The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center is proud to present Todos Agua 2, San Antonio’s Second Annual Water Festival, happening March 15, at Brackenridge Park, March 22 & 23, and March 28 & 29, 2025, at the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center (922 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212).
This celebration brings together music, poetry, and community dialogue to honor water—not just as a physical resource but as a sacred and vital force that sustains life. Through a diverse lineup of artistic expressions, Todos Agua 2 invites attendees to explore the deep cultural, environmental, and spiritual connections we share with water.
A Festival Rooted in Reverence for Nature
Curated by creative director Azul Barrientos, Todos Agua 2 builds upon the spirit of last year’s festival while expanding its scope. This year, the event honors the natural world around us today—the water that nourishes us, the birds that guide us, the deer that roam, and the intricate ecosystems that connect all living beings. The festival also pays tribute to the wisdom of those who came before us, who built their homes and traditions around rivers, lakes, and oceans. At the same time, it urges us to listen, protect, and engage with the living world that still speaks to us today.
Returning from Chile for his second year at Todos Agua is Julián Herreros Rivera, a multifaceted artist whose work is deeply rooted in Latin American folklore. Inspired by the legacies of Violeta Parra, Atahualpa Yupanqui, and Victor Jara, Herreros Rivera blends virtuosic guitar, powerful vocals, and poetic lyricism to create music that transcends boundaries and resonates deeply with listeners. His artistic contributions extend beyond performance—he also designed the artwork for Todos Agua 2.
At its core, Todos Agua 2 is a gathering of music, storytelling, and reflection. It offers space to engage with the fundamental role of water in sustaining life, shaping cultures, and connecting us to ancestral traditions.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Saturday, March 15 – Prayer Inauguration at Brackenridge Park
The festival opens with a Prayer Inauguration at Brackenridge Park, led by Matilde Torres and Gary Pérez. This collective offering of music, reflection, and intention will honor water as a source of life and sacred energy. Featured performers include Ceiba Ili, Azul Barrientos, Julián Herreros Rivera, and more.
Matilde Torres and Gary Pérez are members of the Lipan-Apache ‘Hoosh Chetzel’ Native American Church. Pérez serves as the Secretary of Education, Training, and Research for the Pakahua Peoples of Northeastern Mexico and Texas. Torres, of Otomí heritage—one of Mexico’s Indigenous peoples—is also a member of the Pakahua tribe. Together, they gather in prayer with community members at Brackenridge Park, a sacred prehistoric site, where the towering trees and birds create a natural sanctuary for reflection. Here, they share the spiritual significance and deep interconnectedness of the space—an enduring presence shaped by the remnants of Indigenous peoples over millennia.
Saturday, March 22 – TODOS AGUA 2 FESTIVAL – CONCERT
An evening of music and storytelling with Azul Barrientos, a multi-talented artist who uses her music as a vehicle for cultural education and storytelling, and Julián Herreros Rivera, weaving a journey that explores the power of folk traditions and cultural resilience.
Sunday, March 23 – TODOS AGUA 2 FESTIVAL – MÚSICA Y POESÍA
An afternoon of music and poetry featuring Julián Herreros Rivera, Azul Barrientos, and State Poet Laureate of Texas 2015, Carmen Tafolla. Through words and song, we will celebrate the sacredness of water and the deep cultural ties that connect us to it.
Friday, March 28 – VIVIR CANTANDO 6 PM – 9 PM – PLÁTICA & SINGING WORKSHOP with Julián Herreros Rivera
VIVIR CANTANDO (Living Through Singing) is an invitation to explore the role of singing in our lives—not just as an art form but as a powerful vessel for emotion, connection, and intention. From lullabies to healing songs and anthems to performances, singing profoundly shapes our experiences.
The plática and workshop will be conducted in Spanish, with English translation available via headphones.
Saturday, March 29 – TODOS AGUA 2 FESTIVAL – PLÁTICA SOBRE AGUA, VIDA Y RESISTENCIA
join us for a community dialogue featuring Nansi Guevara, a border artist and activist working to stop further destruction of the Boca Chica State Park; Marissa Aki’Nene Muñoz, PhD, a professor at UTSA who works alongside community members to discuss, listen and make connections between the land, river and the indigenous communities; Annalisa Peace, director of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance speaking to the water struggles in San Antonio and the Hill Country; and Vanessa Quesada, who will connect local water issues to the struggles throughout the Americas, as well as reconnect us to the healing power of water.
