The City of San Antonio World Heritage Office and its partners present the 8th Annual World Heritage Festival, September 6 – 10, 2023! The World Heritage Festival is an annual collaborative event celebrating San Antonio’s unique history and vibrant community. It promotes the San Antonio Missions, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the only World Heritage Site in Texas! The festival coincides with the globally recognized Organization of World Heritage Cities Solidarity Day on September 8, making it an international celebration!
Multi-day festival with events at various locations. Visual opportunities include Park Ranger discussions with Mission Descendants, Food Bank nopal/cactus demonstration bed, Park Ranger tour of Texas’s Oldest Grist Mill, Alamo Long Barrack tour, San Juan Acequia trail river hike, military tribute with music featuring the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band plus school choirs and Top Gun film screening (City Leadership & Department Speakers), Bike, walk, and run event through the Mission River Reach and Mission San Jose with celebration to follow at Mission Park Pavilion (City Leadership & Event Partner Speakers, live music & festivities), Junior Park Ranger activities, Mariachi Mass at Mission Espada with procession walk to Mission San Juan, Spanish Colonial ranch site tour (Rancho de las Cabras).
Schedule of Events:
10 a.m. Wednesday, September 6 – San Antonio Missions National Historical Park – There’s a Story Here: Descendants of Spanish Colonial Missions – Location: Mission San Jose, 6701 San José Drive, 78214
5:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 6 – Mission Heritage Partners – Mesa at the Missions: Nopal y Tu – Location: Mission San Juan, 9101 Graf Road, 78214
10 a.m. Thursday, September 7 – San Antonio Missions National Historical Park – Texas’ Oldest Grist Mill Tour = Location: Mission San Jose, 6701 San José Drive, 78214
6 p.m. Thursday, September 7 – The Alamo – The Many Lives of the Alamo Long Barrack – Location: The Alamo, 300 Alamo Plaza, 78205
8:30 a.m. Friday, September 8 – San Antonio Missions National Historical Park – River to Farm Hike – Location: Mission San Juan, 9101 Graf Road, 78214
6:30 p.m. Friday, September 8 – World Heritage Office – Music & Movie Under the Stars – Location: Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave., 78214
7 a.m. Saturday, September 9- World Heritage Office – Tour de las Misiones – Location: Mission Park Pavilion, 6030 Padre Drive, 78214
10 a.m. Saturday, September 9 – San Antonio Missions National Historical Park – Junior Ranger Day – Location: Mission San Juan, 9101 Graf Road, 78214
8 a.m. Sunday, September 10 – Las Misiones – El Camino de San Antonio: Caring for Creation Mass and Walk – Location: Mission Espada, 10040 Espada Road, 78214
9 a.m. Sunday, September 10 – San Antonio Missions National Historical Park – Rancho de las Cabras Tour – Location: Rancho de las Cabras, 375 Country Rd. 144, 78114
In 2015, the San Antonio Missions were inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The missions, the largest collection of Spanish colonial architecture in the U.S., were the third World Heritage designation in the U.S. since 1995 and are the first and only in Texas. Since 2016, the World Heritage Festival has allowed residents and visitors to celebrate San Antonio’s unique history and culture through family-friendly events.
Information about the World Heritage Festival and scheduled events can be found at WorldHeritageFestival.org.
