Floats go down the Fiesta Flambeau Parade route on May 3, 2025, in San Antonio. Fiesta is famous for its roadside and riverside parades.
Salgu Wissmath/Contributor
Day or night, curbside or riverside, the parade’s the thing at Fiesta — so much so we have three big ones during Fiesta’s fullest week.
Between the Texas Cavaliers River Parade on Monday, the Battle of Flowers Parade on April 24 and the Fiesta Flambeau Parade on April 25, that’s nearly 9 miles of colorful floats, tasty funnel cakes and Fiesta queens and duchesses showing us their royally outrageous shoes.
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Know what else goes with a Fiesta parade? Road closures and detours. Parking headaches and traffic. Food costs and lots of walking. And, of course, the heat. All with tens of thousands of your newest Fiesta friends sharing the same challenges along the sideline.
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Hey, you can’t have a good Fiesta parade experience without cracking a few cascarones. But you can prep yourself for the procession with a little extra planning and budgeting. Here are some tips to make the most of Fiesta’s big three parades.
The Texas Cavaliers celebrate a century of Fiesta service at this year’s River Parade, a Fiesta tradition that draws a quarter of a million spectators.
Edward A. Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News file photo
Texas Cavaliers River Parade
7-9 p.m. Monday along the River Walk, $29-$35 at texascavaliers.org
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The Texas Cavaliers celebrate 100 years of civic duty with this year’s River Parade theme, “Through the Decades: A Centennial Celebration.” King Antonio CIII Gardner Marshall Peavy and his fellow “good guys in blue suits” will lead a flotilla of illuminated floats that highlight the Cavaliers and select area nonprofits. The 2½-mile spectacle draws an estimated 250,000 spectators, with all dollars raised given to children’s charities through the Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation, per the Cavaliers’ website.
Buy tickets based on when you want to leave. The Cavaliers offer three viewing options for when the first float sails by. Early-viewing seating starts at the beginning of the parade route near Navarro Street with the first float at 7 p.m. Mid-route viewing starts midway through the route with the first float sailing by around 7:30 p.m. And late-viewing seating sees the first float hit the tail-end of the parade route around 7:45 p.m.
The Texas Cavaliers River Parade shown in 2024 at Arneson River Theatre.
Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News
Early viewing offers first in, first out seats for families with restless little ones and school bedtimes, while mid-route viewing puts paradegoers right in the sweet spot for convenient parking at the nearby Shops at Rivercenter or convenient drop-off and pick-up for VIA Park & Ride service at Convention Way Drive on East Market Street. (More on VIA Park & Ride below.)
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Late-viewing is perfect for those who want the full nighttime experience when the floats light up the water. It’s also good for those who want to grab dinner before the parade or after with easy access to most River Walk restaurants.
Get a River Walk meal with your parade seat. Speaking of restaurants, many eateries along the River Parade route offer special dinner reservations with a riverside view. They cost more than a standard ticket, but you’ll get a good seat and hopefully a good meal all in one spot.
For example, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. offers parade tickets for $25 each with a minimum $25 food and drink purchase, while The Republic of Texas Restaurant offers dinner and your choice of riverside seating or indoor seating with optional folding chairs for outside for $99 per adult and $45 per child age 12 and younger. For around $150 a head, Landry’s Seafood House serves a four-course meal with front-row views for $145 per person including tax and gratuity, while Zocca Cuisine D’Italia at the Westin Riverwalk has a VIP package for $160 per person that includes a three-course meal, patio access and reserved seating on the River Walk.
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Catch a free spot. Yes, you can see the River Parade for free along bridges and overpasses. You just need to stake your spot early, especially if you have friends and family in tow.
Such free spots include the Texas Cavaliers River Parade Viewing Party at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts (100 Auditorium Circle, tobincenter.org/riverparade) and the walkways on the River Walk overpasses near Main Plaza at West Market and East Commerce streets. Other overpasses along the start of the parade route include:
• Romana Street Bridge near Hotel Havana, 1015 Navarro St.
• North St. Mary’s Street Bridge near Club Giraud, 707 N. St Mary’s St.
