Luminaria's 2025 Contemporary Arts Festival will include tribute to Flaco Jiménez
San Antonio’s Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival has revealed the date, location and featured artists for its 2025 program. Highlights will include a tribute to the recently departed San Antonio conjunto legend Flaco Jiménez.
The annual event will be held in St. Paul Square on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 6 p.m. to midnight. An opening ceremony featuring Texas Poet Laureate Olivia Quintanilla will begin at 5:30 p.m. Digital and film projections begin at sunset.
The festival will feature more than 130 artists and 44 art projects including film, digital art, dance, large-scale installations, fine art, live music, performance art, poetry and more, according to details shared by the organization.
This year, the festival will also expand its footprint to include the Aiden Riverwalk Hotel, which has hosted the Luminaria Pop-up Art Gallery since March. The expanded footprint will also include the San Antonio Street Art Initiative’s Gravelmouth Gallery and D.R.E.A.M. Mural Arts District.
The St. Paul Square and The Espee are once again activating both their indoor and outdoor spaces for the gathering, including spaces for art, vendors, live music and an exclusive VIP section.
Staybridge Suites Downtown Convention Center will once again become a towering eight-story digital art installation visible to drivers on I-37.
This year’s featured local artists include Mauro de la Tierra and his sister Mel Tierra, art rock band Powdered Wig Machine, pop singer Brooklyn Michelle and more.
A tribute to conjunto pioneer and accordion maestro Jiménez will feature a collaboration between the artist’s son Arturo Jiménez and Blood In Blood Out actor Jesse Borrego, who will have his own art installation at the event.
Borrego’s father Jesse Borrego Sr. was also an accordionist and friends with the elder Jiménez. Jesse Borrego Jr., who also appeared in the television series Fame, shared the stage with Flaco at Luminaria in 2021 and 2023.
Though the majority of the participating Luminaria artists are from San Antonio, others hail from Miami, Houston, Corpus Christi, New York City, Illinois, Berlin, Sweden and the Navajo Nation.
“Luminaria is a testament to the spirit of San Antonio,” said Yadhira Lozano, the arts organization’s executive director. “Our artists bring the streets and buildings of San Antonio to life with their heart and soul and I invite all of San Antonio and beyond to come celebrate with us for one night of inspiration and joy.”
