Paseo del Rio officials are checking their lists for decorations and lighting on 26 river barges that have to be ready by Friday for the big holiday river parade.
Decorators in the Paseo marina below downtown San Antonio are working to string lights, build stages, and cover woodwork and electrical cords with layers of cotton that will make the barges look like they went through snow.
"By Friday at noon, we’ll have 26 floats professionally decorated and lit," said Nancy Hunt, Paseo Del Rio Association’s Executive Director, who also said this is 32 years and counting for one of the city’s most popular parades.
This year’s themes range from "It’s a Wonderful Life" to "The 12 Days of Christmas" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
"Whoville. This is so exciting," Hunt said. "This is a brand new float. All brand new props that we made this year. It’s sponsored by Broadway in San Antonio because the Grinch is actually coming to the Majestic. So we are going to have the Broaddway Grinch live on this float Friday night. The kids are going to go crazy when they see this. It’s going to be so fun."
The parade’s grand marshal this year is Sandra Cisneros, whose float is themed, "Books Open Worlds."
"She wants to get across the message that whole new worlds are opened when you open up a book," Hunt said.
Music on the grand marshal’s float will be provided by 11-year-old Sebastian de la Cruz. Tickets to Friday’s holiday parade are available at the Paseo del Rio office until noon Wednesday and on parade day at La Villita.
