¡Viva Fiesta 2025! San Antonio's 'party with a purpose' promises food and fun for everyone!

Summary

Get ready to experience San Antonio's beloved Fiesta, a lively 11-day festival filled with music, parades, and food, all while celebrating culture and community causes. Originating from the Battle of Flowers parade, this storied event has grown into a citywide celebration attracting over three million visitors annually. Fiesta showcases San Antonio's vibrant traditions with more than 100 events, including the famous Texas Cavaliers River Parade and the energetic Night in Old San Antonio (Nyossa). Beyond the festivities, Fiesta proudly supports local charities, making it not just a party, but a celebration with purpose. Dive into the flavors of San Antonio with iconic dishes like chicken on a stick, and savor a bustling atmosphere full of joy and unity.

Highlights

• Fiesta San Antonio brings together over three million people to celebrate with food, music, and parades. 🎶
• Highlights include the Battle of Flowers parade and the Texas Cavaliers River Parade, taking place along San Antonio's river. 🚤
• Oyster Bake and Taste of New Orleans are must-visit events for food lovers, featuring a wide array of flavors. 🍽️
• Nyossa transforms into a colorful spectacle, thanks to contributions from volunteers and the San Antonio Conservation Society. 🌸
• The event fosters community spirit while providing significant charitable contributions to local causes. ❤️

Key Takeaways

• Fiesta is San Antonio's biggest annual event, lasting 11 days and featuring music, food, and parades. 🎉
• The festival began with the Battle of Flowers parade, honoring heroes of the Battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto. 🌺
• Fiesta supports local charities, emphasizing its role as a 'party with a purpose.' 🤝
• Popular events include Nyossa and the King William Fair, attracting massive crowds. 🎊
• Don't miss the iconic chicken on a stick and the chance to collect unique Fiesta medals. 🍗

Overview

Fiesta San Antonio, the city's largest and most colorful celebration, is back and making waves with 11 days of sheer excitement. From vibrant parades to delicious food, it's the fiesta everyone looks forward to all year. It all started with the Battle of Flowers parade, an homage to heroic battles, and has grown into a two-week festivity that draws people from near and far. Whether you're a local or a newbie, this event promises memorable moments filled with culture, history, and fun!

Exploring Fiesta is like diving into a treasure trove of Texan traditions mixed with a modern partying twist. The city buzzes with energy as music fills the air, delicious aromas from the food stalls tease the senses, and everywhere you turn, there's a new sight to behold. Some of the crowd favorites include Nyossa, the King William Fair, and the dazzling Fiesta Flambo parade. Add the hunt for unique Fiesta Medals to your adventure for a full, enriching experience!

But Fiesta isn’t just about parties; it’s about purpose. Every ticket sold helps fund local charities, reinforcing the festival’s mission as a ‘party with a purpose’. The event is a testament to the spirit of giving and community, showcasing San Antonio's heart and hospitality. So put on your flower crown, grab some chicken on a stick, and join in the fun knowing you’re contributing to something greater. Viva Fiesta!

