Fiesta Fiesta

Fiesta San Antonio Commission

April 16, 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., At the Alamo

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Fiesta San Antonio Commission is throwing a big street party in front of the Alamo. The fun starts with live entertainment, street dancing and booths previewing other official Fiesta events. The president of the Fiesta Commission and his special VIP guests will officially kick off the 11 days of Fiesta with a short ceremony. Fireworks atop the Emily Morgan Hotel will cap off this very special party. Come join in the fun as cascarones are broken and the crowd proclaims "Viva Fiesta!"

Free event. For more information call 227-5191.

Texas Cavaliers River Parade

Monday, April 20, 7p-9:30p, San Antonio River Walk

Each year hundreds of thousands of people from all over the country line the banks of the San Antonio River to view the most unusual parade in America ... the Texas Cavaliers River Parade!

This year's parade, entitled Celebrate Texas, promises an evening of family fun with live music, celebrities and lights. More than 40 festively decorated floats sponsored by local community organizations and military installations drift down the San Antonio River. Spectators party up and down the river to the accompaniment of singers, musicians and live bands. King Antonio LXXXVII reigns over the evening's festivities and gives a Texas-sized welcome to the enthusiastic spectators along the winding route.

In addition to producing the River Parade, the Cavaliers support the Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation, which disburses funds to various charitable organizations with an emphasis on helping the children of our community.

Admission: $10-$25. For advance tickets or more information visit www.texascavaliers.org or call 22-RIVER. (Via Park & Ride Available!)

Battle of Flowers Association

Friday, April 24, vanguard 11:50am, parade 12:45p, Parade Route

The first Battle of Flowers Parade took place in 1891 to honor the heroes of the Alamo and to commemorate the Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836, where Texas won its independence from Mexico. Despite rain that postponed the first parade for four days, a group of determined San Antonio women made the colorful "Flower Battle" a success. The parade has entertained our city every year except during World Wars I and II. It is now recognized as the founding event of Fiesta San Antonio.

The parade was the first major celebratory event to take place on Alamo Plaza. It is sponsored by the Battle of Flowers Association, a nonprofit and civic women's organization chartered in 1914 to celebrate Texas history. Remembering the heroes of the Alamo has remained the focus of the parade, and participants are asked to bring a floral tribute to be place on the lawn in front of the Alamo.

The theme of this year's Parade is Hots Off to Texas, a celebration of past memories and future expectations. Whether it is through simple pastimes, holiday celebrations, historical events or future leaders, Hats Off to Texas captures the versatility and durability that makes our state unique. So join us in showcasing our state's past, present, and future as we celebrate Fiesta 2009!

R.O.T.C. units march in a Vanguard ahead of the parade and delight spectators with precision drills. The parade arrives with an explosion of color as splendid cavalcades and flying flags announce the festivities to come. Spectacular floats carrying costumed Fiesta royalty are interspersed with flower-bedecked antique cars and carriages. Giant helium balloons fly through the air, accompanied by the music of military and high school bands.

To accommodate the growing number of high schools in San Antonio, the Public School Section is expanding from eight to nine entries. As more schools are built, the BOF Association has a desire to continue adding more entries so that all area schools have the opportunity to participate.

Tickets: $18 for Alamo Grandstands, Cenotaph Stands; $15 for Alamo Street Bleachers - North (Travis/Houston), Alamo Street Bleachers - South (Crockett/Commerce) and Plaza Bleachers. $12 for Maverick and Broadway Bleachers. Tickets are now available at the Fiesta Centralized Ticket Sales Center at The Fiesta® Store, 2611 Broadway. For street chair information call 227-5191 or go to www.fiesta-sa.org. For more parade information visit our website at www.battleofflowers.org. (Via Park & Ride Available!)

Fiesta Flambeau Parade Association

Saturday, April 25, vanguard 7pm, parade 7:45pm, Parade Route

On April 25 the Fiesta Flambeau Parade Association will celebrate its 61st anniversary. The theme for the 2009 parade is "Flambeau - Vegas Style." The event is the largest illuminated night parade in the nation. The sponsoring group is a nonprofit civic organization, which stages the parade with volunteer members who have a passion to produce the best parade for the city of San Antonio and its guests from around the world.

The Fiesta Flambeau Parade will step off at 7pm with a Vanguard of ROTC and civilian patriotic organizations that will perform precise drills along the 2.6 mile parade route through beautiful downtown San Antonio. The main parade begins at 7:45pm and promises to be the best that San Antonio has seen.

