's rich heritage and recognize the profound impact it has had on our city.”
Most tours last approximately 45 minutes to an hour.
Here is a list of upcoming events for the festival:
Thursday, September 5
National Park rangers will be hosting “We're Still Here” tours at 10 a.m. at Mission San Juan, 9101 Graf Rd., where participants will learn about the history of the mission.
Rangers will then lead “Nopal y Tú: The Tour” at Mission San Juan at 1 p.m., which will include a visit to a historic demonstration farm, an acequia demonstration and other highlights of the sustainable agricultural practices that continue to feed the city.
Visions of History takes place at 6 PM at the Alamo. This experience takes you inside Mission San Antonio de Valero and see the structures and frescoes that define the place. Register now. More information here.
Friday, September 6
National park rangers will host “We're Still Here” tours beginning at 10 a.m., explaining the history of Mission San José. The mission is located at 6701 San José Dr.
To learn about Mission Espada's history, the “We're Still Here” tour begins at 11 a.m. Mission Espada is located at 10040 Espada Rd.
From 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Mission San Jose will host a Gold Star Family and Veteran Appreciation Event hosted by National Park Service rangers. Veterans and Gold Star Families will receive a lifetime free access pass to federal public lands for entry into all U.S. national parks. Active duty military are welcome and may be eligible to receive a pass.
At 6:30 p.m., the day will wrap up with music, food and a movie at the Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave. The Mission will screen “Captain America: The First Avenger” and have military historians and veterans give talks about the city's military history.
Saturday, September 7
Start your day early with a bike ride or 5K and 10K walk at Tour de las Misiones, held from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mission Park Pavilion, 6030 Padre Dr. Bike rides range from 7 to 22 miles and include stops at one or all of the missions. Guests can also participate in a 5K or 10K run through Mission River Reach and Mission San Jose. Registration is required for this event.
The morning will feature Junior Ranger Day with family-friendly activities at Mission San Juan from 10am-1pm.
A “We're Still Here” tour exploring the history of Mission San Jose is scheduled for 10 a.m.
Sunday, September 8
Las Misiones will host an “El Camino de San Antonio: Compassion for Creation” Mass and walk at Mission Espada at 8 a.m. The event will feature an outdoor Mass and participants will walk along the San Antonio River Trail from Mission Espada to Mission San Juan Capistrano.
National park rangers will conclude the celebration with an It's Still Here tour at 10 a.m. at Rancho de las Cabras, located on 375 County Rd., about 45 miles south of San Antonio in Floresville. According to the World Heritage Festival website, it is the only remaining former Spanish colonial ranch in the world. Reservations are required. To register, email [email protected].
For more information about the World Heritage Festival, click here.
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