 The 2006 Fiesta, the 115th celebration in its history, will be staged April 21-30, when more than three and half million revelers will gather on the streets of San Antonio in celebration of Texas earliest heroes. And with a direct economic impact exceeding $220 million, the event has become a conerstone to San Antonio's booming tourism industry.
Parades, grand balls and street dances, art and food festivals, and river festivals are just some of the highlights of this community-wide, 10-day event. From oyster bakes to soccer tournements, track meets to historic home tours, there's a little of something for everyone, and there's never a dull moment. From the 13 events of opening day, the 31 events of Day #2, and the hundreds of events that follow over the course of the remaining eight days, there are enough activities to keep the most ambitious party-goer busy.
One of America's truly great festivals, Fiesta® San Antonio is a held every April to honor the memory of the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto, and to celebrate San Antonio's rich and diverse cultures. Often confused with the Mexican celebration of "Cinco de Mayo," Fiesta San Antonio is full of colorful Hispanic tradition and costuming. But the celebration also celebrates early pioneering life in Texas and the contributions of the many cultures that contributed to her origin.
 Early German settlers, pioneers from Ireland and Poland, Native Americans like the Apache and Commanche, citizens of Mexico, Spain and France and elsewhere - all contributed to the rich culture of Texas, and just about every one of these cultures are honored and remembered during this major festival.
In the late 19th century a group of ladies decorated horse-drawn carriages, paraded in front of the Alamo, and pelted each other with flower blossoms. The Parade was organized to honor the heroes from the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto. That original "Battle of Flowers" parade became an annual event and has grown into a multi-cultural community celebration unlike any other in our country.
While every Fiesta event is a significant event, visitors - especially first-timers, won't want to miss the three major parades, theTexas Cavalier River Parade (Mon- April 24), The Battle of Flowers Parade (Fri-April 28), and the Famous Fiesta Flambeau Night Parade (Sat-April 29).
For official schedules and ticket information for Fiesta San Antonio 2005, connect here. Viva Fiesta!
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Rio Grande Valley
It's been compared to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carnival in Rio, but with an extremely Texas twist! Fiesta San Antonio is the premiere event in Texas each year where all the stops are pulled for the single largest celebration of it's kind in the known world. It's about honoring Texas independence, about saluting the state's diverse history, and about celebrating the multicultures that were paramount in the development of the Republic.