THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN ANTONIO SHARES THE JOY OF FIESTA 2019
Fiesta San Antonio will be held April 18-29. According to the Fiesta website, in 1890 San Antonio was a thriving trade center of 38,000. In 1891 a group of citizens decided to honor the heroes of the Alamo and Battle of San Jacinto with a Battle of Flowers. The first parade had horse-drawn carriages, bicycles decorated with fresh flowers and floats carrying children dressed as flowers. The participants pelted each other with blossoms. Within a few years, more events were taking place on or near April 21 – a carnival, balls and coronations of “royalty.” The Fiesta tradition had been born. Fiesta has taken place every year except for 1918 during World War I and 1942 through 1945. Fiesta events – and the sale of Fiesta medals – serve as important fundraisers for countless Catholic parishes, schools, and groups.