Latest news with #FiestaSanAntonio
Axios
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Your guide to Fiesta San Antonio 2025
Fiesta San Antonio starts Thursday, bringing 11 days of parties, music and culture to the city. Why it matters: Fiesta raises millions of dollars for local nonprofits and brings thousands of attendees to the core of the city. Between the lines: While Fiesta has evolved to celebrate cultures, food and all-around puro party vibes, it has a complicated history. But, Fiesta's expansive list of events gives people the freedom to celebrate and plan their itinerary in a way that reflects their values. How it works: Fiesta is a giant umbrella with more than 100 official events — free and ticketed. And there are plenty of themed, offshoot events happening at bars and restaurants. Basically, you'd be hard-pressed not to find someone with a flower crown and/or confetti in their hair for the foreseeable future. State of play: Fiesta Fiesta will kick off the fun 4-10pm Thursday at Travis Park. It's a free party with music, food and lots of medal trading. The weekend continues with a list of headline events. Oyster Bake is Friday and Saturday at St. Mary's University. Hours vary; tickets start at $30. A Taste of New Orleans starts Friday and lasts through Sunday at Sunken Garden Theater. Hours vary; tickets start at $22. Alamo Heights Night is 5:30-11:30pm Friday at the University of the Incarnate Word. Tickets start at $20. What to try: Fiesta is full of flavor. While A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA), heralded as a hub for eats, doesn't start until Tuesday, vendors at each of this weekend's events will have Fiesta's iconic snacks for sale. Take it from Edmund Tijerina, longtime local food writer, who tells Axios oyster shots at Oyster Bake are a must. If you go: Keep an eye on the weather as storms could bring some rain Thursday to Fiesta Fiesta. What's next: NIOSA (Tuesday through Friday), Battle of Flowers Parade (Friday) and the Fiesta Flambeau Parade (Saturday).
Axios
21-04-2025
- Axios
What's new with security at Fiesta San Antonio 2025
Fiesta San Antonio partygoers will see several new security measures this year amid high-profile incidents at large gatherings recently. Why it matters: 2024 was the second year in a row that a free Fiesta event was marred by a shooting. Officials also pointed to the terrorist attack in New Orleans amid New Year's Eve celebrations this year. What they're saying:"Because of the events that have been happening around the world (where) people are losing their lives — people driving into crowds, people shooting up in crowds — there was a lot of concern coming into this season," San Antonio police chief William McManus told reporters Monday. "There's nowhere you'll be able to look at any Fiesta event and not see a police officer" this year, he added. The big picture: Police "absolutely" have to be more aware of security at large events than in the past, McManus tells Axios. Context: The shooting at the annual Fiesta de los Reyes event at Market Square last year left two people dead and four bystanders injured. In 2023, a man was shot and critically injured at the same event. The New Year's Bourbon Street pickup truck attack this year killed 15 people and injured dozens more. Zoom in: For the first time, organizers of every Fiesta event this year had to submit a crisis communications plan that outlined safety policies and protocol in the event that something goes awry, Trish DeBerry, CEO of Centro San Antonio, tells Axios. Organizers of Fiesta de los Reyes at Market Square say they will: Enforce a security perimeter with bag screening; in the past, partygoers could simply walk into Market Square. Ensure bags are no larger than 12-by-6-by-12, and encourage clear bags. Backpacks and weapons are explicitly prohibited. End the event earlier — hours now run until 10 or 11pm, rather than midnight. Reality check: McManus says people will be turned away if they don't follow the bag policy. Plus: The 130 ambassadors with Centro San Antonio, who are downtown 24-7, received "enhanced" security training ahead of Fiesta, DeBerry told reporters. Centro also added safety administrators, who are retired or former police officers trained in de-escalation techniques. And new downtown security cameras powered by artificial intelligence will be in effect during Fiesta, DeBerry added. Between the lines: There will also be safety barriers in place meant to prevent vehicle attacks, McManus tells Axios, adding that the barriers were in place for this year's MLK March and NCAA Final Four events.
USA Today
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
San Antonio's biggest party is back, and it's more than just confetti and parades
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. What does Fiesta celebrate in San Antonio? 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. What are the dates for Fiesta San Antonio 2025? This year's Fiesta runs from April 24 through May 5. Next year's Fiesta dates are April 16 through April 26. How long does Fiesta San Antonio last? 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. Is Fiesta San Antonio free? 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. What is the purpose of Fiesta medals? 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
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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
