Activity Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair
Celebrate SA
An activity in Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair, free to visit and worth about 4 hours. Best time to go: Dec 31, 9 pm – 12:30 am.
Why go
The city's free New Year's Eve party across Hemisfair, La Villita and nearby streets, with music stages, food and midnight fireworks.
It is one of 8 curated places we feature in Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair, alongside 2 places to eat, 2 sights and 1 place for a drink. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Tower of the Americas and San Antonio River Walk. Set aside about 4 hours here; it works best as the anchor of a day rather than a quick stop.
- Type
- Activity · Nightlife
- Neighborhood
- Hemisfair
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 4 hr
- Best time
- Dec 31, 9 pm – 12:30 am
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 2 beyond Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Tower of the Americas
The 750-foot tower built for HemisFair '68, with an observation deck and a revolving restaurant; the fireworks burst around it at midnight.
Sight · 0.1 mi straight-line - 2San Antonio River Walk
Below-street paths along the river; take a GO RIO boat for an overview.
Activity · San Antonio · 0.2 mi straight-line - 3La Villita
One of the city's first neighborhoods, now a block of 19th-century stone houses with artist studios and shops by the River Walk.
Shopping · 0.3 mi straight-line - 4Menger Bar
Dark-paneled 1887 bar in the Menger Hotel beside the Alamo, modeled on the House of Lords pub in London.
Drinks · San Antonio · 0.4 mi straight-line - 5Menger Hotel
An 1859 hotel on Alamo Plaza with a Victorian lobby and the Menger Bar, a walk from both the River Walk and Hemisfair.
Stay · 0.4 mi straight-line - 6Boudro's
A River Walk bistro since 1986, known for guacamole made tableside, Gulf seafood and prime rib.
Food · 0.4 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Celebrate SA is a stop on our San Antonio New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair
Celebrate SA is our only activity pick in Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair guide.
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San Antonio River Walk
Stone paths one level below the streets, lined with cypress trees, bridges and restaurants, and strung with lights through the holidays.
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Mi Tierra Café y Panadería
A Market Square Tex-Mex restaurant and bakery since 1941, hung with Christmas lights and papel picado all year.
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Esquire Tavern
A River Walk bar open since 1933, with a very long wooden bar upstairs and a cocktail bar downstairs on the river.
When to go: weather by month, based on San Antonio
Our climate figures for Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair come from nearby San Antonio. Average daily highs in San Antonio run from 63°F in January to 98°F in August; May is usually the wettest month. For Celebrate SA itself, we suggest: Dec 31, 9 pm – 12:30 am.
Modelled monthly averages for San Antonio from NASA POWER, not a forecast. San Antonio weather by month (covers Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Celebrate SA, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 29.41990, -98.48410
- Destination
- Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair, Texas
Celebrate SA: quick answers
How much time do you need at Celebrate SA?
Plan on about 4 hours at Celebrate SA. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Celebrate SA?
Our pick: Dec 31, 9 pm – 12:30 am. Insider tip: Arrive by 9 pm to get close to the tower; food lines grow long after 10 pm.
Is Celebrate SA free?
Yes, we list Celebrate SA as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.
Which TripsCircle routes include Celebrate SA?
Celebrate SA appears on San Antonio New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Celebrate SA to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair.
Plan Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair
Lists & regions
Also in Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair
- Esquire Tavern Drinks
- Mi Tierra Café y Panadería Food
- San Antonio River Walk Sight
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.