Community

Dozens of San Antonio parks, businesses and organizations are holiday lights beginning this weekend, and since holiday lighting ceremonies are scheduled all over downtown both Friday and Saturday, you can avoid heavy traffic and problems parking by going to some smaller celebrations.

In addition to Alamo Plaza, the city is lighting up Main Plaza and City Hall, Travis Park, Milam Park, Market Square, La Villita, and of course, the River Walk. Ford is sponsoring the big river parade, and the lights will be turned on the length of the river at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23.

Prímo, San Antonio’s bus rapid transit (BRT) system, will officially launch Dec. 17 amid a transition for the organization; Vía Metropolitan Transit CEO Keith Parker stepped down to take the lead position in Atlanta’s public transportation system.

Vía spokesperson Priscilla Ingle said that with ridership at an all-time high, the standard 40 foot bus wasn’t working anymore, especially for the downtown-to-Medical Center corridor.

Once upon a time, San Antonio firefighters collected toys for children of the city; they even painted and fixed them. They called their drive Toy Day, and gave children who brought toys free movie tickets.

Researchers at the Institute of Texan Cultures found pictures of Toy Day tucked away in archives, and leaders decided to rekindle the old tradition, but give it a new spin. Now in its second year, history has proven to bring back what once was a thriving act of kindness: providing children with happiness.