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Opening Introduction and Overview The chapter titled 'Opening Introduction and Overview' introduces the vibrant festivities of San Antonio's biggest party, a lively 11-day fiesta filled with music, food, and parades. It highlights the anticipation and excitement surrounding the event, emphasizing the major attractions and not-to-be-missed events.
• 00:30 - 01:30: Fiesta Preparation and Key Attractions The chapter begins by highlighting the excitement and preparation around the Fiesta event in San Antonio. It mentions some key logistics, such as navigating new construction areas and ways to save money while enjoying the festival, specifically mentioning deals on 'chicken on a stick.' Emphasis is placed on making the event affordable for families so that everyone can join the celebration. The chapter also invites people to be part of San Antonio's 'party with a purpose,' suggesting a broader community or charitable aspect to the event. The chapter is presented by hosts Audrey Gaseno and Henry Ramos, who express their readiness and excitement for the Fiesta, predicting a large turnout for the event.
• 01:30 - 02:30: Fiesta History and Significance Fiesta History and Significance explores the vibrant celebration known as Fiesta in San Antonio, characterized by its lively parades, diverse food offerings, and rich cultural music. The event spans 11 days without interruption and provides a deep dive into the cultural tapestry of the city. Originating as a local tradition, Fiesta has grown to be a significant cultural event. This chapter caters to both newcomers and residents needing a refresher on Fiesta's essence, and offers a guide to experiencing San Antonio's largest annual festival. It emphasizes the historic, cultural, and culinary richness of San Antonio, particularly prominent each April.
• 02:30 - 03:30: Parade Highlights The chapter titled 'Parade Highlights' describes Fiesta, a massive celebration attracting three million attendees, originally sparked by the Battle of Flowers parade. This event honors the heroes of the Battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto and has expanded into a two-week festivity with nearly 100 events citywide, featuring food, music, arts, and historical commemorations.
• 03:30 - 04:30: Food and Cultural Highlights The chapter 'Food and Cultural Highlights' focuses on events and traditions within a community, emphasizing the central role of flowers and the transformation of these events into platforms for charity fundraising. Notable events highlighted include 'A Night in Old San Antonio' (Nyossa) and the 'King William Fair'. Additionally, the chapter mentions various parades, specifically highlighting the 'Texas Cavalier River Parade' in San Antonio.
• 04:30 - 05:30: Transportation and Lodging Tips The chapter titled 'Transportation and Lodging Tips' provides tips around the cultural happenings in Antonio River, highlighting the Battle of Flowers parade, the Fiesta Flambo, and the Fiesta medal tradition started by the Daughters of the Republic. These events are vibrant traditions where attendees can fully immerse in the culture by donning appropriate attire such as embroidered shirts, flower crowns, and guaveas to fit into the festive spirit.
• 05:30 - 07:30: Trivia and Fun Facts The chapter titled 'Trivia and Fun Facts' highlights some of the festive activities and culinary experiences in San Antonio, particularly during Fiesta. It mentions the term 'show me your shoes,' which appears to be a local saying or tradition. Fiesta is celebrated for its rich food scene, including must-try events like 'A Taste of New Orleans' and 'Oyster Bake.' A unique and popular food item, the 'chicken on a stick,' garners significant attention, with people willing to wait in long lines to taste it. Overall, the transcript emphasizes the abundance of music, food, culture, and family fun available at Fiesta.
• 07:30 - 09:30: Oyster Bake and Musical Events The chapter provides practical tips for attending events, emphasizing the importance of booking accommodations early due to quick hotel fill-ups. It suggests using ride shares, buses, or personal cars for transportation. For detailed event listings, it refers to the Ken5 website and app. The speaker expresses excitement about the vibrant atmosphere and scenic beauty of the market square, considered the city's heart.
• 09:30 - 11:30: Night in Old San Antonio Preparations The chapter titled 'Night in Old San Antonio Preparations' features a dialogue that centers on a trivia question about the first Battle of Flowers parade. The setting suggests a fun, interactive scenario that involves music and a bit of storytelling, which seems to serve as a prelude to the main activity—a quiz. The quiz asks participants to recall the year of the first Battle of Flowers parade from three options: 1850, 1891, and 1945. The interaction implies an educational or festive engagement, possibly linked to San Antonio's history or cultural events.
• 11:30 - 16:30: Flower Making and Community Involvement The chapter discusses the importance of understanding cultural traditions such as Fiesta in San Antonio, where knowing historical facts forms a rite of passage for locals. It highlights how community activities like quizzes are used to engage participants in these traditions.
• 16:30 - 18:00: Closing Remarks and Fiesta Invitation In the final chapter, the discussion revolves around an organization that sponsors Naiosa. Audrey presents multiple-choice options for the organization's name. The options include 'Saws,' 'Kins 5,' and 'San Antonio Conservation Society,' with C being identified as the correct answer. The passage hints at the involvement of 'Kins Five' in community activities, though they acknowledge that the San Antonio Conservation Society is the longstanding sponsor.

