Fiesta San Antonio kicks off April 16th for eleven days

Fiesta® San Antonio , the biggest festival in the Alamo City , is getting even bigger in 2009 with a brand-new kickoff event, Thursday April 16th. That means that starting this year, Fiesta is 11 days long, thanks to the new “Fiesta Fiesta at the Alamo”—a bigger-than-a-block party in and around Alamo Plaza .

“It’s going to be family friendly. It’s going to be fun. And admission is free,” said Judge Susan Reed, chairman of the Fiesta Fiesta events committee. Reed is also a vice president for the Fiesta® San Antonio Commission, which is sponsoring the event.

Parts of Alamo and Houston Streets will be closed to traffic for the evening. Live entertainment starts at 5 p.m. The lineup includes the Rick Cavender Band, Henry Brun and the Latin Playerz, and Javier Galvan and Fama.

During the evening, three “mini parades” featuring Fiesta royalty, military ambassadors and other dignitaries will lead the way to three stages for special activities.

Those include a new “high heel breaking” to accompany the traditional necktie cutting.There'll be a special area for children. Fiesta nonprofit groups will sell merchandise, event tickets and other items.

Vendors will offer food, and beverages. The Fiesta® Store will be selling official Fiesta souvenirs.The crowd-pleasing Pin Pandemonium will be on hand, with Fiesta groups and others offering their medals for sale. Come to buy, sell or trade!At the climax of a short official ceremony at 8 p.m., confetti will fly from hundreds of cascarones all over Alamo Plaza .

The fun finishes up with a bang as fireworks blaze above the Emily Morgan Hotel after 10 p.m. So mark April 16th on your calendar today!

Fiesta Fiesta is being produced by the CE Group.

The Fiesta® San Antonio Commission is a nonprofit organization that plans, coordinates and preserves Fiesta San Antonio through the support of its participating member organizations. Visit its website at www.fiesta-sa.org.