The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge Celebration was the debut of Dallas’ newest architectural icon connecting Downtown Dallas to West Dallas over the Trinity River. More than 40,000 people attended the opening celebrations from Friday through Sunday, March 2-4, when it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to walk, run and party on the bridge and toast the best new view in town.

The Santiago Calatrava-designed bridge is a landmark, and the festivities were fittingly spectacular.

Mr. Calatrava said, “The Bridge is built not only with steel, concrete, and pure materials, it is also built with other materials. It is built with courage, it is built with faith, and it is built also with love. It is built with the courage of those who have promoted this project. It is built with the faith of those who believe in the future of this city, and it is built with the love of those who genuinely love the city of Dallas and the people of Dallas – and I am one of them.”

The weekend of celebrations started with a ticketed fundraiser Friday evening, hosted by The Trinity Trust, with headliner Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. Between the glowing Dallas skyline on the eastside and the vibrant festivities of Bridge-o-Rama in West Dallas, party guests experienced the beauty of Santiago Calatrava's design up close as they enjoyed celebrity chef creations, specialty drinks and entertainment. It was a truly memorable evening as guests and supporters danced the night away on the bridge.  The evening culminated with a spectacular fireworks display.

Saturday began with the 8th MWH Annual Trinity River Levee Run. The run started on the West Dallas side of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and proceeded across the bridge, through the Design District and back, ending in West Dallas. More than 3,100 runners and walkers enjoyed their first opportunity to cross the magnificent bridge.

Hosted by The Trinity Trust, Trinity Commons Foundation and City of Dallas, Saturday’s free street fair delighted all on foot and featured favorite local bands, costumed performers, interactive booths, artists, food vendors, fireworks and more. Bands include Larry g(EE) Band, Lauren Adelle, Lady Diamond and The Burning Hotels.  The Mariachi Rosas Divinas, Dallas' all female mariachi band, opened the street fair welcoming visitors, followed by the Parade of Builders, which honored all the people who built the bridge, including Santiago Calatrava. Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights played just before the fireworks finale.

On Sunday morning, supporters and citizens attended the dedication of the bridge with federal, state and local dignitaries, special music by Orchestra of New Spain honoring the Spanish naming of the Trinity River, Street Corner Symphony singing the National Anthem, and a festive ribbon run with hundreds of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge connects Downtown Dallas and West Dallas over the Trinity River and is part of the Trinity River Corridor Project.

On March 2-4, The Trinity Trust hosted the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge Celebration: Bridging The Trinity For The Love Of The City to celebrate the new Calatrava bridge. Attending the event were: (L-R) The Honorable Tom Leppert; Lyda Hill, daughter of Margaret Hunt Hill; Santiago Calatrava, architect of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, and Tina Calatrava, his wife; Alinda Hill Wikert, daughter of Margaret Hunt Hill; (FRONT:) Al Hill Jr., son of Margaret Hunt Hill; Margaret McDermott, friend of Margaret Hunt Hill, for whom the second Calatrava bridge will be named. photo by Dana Driensky

The three-day event was made possible by donations of individuals and corporations, with no tax dollars used. Special thanks to the following sponsors:

Signature Sponsor
Al Hill Jr. Family, Lyda Hill, The Eugene McDermott Foundation, Williams Brothers Construction Company, Inc., Alinda H. and James R. Wikert, City of Dallas, CBS Radio Dallas, The Dallas Morning News, D Magazine / D CEO.

Landmark Sponsor
The Sharp Foundation

Calatrava Sponsor
Bank of America, Chase, Dallas Citizens Council, Dallas Southwest Osteopathic Physicians,

Harold Simmons Foundation, Haynes & Boone, LLP, Huitt-Zollars, Inc., Highland Park Village, Gene and Jerry Jones, Kelly Productions, Margot and Ross Perot, Matthews Southwest, PlainsCapital Bank, The Rosewood Corporation, Tolleson Wealth Management,
West Dallas Investments.

Steel+ Sponsor
DART, Dickie & Associates, Omni Hotel Dallas, Titan Outdoor.

Steel Sponsor
ALON USA, AT&T, Cecilia and Garrett Boone, Cinemark Theatres, Clear Channel Outdoor, Cooper Aerobics Center, The Coulter Group, CP & Y Inc., Dallas Observer, Dallas Pedicabs, Downtown Business News, Chance Foreman, Martha and Bob Gillikin, Carol and Don Glendenning/Locke Lord, Sally and Forrest Hoglund,
Norma K. Hunt, Methodist Health System, Oncor, Peregrine Group, PlainsCapital Bank, Radio Disney AM620, Deedie and Rusty Rose, Connie and Marc Sigel, Trinity Groves Celebrity Chefs/Phil Romano, Stuart Fitts, Butch McGregor, WFAA, Channel 8, West Dallas Chamber of Commerce, Wynnwood Special Events and Catering.

Cable-Stayed Sponsor
Andrews Distributing, Bank of Texas, Joyce Battaglia and Brian Caine, The Beck Group, Bisnow Media, Margaret and Bill Breedlove, Faye C. Briggs, Central Market-HEB, Cinco Vodka, Clampitt Paper Company, Corrigan-Goddard Foundation, John Creecy and Mary Washuta, Mrs. Trammell Crow, DallasChild, Patsy M. Donosky, Bess and Ted Enloe, Ernst & Young LLP,
Mr. and Mrs. James A. Gibbs, Grand Luxe, Horchow Family Fund of The Dallas Foundation,
Sydney Huffines and Sharon L. McCutchin, KKDA, K104/Smooth R&B, Liz Minyard Lokey, Bobby B. Lyle, Nancy Cain Marcus, McKinney Fund, Millet the Printer, Modern Luxury, Susan and Bill Montgomery, Susie and Ben Munson, Museum Tower, My Sweet Charity, Donnie Nelson, Alice and Erle Nye, PaperCity Magazine, Park Cities News, People Newspapers, Sarah and Ross Perot, Jr., Carolyn and Karl Rathjen, Catherine and Will Rose, Southwestern Medical Foundation, Gail and Bob Thomas, TM Advertising, Trinity Industries, Lisa and Kenny Troutt, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Chance Wimberly.