For the past few years, art supporters and enthusiasts have been heading downtown to experience Caminarte, a self-guided art walk that takes place every first Friday of the month, rain or shine. The event highlights local visual artists, musicians, and Laredo’s rich history and culture at various venues across the Laredo Cultural District.
Caminarte has had numerous iterations since its inception back in the 2010s. It started as a patio art market at the Laredo Center for the Arts, musicians at San Agustin Plaza on the next block, art exhibitions at Gallery 201, and trolley rides through the downtown area.
Caminarte has consistently encouraged the activation of the appreciation of arts and culture and the recreational experiences the streets of downtown Laredo have to offer. Today Caminarte has expanded beyond the downtown area reaching throughout the entire Laredo Cultural District, which includes San Bernardo Avenue, remembered in local history as the hospitality portal for tourists and visitors to the City. Once lined with the art deco architecture of tourist courts (motels) and restaurants, it is now a hub of artisanal import shops.
Caminarte has grown considerably, attracting more participants with each new month. Scorching temperatures compounded with the expansion of the event has made it more difficult to reach all its venues on foot.
The Sept. 6 Caminarte just got a little easier to experience! Caminarte attendees can make their rounds of the Laredo Cultural District on a free shuttle courtesy of Laredo’s legendary La Posada Hotel. The shuttle will rotate every 30 minutes and make stops at all the designated Caminarte venues including Casa Arte at Frontera Beer and Wine Garden, Jardin Contreras, Casa Ortiz (HQ of the Laredo Cultural District), La Posada Hotel, Los Olvidados, the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum, Laredo Center for the Arts, Webb County Heritage Foundation, Gallery 201, and Casa Daphne (Daphne Art Foundation).
IT Street will also join the Caminarte mix this time around. Streets will be closed to vehicular traffic along two blocks on Iturbide Street to make space for 30 vendors offering various foods, arts and crafts, and live music.
The Caminarte shuttle service will kick off for the first time at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 6 at Casa Arte at 3301 San Bernardo Avenue. The event and shuttle service is free and open to the entire community thanks to the generosity of La Posada.
(Artist Maritza Bautista is the Executive Director of Daphne Art Foundation and a member of the City of Laredo Fine Arts and Culture Commission.)
This is an amazing addition to the Laredo Cultural Districts Caminarte! We are so appreciative of Andrew’s Hewitt, and La Posada’s commitment to downtown and specifically the downtown art community. Thank you so much we look forward to watching this event continue to flourish with this much anticipated shuttle service! Thank you for setting the standard on downtown partnerships! Together we can do so much more for our community! Thank you!