Fiesta San Antonio! The City's Vibrant Culture Comes Alive with 11 Days of Fun

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SAN ANTONIO, April 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- It is almost Fiesta time! Fiesta San Antonio, the annual 11-day celebration of San Antonio's rich history, culture and heritage, will be held April 18-28, 2013.

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Beginning over 120 years ago as a parade to honor the heroes from the battle of the Alamo and San Jacinto, Fiesta has grown into a citywide celebration that showcases San Antonio's rich, diverse culture through more than 100 official events.

Fiesta provides visitors a colorful, confetti-filled experience with 11 different parades, multi-cultural food, music and dancing, arts and crafts, lavishly dressed Fiesta royalty, military observances, athletic events and more. Each event is sponsored by a local nonprofit organization with all proceeds from the completely volunteer-run events benefiting these organizations.

This year, Fiesta-goers are encouraged to think "green" by continuing the recent traditions of recycling, making healthier food choices and enjoying the parades that have been designated as smoke-free areas. Fiesta San Antonio is also an opportunity to positively impact the health of residents and visitors through a citywide initiative to encourage participants to remain physically active while enjoying the festivities. Fiesta attendees are encouraged to utilize the city's bike share program, San Antonio B-Cycle, to travel to and from downtown Fiesta events, and participate in various events that promote physical fitness.

This also marks the second year that smoking will be prohibited in the areas that are in the public right of way along streets, sidewalks and the San Antonio River during three Fiesta parades – Texas Cavaliers' River Parade, Fiesta Battle of Flowers Parade and Fiesta Flambeau Parade. The smoking ban along Fiesta routes was initiated as a means to create a healthier Fiesta experience.

In addition to enjoying a healthier Fiesta atmosphere, Fiesta-revelers are also encouraged to think "green" by placing plastic, aluminum and paper items in recycling bins stationed at most street intersections along parade routes.

A Model City for all America: San Antonio
San Antonio is a model city for the new face of America—a diverse, progressive and globally competitive city with a solid vision for national and international economic development. In 2012, San Antonio was named an All-America City by the National Civic League.  The City of San Antonio maintains a strong financial position with a "AAA" general obligation bond rating from all three major rating agencies.  The Milken Institute has ranked San Antonio No. 1 on its Best-Performing Cities list.  As the seventh-largest city in the United States, San Antonio is experiencing solid economic growth in 21^st century industries such as bioscience and healthcare.  Biotech companies and healthcare systems in San Antonio contribute billions to the local economy. The Aerospace industry remains a dominant economic strength in San Antonio with the presence of several aviation and aerospace corporations, including the military.   The military has had a significant relationship with San Antonio for more than 200 years and is home to several military commands.  The city is also a cybersecurity hub; nationally recognized as a leader in the field of information security.  San Antonio is positioning itself to be at the forefront of the New Energy Economy in the United States, committed to investing and creating employment opportunities in green industries.  The travel industry also remains a consistent growing economy for the city, as millions of people visit San Antonio on a yearly basis.  For more information, visit www.sanantonio.gov. 

SOURCE City of San Antonio