SAN ANTONIO — Easter weekend brought families together in a time-honored San Antonio tradition of camping out at local parks, with Brackenridge Park serving as the focal point for four days of festivities. This year, dozens of families gathered to enjoy the holiday with food, music, and community spirit.
For Paul Gutierrez, an avid camper, the tradition is a cherished part of his life. “I’ve been camping here since I was five years old, and now at 42, it’s a tradition I look forward to every year,” said Gutierrez, who, along with his family, set up camp on Thursday to enjoy the festivities throughout the weekend.
The Brackenridge Park Conservancy, in partnership with Pura Vida Awards, organized the free events that drew thousands of attendees. Danny Farias, CEO of Pura Vida, expressed his excitement about the turnout. “We had thousands of people come out for the event,” Farias said. “It’s four days of bringing families and total strangers together to celebrate.”
Highlights of the weekend included live music performances from Friday to Sunday, culminating in a lively Easter egg hunt on Sunday afternoon. Farias, who was caught up in the excitement of the hunt, shared a humorous moment: “I had to call security just to get out of the middle of the action—it was so much fun!”
For some attendees, the most memorable moments were the simpler joys of camping with family. Sasha Kutty recalled a funny incident involving a blindfolded game. “I ended up accidentally hitting my stepdad with a stick. It was hilarious!” she said.
As the festivities came to a close, volunteers began the task of cleaning up the park. Cleanup efforts were already underway, with approximately 50 volunteers helping out since Friday. “We’re looking forward to having more volunteers on Monday for the cascaron cleanup,” said volunteer coordinator Quintanilla.
Those interested in volunteering for tomorrow’s cleanup can sign up online or in person at the Joska Pavilion. Cleanup will take place from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
This year’s Easter weekend celebration at Brackenridge Park once again brought the San Antonio community together, marking another successful chapter in a beloved local tradition.
