Celebrate Historic Preservation Month in San Antonio
5 San Antonio events to celebrate Preservation Month in historic fashion
May is Preservation Month nationwide, and San Antonio is celebrating in historic fashion. The city’s Office of Historic Preservation formally kicked off the festivities on May 2 with a birthday party for the Kress Building, which turns 80 years old this month.
Art Deco in style, the Kress Building was constructed originally as a five-and-dime store, and its big signs and exterior touches reflect San Antonio’s Spanish Colonial influence. Part of the Kress Building accommodated the former San Antonio Children’s Museum until it relocated to Broadway as The Doseum. GrayStreet Partners, a local developer, is now turning the Kress Building into the city’s first downtown food hall.
But the Kress birthday party isn't the only big event lined up for May. All month long the public is invited to help celebrate Preservation Month in many other ways, ranging from sound baths to art shows.
Sound Bath and Poetry at Japanese Tea Garden — May 8
Join the regulars at the weekly wellness activity in this serene setting. A sound bath and meditation begins at 6 pm, followed by a poetry reading. Attendees may bring their own mat or chair to lie or sit down. Admission is free.
Ballet Folklorico Festival — May 12
Ballet Folklorico de San Antonio presents traditional dances and mariachi performances along the River Walk. The Arneson River Theater performance runs from 6:30-9:30 pm, and admission is $7.
38th annual Tejano Conjunto Festival— May 15-19
The Tejano Conjunto Festival is a mid-spring mainstay for local fans of the two regional musical genres, which are near and dear to generations of San Antonians. The festival is the longest running of its kind in the country. Various activities take place at Guadalupe Theater May 15-16 and at Rosedale Park on May 18-19.
Armed Forces River Parade— May 18
The eighth annual parade returns to the River Walk in celebration 300-plus years of tradition in Military City, USA. Admission is free to the river parade, which is representative of all military branches, and begins at 6 pm.
4th annual Festival of the Arts — May 23
Sarah King Elementary School (1001 Ceralvo St.) transforms into a makeshift art gallery during Preservation Month. This is a free, multimedia display of original creative works by student and neighborhood artists. The public event runs from 5-7 pm, and includes interactive art activities, music, storytelling, and more.
