¡Viva Fiesta! 

Meet the Grand Marshals Leading This Year’s Celebrations

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2025 Fiesta® San Antonio

April 24 — May 4, 2025

 Fiesta is San Antonio’s largest celebration, with more than three million people attending over 100 events during the 11-day festival. Participating groups host many activities, including parades, musical entertainment, food festivals and carnivals — all raising funds for their organizations. This year’s festivities run from April 24 to May 4, 2025. 

If you’ve attended Fiesta in the past, you already know the magic of wearing flower crowns, cracking cascarones, waiting for that prized chicken-on-a-stick, and shouting, “Show us your shoes,” at the Battle of Flowers Parade. And if this is your first time, then you have a world of magic and fun in store. 

The first Fiesta celebration dates back 134 years ago, with the first run of the Battle of Flowers Parade in 1891. Since then, the parades have only gotten bigger and better. Some of the Grand Marshals from past parades have included the company of NASA astronauts, First Ladies Laura Bush and Lady Bird Johnson, David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs, country singer Pat Green, Baroness Maria Von Trapp, and other notable Texas figures such as governors, senators and even Olympians.  

Let’s see what this year’s iconic parades and Grand Marshals have in store for us. 

80th Annual Texas Cavaliers River Parade

Shine Bright: A Celebration of Light and Illumination for All

Monday, April 28, 2025

This kickoff Fiesta parade happens each year on the first Monday of the festivities. Over 250,000 spectators line the banks of the River Walk, crowd on bridges, and tune into the city’s live broadcast to get a glimpse of more than 45 lively floats that make their way down the river. The floats bring music, confetti and fun along the way — all in the name of children’s charities. The Cavalier’s first parade rolled in 1941, coinciding with the completed River Walk revival project designed by architect Robert H.H. Hugman and carried out by President Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration. This year’s theme is “Shine Bright,” showcasing the community leaders who bring illuminating hope to our city. 

Remembering Your Grand Marshal: Rosemary Kowalski

Philanthropic community leader Rosemary Kowalski was named the 2025 Texas Cavaliers River Parade Celebrity Grand Marshal. She was a luminous example of compassion and generosity that brightened the lives of countless individuals, perfectly capturing this year’s parade theme. Sadly, she passed prior to this year’s Fiesta celebration. Tres Steves, Texas Cavaliers River Parade Marshal, will lead the parade in tribute to Rosemary. “Rosemary didn’t just make an appearance in our city,” he reflects. “She claimed a profound place in its heart.” Paul Arthur Rohlfs, Jr. will preside over ceremonies as the 2025 King Antonio, cementing a three-generation family legacy by following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Porter Loring, Jr., who notably served as King Antonio LIII 50 years prior in 1975. 

Photos courtesy of Battle of Flowers Association, Javier Fernandez, and Jon Alonzo

134th Annual Battle of Flowers Parade

Melodies in Bloom — A Texas Serenade 

Friday, May 2, 2025

With 10,000 participants and 500,000 spectators, the Battle of Flowers® is one of the most popular Fiesta events. What you may not know is that it was also the first. Without it, there wouldn’t even be a Fiesta! It all began on April 24, 1891, when congressman James L. Slayden’s wife, Ellen Maury Slayden, sought to honor the Alamo’s heroes and commemorate the victory at San Jacinto, where Texas gained its independence from Mexico. From there, it grew into one of the oldest and largest parades in the country. Today, the Battle of Flowers Association is the only all-women, all-volunteer organization producing events of its kind, continuing to grow and shape the Fiesta experience for new generations. This year’s theme is “Melodies in Bloom,” a serenade to Texas honoring the musical traditions of the Lone Star State, including Tejano, rock, hip-hop, zydeco, blues, mariachi, country and more. 

Meet Your Grand Marshals: Josh Abbott Band 

Starting Battle of Flowers on a high note, the Josh Abbott Band will bring the “Texas Serenade” to life as the Grand Marshals with a step-off time of 9:55am on the downtown streets of Alamo City. This year’s parade celebrates the roots of Texas music, showcasing the spirit of true Texas country legends. “It’s truly a big honor, and we are super excited,” said Josh Abbott. “We’ve played an event or two during Fiesta over the years, and so we understand how big of a cultural tradition it is in San Antonio, and this just feels like a one-of-a-kind opportunity and honor.” The Josh Abbot Band is from Lubbock and is most known for songs like “My Texas” and “Oh, Tonight.”  

