Top 5 Favorites of the San Antonio Fiesta
Spring time is finally here and we are excited to get outside! Here in San Antonio, we celebrate Fiesta with our friends and family this season. Here are a few reasons we love Fiesta and some things we wouldn’t miss:
The mission: We love that Fiesta is a nonprofit, volunteer, self-supporting organization that presents an annual celebration every Spring of the diverse heritage, culture and spirit of San Antonio. Fiesta is open to all kinds of people, including both visitors and residents, because at its core it is a celebration of diversity. It began in 1891—did you know Fiesta is over 100 years old?—as a simple, one-parade honoring of the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. Now it not only honors them but services the citizens of San Antonio throughout the rest of the seasons.
A Celebration of the 125th Fiesta: This year marks Fiesta’s 125th anniversary! We wouldn’t want to miss this celebration in the Stars At Night Ballroom on April 6, 7 p.m. Tickets may be a bit pricy, but it is well worth it as a donation and a form of support for our wonderful city and its dedication to its residents.
Parades: There will be parades on April 15 and from April 18-23! There will be a Military Parade, a River Parade, a Mariachi Festival, and the Battle of Flowers. We can’t wait for these colorful and heartfelt celebrations of San Antonio culture and heritage. The River Parade has been called the most unusual parade in America: there will be live music and lights, over 40 locally sponsored floats, and military installations, but the best part of all is that all donations go straight to children’s charities throughout Bexar County through the Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation.
Music: This year we will certainly be enjoying Fiesta Pops (April 15) and the Throwback Fiesta (April 17). We are especially excited about the Deco District Arts and Music Festival on April 17. The Historic Deco District will be hosting dozens of performances by local and national musicians of all ages, as well as street vendors, food, and drinks! We are so excited to see local young talent highlighted at this festival, as well as the cultural, economic and social liveliness of the Deco District. It’s sponsored by the Network for Young Artists, through which art and culture are promoted through music classes and opportunities to perform throughout San Antonio. Admission is free!
Culture: All of Fiesta highlights San Antonio culture, but we wouldn’t miss these special, culturally influenced events! The Fiesta Carnival, on April 14, is going to have rides and food for all. There are so many events we cannot name them all, but we are especially excited about The Chili Queens Chili Cook-off on April 17 and the King William Fair, which will be loaded with stages of music and dancing, a Kids Kingdom play area and a beautiful parade in the King William Neighborhood historic district.
