THIS ONE GOES TO 11

Epic Guitar Wars contest thunders back to San Antonio after 7 years

Two men play the guitar while sitting on the floor.

Guitar Wars is shredding back after a 7-year hiatus.

Photo courtesy of Journey West.

After seven years of silence, San Antonio's Guitar Wars is returning to Legacy Park on October 23 in all of its squeedly glory. Alamo Music Center is reviving the hot licks competition as part of Journey West, a new event that planners hope will entice locals to rediscover the emerging Downtown West district.

Billed as the longest-running guitar competition in the United States, Guitar Wars was once a staple of the San Antonio calendar before taking a break after 2018. During the event, players will have two minutes to wow a panel of judges with their acoustic, bass, or electric skills for the chance to win more guitars. If that seems like a raw deal, don't worry. If you give guitar players money, they just spend it on more guitars, so this prize cuts out the middleman.

The online submissions will be whittled down to 10 acoustic, 10 electric, and 5 bass guitar players. Judges will rank the finalists on a 1-5 scale in three categories — technique, sounds, and musicianship — but the musical genre is up to each whammy-bar warrior.

"Guitar Wars is one of those events that I always wished more people knew about because the talent is so amazing," said Alamo Music owner Adriana Flores in a release. "Transitioning the event from a stand-alone venue to a neighborhood block party where more people get to hear and enjoy the amazing talent of these guitar players is a dream come true!"

The electrifying battle is the centerpiece of the new Journey West event, meant to highlight the businesses in the growing downtown district. Businesses like Pinkerton's BBQ, Casa Dōson, Bar Tree Twenty One, 300 Main, Sojourn Trading Co., and El Honky Tonk will offer live music, $5 deals, and prizes to visitors who visit three or more locations during the crawl. Parking is free at Frost Tower, and complimentary transportation to the event is provided.

"This event is curated with locals in mind," says Natalie Smith, VP of Weston Urban, via a statement. "Our hope is that when you come with your friends and family, you'll be pleasantly surprised by how fun and unique this part of downtown truly is. If you haven't been downtown in a couple of years, you are missing out and may just discover your new favorite spot."

Journey West kicks off at 6 pm on October 23 with live music at Legacy Park lasting until 10 pm. Guitar gods can sign up at Alamo Music's website until August 31. Contest participation and admission to the event are both free.

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OTHER WORLDS

Virtual Moon landing experience blasts off in San Antonio

Photo courtesy of Fever.

Step onto the surface of the Moon via Luna VR.

The Shops at Rivercenter is hoping its newest attraction will put San Antonians over the moon. Luna VR is now open at the downtown mall, offering a one-of-a-kind virtual reality journey through space without leaving Alamo City.

“Guided by authentic astronaut audio and cinematic visuals, you’ll orbit Earth, navigate through space, and take humanity’s first steps on the Moon,” explains production company Fever. “Feel the weightlessness, the silence, and the wonder of standing on another world. Luna is more than virtual reality — it’s a journey across space and time.”

To accomplish the mind-blowing feat, Luna combines leading-edge virtual reality hardware with space simulation technology. Once suited up, guests are transported to the center of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, starting with astronaut training.

After explorers are launched on the iconic Saturn V rocket, the experience continues with a lunar landing and exploration of the Moon’s surface. To add an extra layer of realism, the session is soundtracked by authentic NASA transmissions, mission control audio, and cosmic sounds.

Luna was designed to captivate families, students, science enthusiasts, and anyone with a curiosity about space (in other words, almost everybody). The trip lasts about 50 minutes, with 35 minutes spent in the VR environment and additional time for preparation and returning gear. Group sessions can accommodate 5–8 participants.

Luna VR is located on the lower level of The Shops at Rivercenter, inside the Titanic: A Voyage Through Time exhibit and below H&M. The experience welcomes visitors aged 10 and up and is fully ADA compliant. Tickets start at $19, depending on the preferred dates and times.

virtual reality space downtown shops at rivercenter moon events