Luminaria

This shape-shifting festival has been many things since its founding by former mayor Phil Hardberger in 2008. While Luminaria started out as a one-night celebration of San Antonio artists, it soon grew into a block party of sorts after it moved to Hemisfair Park for a three-year run before heading back out to street-level, turning San Antonio into a can’t-miss arts destination for an entire weekend with performers and installations stretching from Central Library to the Southwest School to the Tobin Center. Last year, the roving multi-genre arts extravaganza took over the San Antonio Museum of Art and the surrounding areas on Jones Avenue. Unfortunately, last year many of the festival’s big draws got rained out and were never able to perform. This year, Luminaria is on the move again, this time to the city’s east side. Which means there will be stunning new murals along the Nolan Street Underpass, music from DJ-turned-civil-rights-lawyer-turned-Texas-State-Rep. Diego Bernal (along with collaborator and bestie Ernest Gonzales) and light projections on the Hays Street Bridge, one of the city’s most picturesque historic and architectural gems. We just really hope Luminaria’s got better luck this year.