Mark your calendars, heritage aficionados – the 9th Annual World Heritage Festival is set to take over San Antonio from September 4 through September 8. An official declaration by the City of San Antonio proclaims a vibrant lineup of events, meant to celebrate the distinct culture and storied past of the region's communities. This year’s festivity isn’t just a local affair, it aligns with the Organization of World Heritage Cities Solidarity Day, observed globally on September 8, nurturing a camaraderie that spans across our ever-shrinking globe.
A convoy of notable organizations, among them the City of San Antonio World Heritage Office, Bexar County, and San Antonio River Authority, to name a few, is steering this year's event. The festival is a toast to the San Antonio Missions, the lone star state's sole UNESCO World Heritage site. According to a statement by District 3 Councilmember Phyllis Viagran on the City's website, “The World Heritage Festival is a wonderful celebration of San Antonio’s shared history, culture, and unique legacy. It is a time to come together as a community and honor the rich heritage of San Antonio, recognizing its significant impact on our city.”
The schedule is teeming with events from 'We’re Still Here' and 'Nopal y Tu' tours hosted by the National Park Service, to a peek into the annals of The Alamo through 'A Vision of History', an event poised to unravel on the grounds of the famed historical site. For those looking to satiate their spiritual and cultural appetites, 'Music & Movie Under the Stars' and the 'Tour de las Misiones' beckon.
Colleen Swain, the director of the World Heritage Office, weighed in on the festival's importance for heritage conservation and community involvement, “With the World Heritage Festival entering its ninth year, we are thrilled to celebrate our city by highlighting the significance of the five San Antonio Missions, and the UNESCO World Heritage designation," she told the City of San Antonio. "This one-of-kind festival continues to link us to San Antonio's past and reminds us of our responsibility to support the preservation of our heritage for future generations to enjoy.”
The broad agenda promises to offer educational experiences, and family-friendly activities along with engaging entertainment for all age groups, weaving events throughout the city to manifest the Festival's goals. Information, including a detailed rundown of events, can be obtained from the World Heritage Festival's website. For the culturally curious and the historically hungry, this festival could very well be the jewel of San Antonio's end-of-summer crown.
