Texas: Fiesta San Antonio offers barge parade, parties and more

Fiesta San Antonio, which began in 1891 as a parade honoring heroes of the Texas Revolution, has morphed into a citywide party. The celebration, which opens Thursday and runs through April 17, offers ethnic food festivals, carnivals, music, children’s activities, art exhibits, parades and more.

Highlights include:

*Texas Cavaliers River Parade (7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday): Decorated barges carrying local luminaries and musicians float down the San Antonio River. River Walk bars, restaurants, and hotels are usually packed with parade watchers, but you can view the fun on TV as a last resort. Admission is $10 to $25.

* A Night in Old San Antonio (5:30 p.m. to 10:30 pm. April 12 – 15): This huge four-night party is held in La Villita, an early settlement that is now a National Historic District. Booths offer nearly every kind of food imaginable. Cascarones (confetti-filled eggshells) are a tradition. Buy some to smash over the head of an old – or new – friend. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the gate.

*Fiesta Flambeau Parade (7:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. April 16): A festive event in which participants carry various forms of illumination. Tickets are $12 to $20 for bleachers and grandstand seating. Info: Fiesta San Antonio, (877) 723-4378.