• Augusta Street Bridge, 204 Augusta St.
• Convent Street Bridge near Soledad Street
• Martin Street Bridge near Soledad Street
• Pecan Street Bridge near the Exchange Building, 152 E. Pecan St.
• Travis Street Bridge near the Milam Building, 115 E. Travis St.
• East Houston Street near Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, 142 E. Houston St.
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And that’s some of the street-level roadways with a bridge’s-eye view of the River Parade, so plan and perch ahead.
Last year’s Battle of Flowers Parade kicked up more than 350,000 attendees. This year’s daytime celebration should draw just as many.
Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News
Battle of Flowers Parade
Vanguard begins at 9:55 a.m. April 24, followed by parade at 10:30 a.m., $33 and $43 at battleofflowers.org/tickets
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The Battle of Flowers Parade is indeed where Fiesta began, starting with the first petal-powered show in front of the Alamo in 1891. Today, the 3.2-mile extravaganza winds into downtown San Antonio from San Antonio College with more than 350,000 spectators soaking in all the high school marching bands, military units and most floral floats in the nation. Credit that to the Battle of Flowers Association, an all-women and all-volunteer nonprofit that champions San Antonio and Texas history.
Buy from the parade if you like bleachers. This year’s Battle of Flowers Parade is breaking out what’s billed as an all-new bleacher system. These seating options are available at Crockett Park (1300 N. Main Ave), Madison Square Park (400 block of Lexington Avenue), the 500 block of Brooklyn Avenue, 100 block of Avenue E and 600 block of East Houston Street. Bleacher seats on the 400 block of East Commerce Street were sold out by Tuesday, though there is an email option should seats become available. Street chairs for the 500 block of Lexington Avenue are sold out.
Bleacher seats are 18-inches wide, so organizers recommend purchasing an extra seat for any ice chests or other items to give you and your party (and especially your neighbors) more wiggle room in the sun.
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Keep in mind bleacher seats are uncovered and umbrellas are only allowed on the top row. Bleachers also mean climbing, so consider street-level chairs if you or your guests have mobility concerns or difficulty taking stairs. For handicap or more accessible seating, contact street chair vendor Tom Krueger at Tomk3726@gmail.com or 210-889-3993.
Nothing like classic street seats at the Battle of Flowers Parade to make you feel like a kid again.
Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News
Search for street seats with the 2026 Fiesta Street Parade Map. Fiesta San Antonio makes it easy to find curbside viewing with its online street parade map at fiestasanantonio.org/fiesta-2026-parade-map. Search for seats by location as well as by the partnering nonprofit selling them. The online street parade map also highlights restroom and food vendor locations.
Chair seats should cost less than $30. The maximum a licensed vendor can charge for chair seats is $25, which comes to $28.25 after tax and credit card fee. Anyone selling those seats for more than $25 is either not a licensed vendor or a licensed vendor breaking their contract with the Fiesta San Antonio Commission. All licensed parade chair sales are done digitally through ETIX.
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Since 1948, the Fiesta Flambeau Parade has lit up the San Antonio night with tens of thousands of spectators enjoying the glow.
Robin Jerstad
Fiesta Flambeau Parade
Vanguard begins at 7:15 p.m. April 25, followed by the parade at 7:45 p.m., $31.50 and $41.50 at flambeau.org
The nation’s biggest and brightest night parade has lit up San Antonio and spectators’ eyes since 1948, when then-parade chairman Reynolds Andricks wowed more than 100,000 cheering viewers with a nighttime Fiesta celebration inspired by the evening parades of Mardi Gras. Now more than 800,000 souls attend the 3.1-mile light show, which illuminates the same route as the Battle of Flowers Parade only after dark. This year’s theme, “Adventures in Toyland,” celebrates the joy of play and playthings alike.
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The Fiesta Flambeau only sells bleacher seats. Like its daytime predecessor, the nighttime Flambeau parade also focuses on bleacher seating if you buy direct from the event. These options likewise cover the bleachers at Crockett Park, Madison Square Park, Brooklyn Avenue, Avenue E and East Houston Street. The Flambeau site also sells street chairs for the 500 block of Lexington Avenue.
