Hemisfair
CULTURE & COMMUNITY
HEMISF By Denise Richter
SAN ANTONIO LOVES TO THROW OVER-THE-TOP PARTIES, AND THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE SOOOO EXTRA BECAUSE IT’S THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HEMISFAIR AND THE 300TH BIRTHDAY OF OUR FAIR CITY.
Hemisfair, the 1968 World’s Fair, celebrated San Antonio’s founding in 1718 at San Pedro Creek by Spanish Governor Martín de Alarcón. A combination of public and private funds sponsored the “Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas” and changed San Antonio forever. In an interview with the San Antonio Library Foundation, Tom C. Frost IV, a retired San Antonio banker, said that 1968 was San Antonio’s most important year—more important than 1836—because the community came together and made Hemisfair happen. More than 6 million guests from around the globe visited the Alamo City and put San Antonio on the world’s map. The Institute of Texan Cultures, the Henry B. González Convention Center, the John H. Wood
26 RIO Magazine
Federal Courthouse, and the Tower of Americas were all built for the fair, and the city extended its River Walk, one-quarter of a mile to reach into the fair’s grounds. National and corporate pavilions wowed attendees, and Los Voladores de Papantla, known as the Flying Indians, were a crowd favorite. The six-month fair has had lasting impact. Twenty years later, the site was renamed Hemisfair Park. In 2009, the San Antonio City Council established the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation, a local government corporation, to manage and revitalize the area. In the first two years since its re-opening, more than one million visitors have enjoyed Hemisfair
Park. The vast majority of visitors are from San Antonio, including all 10 city council districts and every zip code, but non-natives also take advantage of the downtown park. Hemisfair Park will host more than 600 events this year, and 95 percent of them are free of charge. Drew Hicks, Communications Manager of Hemisfair, said that his team members are Hemisfair’s current-day stewards.
“People were so enthused about what the World’s Fair represented,” said Hicks. “The city was dripping with optimism in 1968. The Confluence of Civilizations was REAL. You felt like you were part of something bigger. For the fiftieth anniversary, we want to celebrate our diversity, our inclusivity, our city. It’s a good time for more optimism.” Hemisfair’s anniversary celebration, ¡VIVA HEMISFAIR!, will take place on April 6, 7 and 8 in the park. Admission is free. Guests will pay for food and drinks with cash.
thesanantonioriverwalk.com