Residents and visitors in San Antonio are in for a beautiful surprise as giant lanterns will light up the River Walk for two weekends in September for the Ford Parade of Lanterns.

While the San Antonio River Walk does attract millions of visitors every year, it wasnt intended for the purpose of tourism. According to the City of San Antonio, the local government had plans to convert the River Walk into a storm sewer system to help prevent major flooding in the area during the 1920s. Despite officials plans to convert the River Walk for the use of flood control, a petition by citizens stopped their efforts. As a result of San Antonio citizens pleas to save the waterway, the San Antonio Conservation Society was founded. Hugman began developing plans for improvements that included a River Walk, according to the City of San Antonio.