¡Viva Fiesta 2025! San Antonio's 'party with a purpose' promises food and fun for everyone! Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 [Music] It is San Antonio's biggest party. 11 days of fiesta food. I waited so long for taking music and parades. 11 days of partying. We're breaking down all the major events you won't want to miss. 1 2 3 [Applause] We've waited all year long for this
• 00:30 - 01:00 special day. Plus, how to get around all the new construction and how you can save and get more chicken on a stick. We want to make sure that Fiesta is affordable for all families. Come be a part of San Antonio's party with a purpose. [Music] That's right. And San Antonio is ready to fiesta. Hello everyone. I'm Audrey Gaseno. Always good to be with you. I'm Henry Ramos and yes, we are ready folks. Absolutely. Millions are expected to
• 01:00 - 01:30 enjoy parades, food, music, and all the culture at this 11-day party has to offer. 11 days and no signs of stopping. We thank you so much for joining us for the Fiesta Special right here on Kins 5 Plus. So, listen, if you're new to San Antonio and wondering what Fiesta is about, or listen, you're from here, you need a good refresher, well, we are here for you. We're going to break it down. Yeah. So, here's what you can expect during San Antonio's biggest party. San Antonio is rich in history, culture, and food. And every April, more than
• 01:30 - 02:00 three million people come here to party, aka Fiesta. Fiesta started with the Battle of Flowers parade, a salute to the heroes of the iconic Battles of the Alamo and Sanento. Today, it's grown to a celebration that includes nearly 100 events over two weeks spread all across the city. There's something for everyone, showcasing some of the city's best food, music, arts, and the battle
• 02:00 - 02:30 of flowers still at the center of it all, but these days, it's become a party with a purpose, with many events dedicated to raising money for local charities. Other events you won't want to miss out on are a night in Old San Antonio, or better known as Nyossa, and the King William Fair, just to name a few. If you love a good parade, then we've got the lineup for you. You're not going to want to miss the Texas Cavalere River Parade, which features our own San
• 02:30 - 03:00 Antonio River. Of course, you have the Battle of Flowers parade, which is a long-standing tradition, and the Fiesta Flambo, which happens under Nightfall, and you might see a lot of people sporting these gems, Fiesta Medals. A tradition that started with the Daughters of the Republic. Get your hands on the hottest one and be ready to buy, sell, or trade. While Fiesta royalty will be decked out from head to toe, so can you. Ladies, grab your favorite embroidered shirt and how about a flower crown and guys, a guavea. And
• 03:00 - 03:30 don't be afraid of the term, show me your shoes. San Antonio is known for its tacos, but during Fiesta, you can really get a taste of what the city's food scene is all about. Don't miss a taste of New Orleans or Oyster Bake, which are events centered around food. And don't miss your chance to experience a chicken on a stick. I'm serious. People wait hours for one of these. So, like you just heard, there is ton of music, food, culture, and family fun at Fiesta. Be
• 03:30 - 04:00 sure to book your room early because hotels fill up fast and you can get to all of the events by ride share, via bus, or just by your car. For a full list of events, head to kenfive.com/fiesta or visit the ken5 app. I'm Audrey Gasteleno. We hope to see you soon and viva fiesta. So picturesque, right in beautiful market square, right? It's like the heart of our city. Yeah. All right. I'm a little nervous. They've
• 04:00 - 04:30 cued the music. Is it that time? It is time. I hope you were paying attention to my story because it gave you a little cheat there. All right. So Henry, drum roll. What was the year of the first Battle of Flowers parade? A. 1850, B 1891, or C 1945. Were you listening? Oh, praise Jesus that there is at least multiple choice. A, B, or C. Okay, you know what? I actually do know this. You do? I do. And I did not cheat. I