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A mariachi band holds court during the Fiesta Flambeau Parade on May 3, 2025.
JoMando Cruz
Get your Flambeau street seats via the 2026 Fiesta Street Parade Map, too. Flambeau street chairs also can be purchased at fiestasanantonio.org/fiesta-2026-parade-map, with prices also $28.25 after tax and ticket fee.
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You must buy an extra seat for your extra stuff. Unlike the Battle of Flowers direct-sale guidelines, the Fiesta Flambeau requires attendees purchase an extra ticket for any item that requires additional space. There are no accommodations for ice chests, large bags, strollers and similar items. All items must fit within the allotted 18-inch seating space. Large umbrellas are prohibited.
Flambeau organizers are serious about the open aisles and elbow room. If you need the extra space for your stuff and you don’t pay for it, you may forfeit your seat with no refund. For seating questions or concerns, contact the Fiesta Flambeau Parade Association at 210-364-5349.
Get VIP bleacher seating for around an extra $100. The Flambeau association is offering special “Parade Extravaganza” seating at Crockett Park for $125. The price includes early access at 5 p.m. with an opening show, plus a swag bag and access to a VIP tent lounge food buffet. There’s also a bar, live DJ and, miracle-of-miracles, an air-conditioned restroom trailer. VIP tickets are available at flambeau.org.
Parade planning, parking, budgeting
Now that you know all the parade details, here are a few extra tips to keep in mind:
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Leave early and plan ahead. Traffic is a bear during Fiesta, especially during parades. If you’re driving to a parade, leave at least an hour or two before start time to find parking and to walk to your seat. That also goes for ride-sharing.
Park and ride (and save) with VIA Metropolitan Transit. VIA’s Park & Ride bus service takes you downtown to any Fiesta parade for just $1.30 each way. Just park at the Crossroads Park & Ride at 151 N. Crossroads Blvd. behind Wonderland of the Americas or the Walmart at Brooks at 3302 SE Military Drive and leave the driving to VIA.
VIA also provides travel to the River Parade from the VIA Stone Oak Park & Ride at 22139 US-281 near Stone Oak Parkway. As noted earlier, all parade Park & Ride service drops off and picks up at Convention Way Drive off East Market Street by the Convention Center.
VIA service to the Texas Cavaliers River Parade and Fiesta Flambeau runs 5 p.m. to midnight, with trips to the event ending at 8 p.m. For the Battle of Flowers Parade, buses run 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with service to the event ending at 1 p.m. For more info, visit viainfo.net/fiesta.
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Budget time and money for parking. Most downtown paradegoers park in the dozen or so city public lots and garages, which typically charge a flat $15 event rate during Fiesta. Look for downtown parking options at sapark.sanantonio.gov/Parking-Locations. You also can reserve a spot via Parking.com/san-antonio, which lists around 15 lots. Note these options only take credit cards.
Private lots can get pricey. We’re talking big-name-acts-at-the-Alamodome pricey. For example, a downtown lot last year owned by First Presbyterian Church was contracted out to a company to manage parade parking. Spaces went for around $40 to $50 per vehicle. Yet it still filled up due to the convenience.
Budget for food, too. All those tasty gorditas and chicken on a stick don’t come cheap. You could always bring your own eats and drinks. Just budget space, and possibly another bleacher ticket, for that cooler.
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Plan for Fiesta road closures. The Fiesta San Antonio Commission has a list of daily Fiesta-related road closures for each event so you’ll know what to expect. You can access that list here or via Street Closures at saspeakup.com/downtown.
Think health and hydration. Lastly, Fiesta parades mean extended time outdoors, so stay hydrated and stay in the shade whenever possible. Wear a hat, comfortable shoes and loose-fitting clothing as well as sunscreen. The Fiesta 2026 Street Parade Map also lists first aid stations, while the city will employ its Paramedics on Bicycles program.
Express-News reporter Rhyma Castillo, Texas Cavaliers operations manager Robert Watson and veteran Fiesta parade volunteer Tom Krueger contributed to this report.
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