The Fiesta Flambeau Parade is best known as the "People's Parade." Some 700,000 spectators watch it along the streets of San Antonio, and another 1.5 million watch the parade on TV throughout South Texas. The University of Texas Longhorn Band by tradition is the premier band starting off the parade. The parade also showcases local entries and groups from as far as Hawaii, Oregon, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and Mexico. This year Flambeau will feature spectacular Vegas themed floats, precision marching units, equestrian and musical groups, along with many other attractions that will offer delightful entertainment throughout the evening.

Parade Seating Information: $15 for Alamo Street Bleachers - North (Travis/Houston), Alamo Street Bleachers - South (Crockett/Commerce) and Alamo Plaza Bleachers. $12 for Maverick and Broadway Bleachers. Tickets will be available starting March 27 at the Fiesta Store, 2611 Broadway. The Flambeau ticket line is 735.6644. Visit www.fiestaflambeau.org for additional information or credit card purchases. For information on street chairs, go to www.fiesta-sa.org.

Paseo Del Rio Children's Festival

Saturday, April 18 -- 10a-4p

River Walk between Rivercenter Mall Lagoon and Peak's Park

A fun, entertaining and educational Fiesta event designed for children of all ages. Bring the entire family down to the River Walk for a day of children's live entertainment, interactive games, face painting, clowns, story telling, mascot interaction, putt putt golf challenge and wildlife exhibits. There are multiple staging areas with overlapping activities for all interests. From an inflatable moon bounce to lively dancers, this event is designed to entertain!

The Paseo del Rio Association is a non profit organization dedicated to promotion, protection and preservation of the River Walk. This is one of the many free events produced by Paseo throughout the year along the River Walk.

Free admission. For more information call 227-4262, ext. 104.

Fiesta Especial

River City Christian School, 5810 Blanco Rd.

Friday, April 17 -- 10a-10p

Join the San Antonio special-needs community and the family and friends who love them as we celebrate Fiesta in a special way. Fiesta Especial jump starts Fiesta week with a family centered, alcohol and tobacco free event. San Antonio families are invited to ride carnival rides, enjoy local entertainment including music, dance and puppet performances, sample cultural food, play carnival games with fun prizes and enjoy street performers, face painting and caricature artists. Local partners in the care and education of our community's special-needs children will set up booths to distribute educational materials and answer questions.

Admission: $10, which includes an unlimited carnival ride pass. Food and game tickets sold separately. For more information call 384-0297.

Mariachi Festival

April 21-24, 7p-10p, River Walk

The traditional trumpeting of mariachis resounds along the River Walk during the 39th annual Fiesta Mariachi Festival, presented by the Paseo del Rio Association. Each night the best emerging talents from area high schools and colleges join professional groups in the spotlight aboard colorful floats cruising along the Paseo del Rio.

The festival provides student musicians an opportunity to gain experience entertaining before large crowds and provides a festive atmosphere for Fiesta revelers. Professional groups also perform their high energy, crowd-pleasing songs for Fiesta-goers. The mariachi groups of today usually consist of musicians who play trumpets, violins, requintos (six-string guitar) and guitarrones (bass guitars with four and five gut strings). Produced by the Paseo del Rio Association, it is one of the oldest Mariachi festivals in the country.

Free event. For more information call 227-4262.

Fiesta Carnival

April 15-26, Alamodome Parking Lot C, 100 Montana

Thrills and chills fill the air at one of the best carnivals in the land. Enjoy a new carnival with its glittering lights, exciting rides and a wide assortment of foods. Make the Carnival a perennial favorite of Fiesta-goers. Revenue from this event helps support the activities of the Fiesta San Antonio Commission.

Free admission.
April 15 - 4p-10p
April 16 - 5p-10p
April 17 - 4p-midnight
April 18 - 11a-midnight
April 19 - Noon-10p
April 20 - 5p-11p
April 21-23 - 5p-10p
April 24 - 10a-midnight
April 25 - 10a-midnight
April 26 - 10a-10p.

Fiesta Arts Fair

April 18-19, Saturday 10a-6p; Sunday 11a-5p, Southwest School of Art and Craft, 300 Augusta

For 36 years, Fiesta Arts Fair has been a favorite of families and art aficionados. This year the nationally recognized juried art show will bring together 120 artists from across the nation, displaying contemporary ceramics, paintings, jewelry, glass, photography, wearable art and other high-quality artwork. Fiesta Art Fair takes place on the shady grounds of the school's historic Ursuline Campus at the corner of August and Navarro. A best-loved activity is the Children's Art Garden, where kids work with professional artists to create their own art. The whole family will enjoy not only the art and the setting, but also live music, featuring eclectic performers on two stages and traditional Fiesta food from La Margarita and others.

Admission, which helps support educational programs at the nonprofit school: $10 for adults and $4 for children 5-12 years. We also offer a $12 weekend pass. For more information, including directions and a list of participating artists and musicians, visit www.swhschool.org