• 04:30 - 05:00 promise. I promise. I promise. Okay, so drum roll now. You ready? I'm going to go with B1 1891. Oh man, you are a smart one. It's been in the city for a while. That's right. I should know that one. You should. I feel like all San Antonians, that's a right of passage. You need to know these things about Fiesta. And you got the pass code on right. I was ready to go, guys. Ready to pop it over his head. Listen, you're also going to get quized, too. So, whoever gets it wrong, well, you know what happens next. So, we want you,
• 05:00 - 05:30 Audrey, to name the organization that sponsors Naiosa. Okay. All right. So, here are your choices. Uh, A, is it Saws? Is it B, us, our very own Kins 5? I win. Or is it C, the San Antonio Conservation Society? I'm going to go with C. I feel like that. That's the best bet, right? And also the right answer. I mean, come on, Kins Five. Mhm. Listen, we're very we're very involved in the community, but that that's been around for such a long time and is a
• 05:30 - 06:00 great event, but that is the one that it brings the crowds. Oh, absolutely. Several days of food, partying, fun, music, culture, everything our town's about. Absolutely. All right. Today, we know it as Fiesta San Antonio, but what was it called from 1913 to 1959? Was it a Fiesta de las b Fiesta Sanhasinto or C Fiesta de las Flores? What will it be? Henry, I
• 06:00 - 06:30 don't know if you saw my face before we took it on the screen, but it was like uhoh. And I can't call anyone, right? Nope. Can't call up Bill. Can't call Bill. Mr. Fiesta, can't call up you. Can't call me. I don't really know, but they gave me the answer. So, good luck to you. Okay. Thank you. Um, so listen, when I didn't know in school and it was A, B, or C, I always went with A because that was the vision I went with of hoping to get an A on my test. So, I'm going to go with Fiesta Deos. Oh, that
• 06:30 - 07:00 is absolutely wrong, my friend. No, it is. It's fiesta Sanhento. Yeah, that's what it originally was called. So, dang. The more you know. Exactly. The more you know. Listen, that's what it's all about. Just being real. We don't know all the answers, but hey, we're here to educate and inform and learn at the same time. All right. So, which official fiesta event kicks off the celebration? Okay. Is it A, Oyster B, one of my favorites over at St. Mary's, or is it B, Nyossa, or is it see Fiesta Fiesta?
• 07:00 - 07:30 Okay. Sorry y'all. I have been coming to Fiesta since I was like, yay. Since I was a kid and everyone knows, see, Fiesta, Fiesta, yay high. Oh, man. I had the flower crowns. We would go to every parade. It is such a fond memories for me and I don't know about you, do you do you have lots of great memories from Oh yeah, FSF is always a good one. Nyossa is another one that I love as well. That was the one that I feel like people always tell you to go to to kind of try out. But I will say, listen, I got to be
• 07:30 - 08:00 real with you. You got to brace yourselves because the crowds, I mean, it is jam-packed. Y So, something else you got to brace for. Hey, hey, hey, you were not going away without a little cascadon right there. melting. Well, listen. It's one of the most popular fiesta events and honestly one of my favorites, too. Oyster bake. And it brings out also a lot of people. As we've been saying, 70,000 people are expected to attend the celebration this year that is always held on the campus of St. Mary's. Yeah. Ken 5's Jeremy
• 08:00 - 08:30 Baker hit up a preview event at the school earlier this month to find out how the huge event comes together every year. Two days, over 35 bands, and 100,000 oysters. Oyster bake is right around the corner. How do you get 100,000 oysters? So, where do they come from? We usually try to get them everything Texas and local this year. Unfortunately, um they didn't have a good crop. We're getting them from the East Coast. And to bake, distribute, and sell all of those
• 08:30 - 09:00 oysters. It takes a lot of volunteers. 7,000 of them, including this guy. We're waiting for them to open up and you can start to hear them crack. They start to bubble. They start to expose the liquid that's in the oysters. Boon says when they are piping hot on this newly renovated oyster baking pit, they are ready to go. But what if oysters aren't your thing? Last year, we were able to have a booth on Friday and we were able to provide hot cheetos and cheese to the community and St. Mary's community and we were able to raise about two uh
