Just a Thought Column continues in La Prensa of San Antonio, 4-17

Just a Thought: Last week of Fiesta 2016
By Steve Walker

The first week of the 125th celebration of Fiesta is history as we get ready to continue celebrating this week’s finale of fun and festivities around the Alamo City.

The record turnout so far has been noted as Bexar County residents gear up for another round of partying and attending parades, concerts, and experiencing all kinds of food at various venues.

Tomorrow hundreds of thousands of people will line the banks of the San Antonio River to view the most unusual parade in America...the Texas Cavaliers™ River Parade!

This year's parade, entitled "River of Champions," promises an evening of family fun with live music, celebrities and lights. More than 40 festively decorated floats sponsored by local community organizations and military installations drift down the river. King Antonio XCIV will reign over the evening's festivities and gives a Texas sized welcome to the enthusiastic spectators along the winding route.

Founded in San Antonio in 1926, The Texas Cavaliers is a local civic and patriotic organization. Their mission is to honor the memory of the heroes that fell at the Alamo and to raise money for children's charities throughout Bexar County. Tickets range from $12-$25.

On Tuesday, Fiesta Especial Celebration Day, is a one-day event for individuals with disabilities and their schools, programs and families. Advanced registration is required. No general admission will be allowed at the gate. As a retired teacher who taught Special Education for years, I am partial to this particular event during Fiesta. The event takes place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Alamodome.

Also beginning on Tuesday for four consecutive nights, the historic downtown village of La Villita takes center stage as 85,000 visitors plus, gather each night to celebrate the city's unique heritage at "A Night in Old San Antonio." More than 250 elaborately decorated food and drink booths and more than a dozen nonstop entertainment stages represent the diverse cultures and customs of our city.

NIOSA, the largest historic preservation festival in the nation, provides resources for the San Antonio Conservation Society's restoration and rehabilitation of historic properties in the San Antonio community. The San Antonio Conservation Society was formed in 1924 to preserve and encourage preservation of historic buildings, customs relating to the history of Texas, and to educate the public on those values.

 

Adult admission is $12 presale; $15 at the gate | Children 12 and under are free at the gate when accompanied by an adult.

Thursday the 21^st from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. St. Philip's Culture Fest celebrates the rich heritage of San Antonio and cultural influences of St. Philip's College as one of San Antonio's most historically distinguished and ethnically diverse institutions in higher learning. As a former Adjunct instructor at the campus, I am looking forward to covering this event for my blog: www.walkerreport.net.

St. Philip’s College, established in 1898, is among the oldest and most diverse community colleges in the nation. It is the only college in the nation with the dual designation as a Historically Black College and Hispanic Serving Institution with an enrollment of over 11,000 credit and 6,200 continuing education students.

This year the Battle of Flowers on Friday, April 22^nd, will celebrate its anniversary with the parade theme: “Texas Traditions…125 Years!” The Parade embodies culture, pastimes and humor that have been characteristic of Texans from one generation to the next.

Having ridden in the parade as a Balcones Heights Councilman in the past and covering it for years as a photographer, the 3 hour plus parade is one of the more exciting events for me personally.

As I have mentioned in my last two columns on Fiesta, the Grand Marshal for this year’s parade is internationally acclaimed singer and motivational speaker Doctor Patsy Torres. Since I have known her as a friend for nearly 20 years, I am especially looking forward to once again covering this parade and Doctor Patsy Torres.

See you all out at one or more of the remaining events of Fiesta 2016.

As always, what I write is “Just a Thought.”  

Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran and former Justice of the Peace and Journalist.