Fiesta in San Antonio

As the seventh-largest city in the US, San Antonio, Texas is known as a city with a diverse and vibrant culture.

This is a city of celebrations, with Fiesta literally running through its veins.

Festivals take place throughout the year, beside River Walk and around the city.

Check out the key dates in San Antonio’s festival calendar.

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo – Since 1949, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo has grown to become one of the largest, most prestigious single events in the city. It attracts about 1.5 million annually.

The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo  will take place next year from the 8 – 25 February and will mark its 75th anniversary. It is led by the Professional Cowboys & Rodeo Association and includes events and activities that visitors can participate in such as carnival rides, parades, farmers markets, concerts, horse events, competitions and more.

Battle of the Flowers – The very first Battle of Flowers parade dates back to 1891 to commemorate those who fought and died in the Battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto. That inaugural parade took place in front of the Alamo where children threw flowers at each other to reenact these battles. Each year the celebration grew in duration.

Today, Fiesta has grown into an 11-day event with not only the Battle of the Flowers but, spectacular floats with ‘Royal Families’ dressed in elaborate hand-sewn costumes costing, upwards of $100,000 each. The Carnival queens wear dresses with spectacular trains depicting Mexican heritage as well as modern themes.  Cries of ‘Show us your shoes’ from the crowd reveal sometimes bizarre footwear worn by the women trying to bear the weight of their elaborate costumes.  Everyone takes part in Fiesta, with the crowd sharing and exchanging specially created ‘medals’, live music and entertainment, delicious food and more. Next year, Fiesta takes place from 18 -28 April 2024.

Pride San Antonio – June is officially Pride Month, when San Antonio and the LGTBQ+ community celebrate diversity, equality, and love. San Antonio’s Pride celebrations are as colourful as they are inclusive with an array of Pride events held throughout the month.

Dia de Los Muertos –The “Day of the Dead” cultural tradition is a celebration in which family welcomes back departed loved ones. San Antonio celebrates with more than 20 events during October and November. Creative altars are set up around town at galleries, cultural centers and restaurants to commemorate those who have passed on. The Catrinas on the River Parade feature colourful floats, music and mojigangas – giant dancing puppets, while large festivals at Hemisfair, Pearl and La Villita offer hands-on activities, food and face painting. The San Antonio Day of the Dead River Parade takes place on 27 October.

Texas Wine & Food Festival– San Antonio is one of two UNESCO Cultural Cities of Gastronomy in the US. The annual Tasting Texas Wine + Food Festival takes place at the end of October annually.  This culinary event in downtown San Antonio promises a fascinating four-day celebration of food, wine, and culture. It showcases top culinary talent from across the US and Mexico.

Ford Fiesta de las Luminarias – Luminarias are traditional Mexican Christmas lanterns originally consisting of a candle set in sand inside a small bag. This century’s old tradition begins at dusk Friday, Saturday and Sunday for three weekends in December. Visitors can experience the holiday spirit on the River Walk guided by more than 2,000 Luminarias.

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