San Antonio's biggest party is back, and it's more than just confetti and parades
Certain places are synonymous with their events: New Year's Eve in New York, Mardi Gras in New Orleans (among other cities), The Masters in Augusta, Coachella in the Coachella Valley, and so on.
For San Antonio, Texas, that event is Fiesta, and it's just around the corner.
The citywide festival draws more than 2.5 million participants each year, according to 2017 data from the University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Community and Business Research. Sometimes called a party with a purpose, it also raises millions of dollars for the community through related events and activities.
Here's what revelers should know about Fiesta San Antonio.
San Antonio is a foodie paradise. Here's why.
Fiesta began in 1891, with a single parade, the Battle of the Flowers, honoring the heroes who fought for Texas' independence at the Alamo and in the Battle of San Jacinto.
That tradition continues to this day, but Fiesta has since ballooned into a more than weeklong celebration of San Antonio's diverse heritage and culture. The entire city gets into the spirit with more than 100 related events and festive decorations like papel picado banners and paper flower wreaths.
The event has also become an annual fundraiser for local nonprofits and charities and, this year, scholarships for students across the state.
This year's Fiesta runs from April 24 through May 5.
Next year's Fiesta dates are April 16 through April 26.
Fiesta runs 11 days. Major events include the Fiesta Fiesta kickoff on April 24, the Texas Cavaliers River Parade along the River Walk on April 28, the iconic Battle of the Flowers Parade on May 2 and the nighttime Fiesta Flambeau Parade on May 3.
Some Fiesta events are free, like the Ford Mariachi Festival also along San Antonio River Walk and Fiesta De Los Reyes in Historic Market Square. Others have fees, like admission to the Witte Museum to see its annual Fiesta exhibition, or tickets to the multi-day Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA), which benefits historic preservation in the city. Spectators can also pay for VIP seating at parades.
Many local nonprofits and businesses operating in San Antonio create custom medals for each year's Fiesta. Some give the medals away, while others sell them to raise money for charity work or a nonprofit of their choosing.
Proceeds from San Antonio River Foundation medal sales, for instance, support their work on the river and Raising Cane's is donating its medal proceeds to Morgan's, the San Antonio nonprofit behind the ultra-accessible theme park Morgan's Wonderland and other inclusive ventures for people of all abilities. Morgan's also has its own Fiesta medals.
Many people collect the medals to show their support for their causes. Others simply like them to wear as flare. There's lots of that during Fiesta.
A theme park 'for everybody': See inside ultra-accessible Morgan's Wonderland
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From medals to mariachi: What makes Fiesta San Antonio a must-do event
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