The beat of nostalgia mixed with fresh vibes is pulsating through Hemisfair as San Antonio's La Semana Alegre music festival makes its grand return after nearly three decades in hiatus. Busting with both, local talents and attendees eager for a throwback, the event kicked off under favorable skies, offering a remixed yet familiar fiesta atmosphere.
"La Semana Alegre is back after 29 years," Hemisfair CEO Andres Andujar announced, radiating confidence in the festival’s revamp and modernized security measures, which include bag and cup checks at entry points. Focused on delivering a good time without a repeat of the past 'chaos', Andujar highlighted the deliberate cap in ticket sales, asserting to News 4 San Antonio, "We are limiting the amount of people who are able to enjoy the festivities at 10,000 and this space can hold 15-20,000."
Revival is indeed afoot as fans both old and new came forth to relish the reborn festival. A sentiment echoed by veteran musicians and fresh faces alike, including actor and singer Jesse Borrego who led his band Tribú. "I never got a chance to play” back then, “so this is great," he mentioned, reveling in the spirit of the festival, as chronicled by San Antonio Report.
And it's not just the artists soaking up the limelight. Festival goers, some reliving their youth and others creating new memories, are basking in a lineup that harks back to big names like Tupac Shakur and Red Hot Chili Peppers, as 49-year-old Eddie Valdez nostalgically recalls to San Antonio Report. Valdez, who gathered eagerly with his partner to groove to the beats of Lonely Horse, said, "I'm from the 1990s era. So La Semana Alegre resonates deep inside me."
This year's event is not just about looking back; it's a full-fledged love affair with the city's musical roots and a bright gaze toward its future. As Mr. Zeus, a 67-year-old visiting military man, compares the festival to others in California in a statement obtained by San Antonio Report, young musicians like 24-year-old Isabel Paillao revel in their newfound connection to San Antonio’s vibrant music scene. “I feel like this is the first show in a really long time that I was very geeked onstage the whole time," Paillao described to San Antonio Report.
La Semana Alegre will continue to charm music lovers with its eclectic mix of performances through Friday, reminding the city that some good things do indeed make a comeback. Tickets are $20 at the gate, inviting everyone to be part of a festivity that's stitched into the cultural fabric of San Antonio, as the romance-filled tale of Mary and Ruben Cantu, who met at the festival 33 years ago, embodies the personal histories interwoven with La Semana Alegre’s legacy.
