Just a Thought: Last
week of Fiesta 2016By 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 21st 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 22nd, 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment