By Sarah Carlson, Arts Editor
Fiesta: A week of parades, carnivals, mariachi bands, Mexican food and cascarones (confetti eggs). The 10-day celebration in San Antonio every April commemorates the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto, as well as the city’s rich culture, bringing in millions of visitors from across the country. Fiesta, in its 114th year, has much to offer.
Fiesta is basically one big party that is hard to explain to those who did not grow up with it. From an early age, residents of San Antonio learn about the event, and school children decorate their own floats with paper flowers and march in their own parade down the halls. They even get a day off of school for Battle of Flowers-a great benefit to growing up in San Antonio. The city is the eighth largest in the country, as well as one of the oldest, and is also home to many of the top Texas tourist attractions such as the Alamo and the River Walk. During Fiesta, downtown practically shuts down for the wide variety of fanfare, such as parades with the king and queen of Fiesta, and everywhere you look are brightly colored streamers and confetti.
Fiesta activities last from sunup to sundown and range from carnivals to block parties to art exhibits. A few of the more notable events to attend include Fiesta Oyster Bake at St. Mary’s University on Friday and Saturday, Night in Old San Antonio Monday through April 22 and the Battle of Flowers parade April 22. Listed here are events worth noting if you feel like making the three-and-a-half-hour (or four, depending on how you drive) trip down south. For a complete list, please refer to www.fiesta-sa.org.
Friday, April 15
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Fiesta San Antonio Official Opening Ceremony
Alamo Plaza
Noon -1 a.m.
Fiesta Carnival (runs every day at same time)
Dolorosa Street between Flores and Santa Rosa
The carnival consists of various rides, booths and food and has been expanded this year to include a Family Fun Zone, fenced off and alcohol free.
5 p.m. – 10p.m.
Fiesta Oyster Bake
St. Mary’s University campus. Friday is family night, and during the event visitors can enjoy more than 50 food booths of fajitas, sausage on a stick, hamburgers and chicken on a stick, as well as more than 100,000 oysters. Four entertainment stages with rock, Latin and country music, 30 beverage booths, a children’s area with games and a fireworks finale round out this Fiesta staple. Admission is $15 at the gate and $11 in advance, and children under 12 are admitted free.
8 p.m. – midnight
Incognito: Fiesta’s Masked Ball
La Villita Assembly Hall.
A masked ball with live music from Brazil, the Carribean and South America. $17.50 per person.
Saturday, April 16
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
San Jacinto Memorial Ceremony
The Alamo
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
“Trails to Trains: Roads to Fiesta” Exhibit
Witte Museum, 3801
Broadway
11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Fiesta Oyster Bake
Sunday, April 17
1 p.m. -5 p.m.
Family Funday Sunday
Leon Springs Dance Hall, IH-10 West at Leon Springs Exit
Monday, April 18
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Texas Cavaliers River Parade
San Antonio River Walk
Tuesday, April 19 – Friday, April 22
5:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA)
Set in the historic downtown village of La Villita, more than 100,000 visitors attend each night to celebrate the diverse heritage of San Antonio. More than 240 food and drink booths and more than a dozen entertainment stages can be found throughout the 15 heritage-themed areas. Attend early if you are bringing children. $8 in advance, $10 at the gate, $2 for children six to 12 and children under six are free.
Tuesday, April 19
10 a.m. -5 p.m.
Fiesta River Art Show (Tuesday through Thursday, same time)
San Antonio River Walk
7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Mariachi Festival (Tuesday through Friday, same time)
River Walk, River Bend and extension of Paseo Del Rio
Wednesday, April 20
8 p.m. -10:30 p.m.
Coronation Of The Queen Of The Order Of The Alamo
Municipal Auditorium, 100 Auditorium Circle
Thursday, April 21
6 p.m. – midnight
Fiesta San Fernando
San Fernando Cathedral, 115 Main Plaza
Friday, April 22 – Battle of Flowers
11:50 a.m.
Battle of Flowers Parade Vanguard
12:45 p.m.
Battle of Flowers Parade
The first parade took place in 1891 to honor the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto and to commemorate the day Texas won its independence on April 21, 1836. Flowers decorate vehicles and giant helium balloons fill the sky throughout downtown. For information on admission, visit www.battleofflowers.org.
Saturday, April 23
9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
King William Fair
King William Historic District, which comprises of stately Victorian homes preserved to a tee. Entertainment stages, booths, great food and many activities for children. $2 for adults, free for children under 17.
7:35 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Fiesta Flambeau Night Parade
Parade Route
Sunday, April 24
Noon – 10 p.m.
St. Luke’s Fiesta Finale
St. Luke’s Catholic Church, 4603 Manitou
Bringing Fiesta to Abilene
If you can’t make the trip to San Antonio but are in the mood for celebrating, here are several options to bring the party to a not-near-as-exciting West Texas:
1. Make cascarones (confetti eggs).
Cascarones are confetti-filled eggs decorated similar to Easter eggs. They show up during Easter and afterward for fiestas and Cinco de Mayo. Having a cascaron broken on your head is said to bring good luck.
You can make your own cascarones by poking a small hole in one end of an eggshell, draining the contents, rinsing the shell and letting it dry. Once dry, dye or paint the egg and fill it with confetti, spooning it in using a small funnel. To finish, seal the opening by gluing on tissue paper. If you don’t feel like making your own, cascarones can be purchased at H-E-B and Wal-Mart (at least at the ones in San Antonio).
2. Eat great food.
La Popular is one of the best Mexican food places I’ve found in Abilene, and the bakery items represent the taste of the Fiesta culture. Other staples in the Fiesta diet include barbecue, chicken legs, oysters and any type of food that can be found at carnivals.
3. Take a break.
The key to Fiesta is to relax and have fun (after all, fiesta means ‘party’ in Spanish). So leave your schoolwork behind and celebrate something-it doesn’t matter what.
