By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
The City of Del Rio is adding a new twist to its annual Independence Day celebration with its first-ever kayak parade on San Felipe Creek.
The inaugural San Felipe Creek Parade of Lights begins at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4, with organizers inviting kayakers to decorate their vessels and help bring patriotic lights and holiday spirit to the creek after sunset. The event is part of the city’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
Esme Esparza, the city’s community services director, said the new event was added as part of this year’s expanded
Fourth of July festivities.
Esparza said members of the city’s Fourth of July committee reviewed what had worked well in previous years and considered the amenities available in Del Rio before deciding to introduce a nighttime kayak parade. She said the committee wanted to create a unique event centered on San Felipe Creek.
Peter Ojeda, the city’s communications and marketing director, proposed the idea after drawing inspiration from the Adventures on the Creek events held during the fall of 2025.
“Even though it is the first (night) parade, we have had success with prior events. This will be the first kayak night parade, and we will already have a captive audience there (at the creek), so we are utilizing that,” Ojeda said. “Overall, this is another way we can showcase the creek in a different light.”
“This is an evening event, and no one has seen anything like this, so this is another way to take advantage of this beautiful body of water flowing through Del Rio,” he added.
Ojeda said the city is following state boating laws to help ensure participants’ safety by requiring appropriate safety equipment on each vessel. He added that a Texas game warden has assisted by providing life jackets for participants.
Ojeda also said Casa de la Cultura and the San Felipe Creek Coalition are making kayaks available to individuals who contact the organizations directly.
According to the City of Del Rio Government’s official Facebook page, the parade is open to small, non-motorized vessels, including kayaks, pedal boats and canoes. Participants are encouraged to decorate their watercraft with patriotic themes and bright lights in celebration of the Fourth of July.
The parade will begin at Lt. Thomas Romanelli Memorial Park, 301 Stanley St., travel past the Dr. Alfredo Gutierrez Jr. Amphitheater, where spectators will already be gathered for the city’s Independence Day concert, and conclude near Tardy Dam at East Academy Street.
