Downtown San Antonio will be alive with celebration of the patriotic and music-loving kind Saturday. Crowds are expected to flock there for July Fourth celebrations and Ye’s headlining Alamodome concert, with the city estimating more than 75,000 packing the heart of the city.
With the anticipate influx of visitors and residents, the city has some guidance: Be patient, take your time and plan ahead.
“Our goal is to help everyone enjoy a safe, memorable Fourth of July celebration,” City Manager Erik Walsh said in a release.
The holiday is bring a stars-and-stripes-filled lineup of events to downtown, including celebrations along Houston Street, at the Alamo, in Market Square and on the River Walk. The day culminates with a fireworks shot at Hemisfair.
Families heading downtown in the afternoon hours will also meet traffic from the more than 50,000 expected to attend Ye’s Alamodome show, which is expected to go on as scheduled despite Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones previously pushing for its cancellation.
Others still will likely be heading to downtown bars to continue catching World Cup action (don’t worry: Mexico doesn’t play until Sunday and USA suits up next on Monday.)
The city is encouraging visitors traveling to downtown to plan parking in advance if possible, know which roads are closed, and consider using VIA or another form of public transportation.
VIA Park & Ride services
The city’s transit network is offering Park & Ride services on its shuttles to the Alamodome starting at 5 p.m., with service from the following hubs:
Stone Oak Park & Ride (22139 U.S. 281 South)
Crossroads Park & Ride (151 N. Crossroads Blvd.)
Frost Bank Center (1 Frost Bank Center Drive)
Walmart at Brooks (3302 Southeast Military Drive)
Round-trip fares cost $2.60, making it an affordable option if you’re looking to avoid paying for parking. Discounted fares are offered for children, seniors, students and riders with military ID.
The city is also touting the services of Route 100 Primo, providing lifts between parking garages, hotels and event venues in downtown San Antonio.
What time to doors open for the concert?
Ye’s show – expected to be one of the more highly attended events in recent memory at the Alamodome – is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. But H-E-B Plaza opens to fans as early as 4:30 p.m.
If you’d prefer to park close to the venue, prepare to pay: It’ll cost $60 per car in Lots B and C, with spots available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Parking payment can only be made via credit card. Other nearby parking options can be reserved ahead of time here.
The Alamodome has a strict bag policy, too. Clutch purses of a certain size are allowed, but anything bigger will have to be clear. See the venue’s full policy here.
Need a Lyft?
The ride-share service is offering holiday- appropriate $17.76 discounts for those needing a ride. The only catch: You have to be a first-time Lyft rider.
The discount, made available by using the code USA250, is in effect through Sunday.