River parade will kick off Dia De Los Muertos festival downtown

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) -San Antonio will have the biggest Day of the Dead celebration ever with the addition of a river parade this year.

Catrinas, well-dressed skeletons, will float down the San Antonio River November first to kick off a three-day festival at La Villita and the Arneson River Theatre celebrating Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos.

“Our theme is “Celebrate and Remember” because it is a time where you celebrate the life of those who have moved on,” said Chef Johnny Hernandez, one of the organizers.

The restaurateur was at the Arneson River Theatre Tuesday for a sneak preview of four floats decorated in Mexico in the style of the “traijineras” in Xochimilco. The HEB float featured a giant sugar skull and two catrinas, a couple of skeletons wearing fancy clothes. The second was a Loteria Barge. It was followed by huge butterflies  fluttering their wings and a float with Catrinas depicting artists Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera.

 

The Day of the Dead San Antonio River Parade will start rolling down the river at 7 pm Friday, November 1.

“We invite all of San Antonio to come to the river parade and see something that’s magical and amazing,” said Hernandez.

He says the festival November 1-3 will feature three stages of entertainment with everything from mariachis to dancers and giant puppets.