Page 6 - SOH_4_23

On The Cover:SBy Paige Wolfpring is finally here – the weatheris nice (most days, that is!), flowersare blooming, and Fiesta is finally back! While we know Fiesta as the event that brings all of San Antonio together for 11 days of fun, the history of the festival proves itissomuchmorethanjust“abigparty.”What began as a way to pay tribute to the fallen war heroes of the Alamo and theTBy Paige Wolfhe month of April is always an exciting time in San Antonio because our favorite event of theyear is finally here – FIESTA! Fiesta brings the entire city together for 11 days of culture, heritage, music, food, and more. Every San Antonian loves Fiesta, but do you know the history of Fiesta and how it came to be the event that it is today?Fiesta started in 1891 with a group of passionate women who wanted to honor the memory of the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto with a “battle of flowers.” The one-day parade included horse-drawn carriages and bicycles decorated with fresh flowers that rode in front of the Alamo and participants pelted flowers and blossoms at one another.What started as a fun-filled flower fight, evolved into what we now call the Battle of Flowers Parade. The Battle of Flowers Parade is one of the largest parades in the country and is the only parade in the country planned and directed entirely by women. Now, 132 years later, Fiesta is an 11-day festival – still honoring those heroes of the Alamo and San Jacinto – but has grown into a celebration of San Antonio’s rich and diverse culture and is one of the nation’s premier festivals, bringing in more than 2.5 million attendees from all over the country.Every official Fiesta event is organized and hosted by a local non-profit who provides economic, cultural, or social services to the San Antonio community year-round. With an economic impact of more than $340.1 million, Fiesta truly brings meaning to their motto of “Have Fun and Give Back” to the Alamo City.Want to experience the history of Fiesta? Here are some of our go-to Fiesta events flourishing with culture and history that take the festival back to its roots:• San Jacinto Victory Celebration | April 22, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.• 105th Annual Pilgrimage to the Alamo | April 24, 3:30 – 5 p.m.• Texas Cavaliers River Parade | April 24, 7 – 9 p.m.• NIOSA (A Night in Old San Antonio) | April 25-28, 5:30 – 10:30 p.m.• Battle of Flowers Parade | April 28, 9:30 a.m. • King William Fair | April 29, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.• Fiesta Flambeau Parade | April 29, 7:15 – 11:30 p.m.Viva Fiesta!Battle of San Jacinto, has evolved over the past 132 years into an event that celebrates San Antonio’s culture, heritage, and diversity.So, while today we celebrate the Alamo City by eating chicken on a stick and sipping on mangonadas, cracking confetti-filled cascarones and collecting fun medals, and wearing eccentric hats andcolorful guayaberas, let’s take a moment to remember our past and acknowledge the beginnings of our great city – and Fiesta is the perfect way to do so.Photo Courtesy Of Fiesta San Antonio Commission.132 Years of Fiesta San AntonioChuck Wagon Battle of Flowers 1940Business Women’s Professional Women’s Club Battle of Flowers - 1930• All Veterans Memorial Service | April 30, 1 –2p.m.Along with many traditional military and patriotic observances to honor Fiesta’s humble beginnings, there are several other Fiesta events like Cornyation, Fiesta Gartenfest, Alamo Heights Night, A Taste of New Orleans, Chanclas y Cervezas, and many more!For a full list of Fiesta events with dates, times, and locations, visit www. fiestasanantonio.org/official-fiesta-event- calendar. With more than 100 events over the course of 11 days, there is sure to be something for everyone!Photos Courtesy Of Fiesta San Antonio Commission.Battle of Flowers 2019Early WW II Military Parade - 1940s6www.stoneoakhighlights.comApril 2023