Opening Hours: Week Days Monday – Friday : 8AM-6PM
It's everybody's favorite parade. How are you prepping for the next Battle of Flowers San Antonio? Here's some ideas to get started.
If you're passing by San Antonio in April, you might notice how much more vibrant the city feels. You also might catch the occasional local covered in medals, flowers, and bright colors. Where are they going?
Follow the sounds of drums and trumpets, they're headed to Fiesta.
Fiesta is an annual festival held in San Antonio. It's a celebration of the rich multicultural city, featuring everything from music to food. One of the highlights of Fiesta is the Battle of the Flowers San Antonio parade. This is the oldest event in the festival and is also organized by women.
How can you prepare for the joyful and unique experience that is Battle of the Flowers in San Antonio? We got you covered.
Let's get to know Fiesta a little better.
The festival began in 1891 when a group of citizens decided to honor the heroes of The Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto.
Initially, it was only the battle of flowers parade.
It received this name from the local women who would decorate themselves with live flowers. These women met up in front of the Alamo and began to throw the flowers at each other. Fiesta is for being the oldest festival completely produced by women volunteers.
The first parade was successful and over time, more events were included. Now Fiesta is over 100 events spanned over 10 days! It is one of the largest in the United States, with the population tripling every time the big date approaches.
With an event as big as this one, preparing for the battle of flowers isn't simple. It takes the entire city to put on something as enormous as this. More than 100 local non-profit organizations and military units create these hundreds of events for a party like no other.
For a patriotic state like Texas, Fiesta offers something unique. It incorporates Mexican culture and Texan culture in a joyful, festive way. This positive uplifting of the diverse San Antonio community is one of the reasons Fiesta is so successful.
So you're all caught up with your Fiesta history. Now let's explore some of the events that you can enjoy.
Begin the festivities with Fiesta Fiesta, which is a locally themed medal exchange. You might be wondering about these medals. Let's rewind to the fiesta history for a moment.
In 1946, King Antonio was selected to represent the Texas Cavaliers during the parade, distributed coins to local children. Those children wore them around their necks during the events and that's how the medals originated.
Now you'll see that the attendees make it their mission to collect as many medals as possible! Don't be surprised if you see people wearing their weight in medals, covered head to toe.
Back to the events.
For foodies, there's the Oyster Bake and NIOSA (Night in Old San Antonio) and a taste of New Orleans. Then there are more cultural events for history buffs, like A Day in Old Mexico & Charreada or King William Fair.
You might also hear about Fiesta Royalty, where seven crowns are designated to attendees. Some of the more well-known crowns are Miss Fiesta San Antonio, Queen of Soul, and Rey Feo (Ugly King). Many of these royal titles place a lot of emphasis on education and promising members of the community.
Fiesta has several parades but the most notable include Fiesta Flambeau, Texas Cavaliers River Parade, and the Battle of Flowers. All these parades are sure to impress. Fiesta Flambeau is the largest night parade in the country and the Texas Cavaliers River Parade takes place on the San Antonio River.
That's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the events at Fiesta, there's hundreds more to get excited about.
Now it's time to focus on the main attraction. The parade that started it all.
It might seem daunting to prepare for something of this scale but remember - fiesta is all about having fun. These types of events might sneak up on you but don't panic it's about staying informed as early as possible.
The first thing on your list is to find out the time the parade will begin and the route it'll be on. Don't rely on previous years and assume it's always the same.
Since this is an event, you'll need to buy a ticket. Tickets can range anywhere from $16.50 - $35, make sure you buy your ticket early! Huge events like this always sell out quickly and you wanna make sure you don't miss out. Have a transportation plan. Since the city will be bustling with pedestrians and many roads will be blocked off, you want to make sure you have a way to arrive safely.
Check the weather! The parade will go on in the sunshine or rain but you want to make sure you're not uncomfortably hot or get drenched since you forgot an umbrella. This also includes bringing plenty of water and sunscreen for those hot Texas days.
Finally, be sure to put on your brightest colors, look for some medals, and head out with a huge smile!
Oh and be sure to keep an eye out for cascarónes, an egg full of confetti that may be cracked over your head. Don't worry, it's all part of the fun!
The Battle of The Flowers San Antonio is the highlight of the unforgettable festival that is Fiesta.
This is a huge event spanning several days and requiring the hard work of thousands. It's not for nothing, Fiesta is a national treasure and ranks as one of the most memorable events to attend.
If you catch yourself planning to attend Fiesta (how could you not?) then it's always best to have a plan. The first step to having fun is to be well prepared. Once that's set, you're ready for the time of your life.
Viva Fiesta!
Wanna join in the fun with your own medals? Be sure to check us out and get a quote! We have everything Fiesta and more all in one place.
Filed Under: Battle of the Flowers Parade, Fiesta, Fiesta Medal Culture, Fiesta Parade, Fiesta San Antonio Event, Fiesta San Antonio History, Fiesta San Antonio Tradition, Guide to Fiesta Events, Texas Tradition
