It takes more than sub-freezing temperatures to stop this party.
1200 WOAI news reports thousands flocked to Hemisfair to welcome in San Antonio's big birthday year with commemorative fireworks, music, and food.
"Tonight kicks off a year-long celebration of our tricentennial, so we can showvwhatba great city this has become," Mayor Ron Nirenberg said.
The mayor thanked people for braving the cold weather.
"That's the sort of city we are, that's the sort of championship city that we are."
County Judge Nelson Wolff also discussed the cold.
"We're not going to let a little cold or a little wind dampen our enthusiasm, are we?" he asked, to a response of NO from the crowd.
The event begins a series of historical and cultural activities and exhibitions to culminate in the first week of May.. The city was founded on May 1, 1718, when the Spanish military government opened the region to civilian settlement, and authorized construction. of the mission that became the Aamo.