• 09:00 - 09:30 $2,000. Sigma Epsilon has a booth each year. That 2K they raised last year has to last them a long time. That money is what we use to fund raise our organization for about a year and a half. Of course, everyone loves the chicken on a stick. It's just, you know, something different that you can't get anywhere else. But you can't forget about the dozens of bands. Some people come for the oysters, some people come for the chicken on a stick, and some people
• 09:30 - 10:00 come for the bands. And all of the profits are to help the St. Mary's students afford school. This last year alone, we were able to give back $450,000 in scholarships to our students. Jeremy Baker, Ken 5. So fun. And they have those oysters by the bucket. Yes, they do. And my favorite, too, is the fact that they have all kinds of music out there. Listen, if you love some rap, hiphop, if you love the Hano music, you know, which is near and dear to our city here, country even. They've all got different stages all happening at the same time
• 10:00 - 10:30 with different groups. So you can just kind of just walk around and listen to some good music. And I think it's also very unique to the city that these events take place all across the city. It's not just downtown, but you got the north side, you got, you know, St. Mary's and Carnet Word, like lots of different areas celebrate Fiesta. Night in Old San Antonio attracts about 85,000 people every year. Whole lot of people. And of course, they come for the food, the drink, and the entertainment. But when they walk through the gates, what they see is an explosion of color,
• 10:30 - 11:00 lovingly handcrafted by volunteers who spend all year getting ready for the four night big event. Ken 5 Sue Calberg sits in with the flower girls of the conservation society for a flower making tutorial. So obviously one of the most beautiful things about Night San Antonio is the decorations. Absolutely. And it's not brain surgery because you anybody can
• 11:00 - 11:30 learn how to do it even. Well, we'll see. All right. Hit me up, Maya. So what do I need to know? Okay. So we get I'm going to do everything just like you. Okay. So precut, right? It has to be crepe paper cut in a with a point. Yes, it's all about the point. Prettier in points. Yeah, it's prettier. Sometimes we don't get always get points, but it does come up. You're spreading your a little bit. Yeah. And then you just fold over the
• 11:30 - 12:00 first part right here. Fold over the first part. And I stick mine inside inside the thumb. It's all about the thumb action. It's all about the thumb action. We're about with these two fingers. Yeah. You're going to start pushing them towards your thumb. You're going to start pushing. Pushing. Pushing like a couple of times. Just keep going. I do I usually do four to five pushes. Three, four. And you put your thumb above and your fingers below, I think. Well, yeah. Everybody has their
• 12:00 - 12:30 own weight. This way. It's easier for me because then my hands start grabbing when I'm holding it. Yeah. Too tight with my fingers. So then like three or four little four bunches. And then you just do like a little baby quarter turn. Just a little turn. Clockwise. Yes. Yeah. Clockwise. Yeah. All of these things matter. Yes, it does. So then I go four, two, three. Mhm. And then a little quarter turn. Right. I would do
• 12:30 - 13:00 at least four. One, two, three, four. Little turn. And a little quarter turn. Keeping it. You need to keep it tight here. And then you also want to strangle these things. And you also want to leave a good inch on the bottom. And you want to keep it even. Oh, yeah. It's got to be tight. Yeah. Yeah. You got to keep this even because when these get stapled to our long strips of wood, they have to be able to open it and they have to be
• 13:00 - 13:30 able to put a staple. Okay. So, proving that anybody could help with this important project because you're making how many flowers? Over 12,000 a year. 12,000. At least that was last year. I think we made more this year. Oh, yeah. Okay. So, 1 2 3 4. Okay. And how long is this going to take to make one flower? Once you get the hang of it, maybe 45 seconds. Oh my gosh. I don't think I'm there yet. But you just keep going, right? Just keep going. One, two, pushy
