San Antonio — It's beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas in the heart of San Antonio. The Ford Holiday River Parade lit up downtown on Friday night, kicking off the holiday season.

  • More than 25 floats
  • "Christmas in San Antonio" theme
  • Parade goers reactions

“It’s quintessential Texas. It’s quintessential San Antonio,” Terri Wilson, parade volunteer, said.

The San Antonio River Walk was transformed into a winter fantasyland.

“We’re heading out to a Christmas parade and it’s almost 80 degrees out here,” San Antonio resident Jessica Gillenwater said.

The annual holiday parade attracted thousands of people to the banks of the San Antonio River.

“The River Walk, it just runs through us,” said Wilson.

More than 25 decorated barges floated down the river showcasing a mix of San Antonio culture and traditions.

“It’s beautiful. It’s something you get to share with everybody with all of San Antonio; everybody. Families come together and all of San Antonio comes together, said Gillenwater.

This year’s theme was “Christmas in San Antonio.”

“I’m thrilled to be a part of it and taking this home to Bakersfield, California. I enjoyed it so much with my family,” Marie Beagle, Bakersfield resident, said.

Speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus was this year’s parade grand marshal.

Now on its 38th year, the holiday parade keeps bringing back kids and adults year after year.

“Even when I was a kid, my parents did it. They took us to the parades and we never missed one,” Lauren Landeros, parade goer, said.