San Antonio is gearing up for the annual festivities of Fiesta! April is always a fun time in the city. I always try to participate in some Fiesta event. Over the last few years I’ve enjoyed the King Williams Fair and this year I plan to attend the Oyster Bake at St. Mary’s University (I’m an alumni of St. Mary’s). As a child we always went to the day and night parade - you could never get enough. The three mile parade route runs through the downtown area and people line the streets. The Battle of Flowers parade has always been held on a Friday and the schools close (that was always a plus) and city employees get the day off.
Many folks don’t know, but Fiesta began as a way to honor the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. Over the years Fiesta has grown into celebrating San Antonio and our diverse culture. With so many events there’s something for everyone! If you do not live in San Antonio it’s a great time visit. Fiesta is a time to enjoy good food, a variety of music and the cracking of a cascarone on your head! What’s a cascarone? A hollow eggshell filled with confetti.
Fiesta facts:
§ 2009 is the 118th Anniversary
§ Runs for 11 days
§ Over 100 events
§ Up to 3.5 million attending
§ $284 million in economic impact for the city
Popular Fiesta Events:
- Oyster Bake: Friday, April 17 - Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the St. Mary’s Campus.
- The Texas Cavaliers River Parade - Monday April 20, 2009. Today the River Parade is one of the few in the nation in which the floats really do float. About 250,000 people line the banks to enjoy the event.
- Night in Old San Antonio: Tuesday, April 21 - Friday, April 24, 2009. A Night in Old San Antonio, better known as NIOSA.
- King William Fair: Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the King William Historical District.
- The Fiesta Flambeau Parade: Saturday, April 25, 2009. The Fiesta Flambeau Parade began in 1948 and is held at night.