• 13:30 - 14:00 pushy. Three. Watch the bottom. Make sure it's even at the bottom. Four. Okay, there. There we go. And I'm holding on tight. A little quarter turn again. 1 2 3 four. Yeah. I'm going to You know what? I'm not going to make a career out of this. But two, you're go. You're doing great. Three, four. Okay. Little quarter turn. You know, I kind of like to fluff as I go along. I do, too, because sometimes they start bending out. It's good to keep them up. Yeah. One. Making it level on the bottom. One,
• 14:00 - 14:30 two, three, four. I just feel like I'm so much slower than the rest of you guys. This is your first time. You're doing great. I know. Okay, so here we go. A little quarter turn. 1 2 3 four. Oh, you're so fast. Oh my gosh, you're making me look bad for You're doing great. It's okay. We could take care of that at the end. Not very level, but that's okay. Kind of keep Mhm. That's a little too much of a turn, but yes. Three, four, quarter turn.
• 14:30 - 15:00 One, two, three, four. Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Yes. Two, three, four. Okay. So, I want you to look at this. Look at how much I still have left. Oh my gosh. Then I'm doing pretty good, right? You're doing really well. Okay. And then 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4. And then I'll show you how to wrap it. There you go. Beautiful. So, I kind of like this and I kind of scrunch
• 15:00 - 15:30 it to do the I turn it on the bottom. Yeah. So that I can have this on top more room than I do. And and that's what I'm saying. This is where you can kind of try to even it out right here. And you know it happens. So what I do is I wrap around once, twice. Okay. And then I kind real tight, right? Real tight or not? Yeah. It would. It's good to have it tight cuz you don't want it to loosen up.
• 15:30 - 16:00 I don't think I did enough. It's okay. Do Yeah. You didn't pull enough wire cuz you still You know what? We're going to We're going to make do on the other side. Yes. Yes. And that's easy to do. Yeah. Now we'll pull this one out a little bit. Yes. And then keep going. Okay. So, in a sense, essentially, we're done. Yeah. Yay. Yep. And then we'll fold over these as well. We turn it around. Whatever you have left over, your wires that are left over, we turn it around. Oh yeah. So it doesn't hurt anybody. And then this is where you know
• 16:00 - 16:30 you have made a flower that is worthy of our sticks. You open it and it can stand up. You got a flower. Oh. Uh-oh. So the pressure is on now, right? That's why I said that's why that needs to be even. Even Yeah. Keep going. You got it. I'm going to make it happen. I'm going to make it happen. Even though it's it's not. And you know what? It's okay. But that's okay. Watch this. It's gonna stand. Watch this. It's gonna stand. We're going to make it happen. It's gonna stand. Okay, y'all. You can do it yourself. You are now a night San
• 16:30 - 17:00 Antonio flower queen. Absolutely. You can do it. Yay. I feel so accomplished. A round of applause for Sue Calbert and the talented ladies too. Beautiful flowers. Wow. 75 years of flowers and fun at Nyosa. And you know, I just wish I had the patience and the talent to do that. I mean, that took some skill. It
• 17:00 - 17:30 did. It did. All those flowers. Wow. All right. So, listen. As you as we said, you can expect to see all of us here at Kins 5 throughout Fiesta. So, make sure to look for all of us and get your hands on uh one of these bad boys right here. It is our Kins 5 Fiesta Medal this year. It is really special. We are putting out that Fiesta forecast and it looks like 100% of fun all week long during the two weeks of Fiesta. So, I hope you join us
• 17:30 - 18:00 there. Every year it's always like that mad rush to us, right? Where's the kids by Fiesta? But I'm like, I'm sorry it just ran out. But we'll make sure to have extra on hand this year. And remember, as we've been saying, it is a party with a purpose. All official Fiesta events help raise money for local charities, and there are plenty of events to choose from, as we've shown you just a little bit of those. Yep. But we've got you covered. Make sure you plan ahead with the daily best bets guide. Check out our Fiesta event coverage and find out how to get a Ken 5 medal, all on kenfive.com/fiesta.
• 18:00 - 18:30 And listen folks, the time is up unfortunately, but the party only continues. So, we want you to be safe out there, right? And Viva Fiesta. Oh, we'll do a twirl. More twirl. [Music] Hey, ready.