77th Annual Fiesta Flambeau Parade

Deep in the Arts of Texas

Saturday, May 3, 2024

The largest night parade in the country, Fiesta Flambeau™ runs a 2.6-mile route through the city lined by an audience of over 750,000, plus another 1.5 million watching at home on their television sets. The first Fiesta Flambeau Parade rolled in 1948. It was formed by Reynolds Andricks who took some inspiration from the lively Mardi Gras night parades in New Orleans. Now, Flambeau is one of Fiesta’s most anticipated events. It has even been named one of the “Best in the World” by the International Festivals and Events Association. Illuminated floats shine bright, showcasing the best of Texas. This year’s theme is “Deep in the Arts of Texas,” highlighting Texan leaders of creative fields, including culinary arts, literature, art and mariachi music. 

Meet Your Grand Marshal: Mateo Lopez 

Get ready to meet this year’s youngest Grand Marshal, also known as the Mariachi Kid, Mateo Lopez. A San Antonio native, Mateo holds the Guinness World Record for being the youngest mariachi musician. He’s appeared on national television and performed around the world, and his hometown couldn’t be more excited for him to take on the big job of leading the country’s largest night parade. This year’s theme is all about celebrating the arts. Mateo will represent Texas music and San Antonio’s rich mariachi history and culture. Honorary Grand Marshals include Chef Johnny Hernandez — representing the culinary arts; Joe R. Villarreal — representing the visual arts; and Dr. Carmen Tafolla — representing the literary arts. This year’s parade is a chance to see just how creative Texans really are! 

Visual Arts

Art Everywhere

Art is everywhere in San Antonio. It brightens walls and bridges, and blossoms in squares and parks. There’s art in long-abandoned alleys and on columns under expressways. The city’s colorful spirit shines forth in paint, tile, stone and all kinds of creative media. On a busy workday in a concrete jungle, an unexpected encounter with a work of art can be an instant reset. It asks you to stop and smell the flowers, even if the flowers are made of oversized bicycle parts. A vivid splash of art can also bring people together to celebrate in a place as barren as a neglected alley or provide a breathing space for moments of reflection.

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Culture

Puro San Antonio

There’s something special about San Antonio. Strolling the Museum Reach on a soft summer night, munching a taco at a festival in historic Market Square, or attending a Mariachi Mass in a 300-year-old Spanish mission, there’s a sense of timelessness where centuries meet and meld in the spirit of place. It’s one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, but the fast-paced future doesn’t eclipse the past. Visionary leaders and groups like the San Antonio Conservation Society have preserved many of the city’s most historic places and kept them fresh and alive. These places have a magical vibe that led Mark Twain to describe San Antonio as one of the four “unique cities” in America, along with New Orleans, Boston and San Francisco. Local folks wear the distinction with pride. They call it “Puro San Antonio.”

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Fun

EXPLORE SAN ANTONIO’S MUSEUMS, GARDENS AND ZOO

San Antonio is truly a playground of culture and creativity, offering families countless opportunities to explore, learn and make lasting memories together. Join us as we journey through these local gems, where family fun meets arts and culture in every corner of our vibrant city.

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Performing Arts

BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF THE HISTORIC HEART OF SAN ANTONIO

The San Antonio Theatre District is a dynamic cultural hub reflecting the city’s deep appreciation for the performing arts and historic preservation. Taking shape in the early 20th century, as downtown flourished as a commercial and entertainment center, the district grew alongside the rise of vaudeville, silent films and Hollywood’s golden age. Anchored by the Majestic Theatre, Empire Theatre, Aztec Theatre and the remnants of the Texas Theatre, this district has played a significant role in shaping San Antonio’s entertainment landscape for over a century

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Performing Arts

PRESERVING THE PAST, INSPIRING THE FUTURE

Nestled along the banks of the San Antonio River, the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts is a world-class venue and cornerstone of San Antonio’s cultural landscape. Built originally in 1926 as the Municipal Auditorium, this state-of-the-art performing arts hub continues to fulfill its mission of promoting a diverse range of cultural, educational and artistic experiences that improve the quality
of life in San Antonio through its dynamic programming and commitment to creative excellence.

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Culinary Arts

Culinary Magic at the Pearl

In the heart of San Antonio’s revitalized Pearl District, where historic charm meets modern flair, one of the world’s most prestigious culinary schools, the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), is cooking up a revolution that’s as rich in tradition as it is in innovation. As part of San Antonio’s proud designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, the CIA has become an integral ingredient in the city’s evolving culinary recipe, blending world-class education with local flavor to create a lasting impact on the region’s food scene with unparalleled expertise and passion.

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