Copyright © by the Fiesta® San Antonio Commission

Copyright © by the Fiesta® San Antonio Commission

Even though I’ve lived in San Antonio for around five years now, there are still moments where I realize I am SO not a local yet.  Fiesta, which is sort of like our version of Carnaval, is one of those times every year.  If you actually do your research, it turns out the whole shebang was started to honor the fallen heroes of the Alamo.  It has since grown into a HUGE party that takes place over the course of several days in Spring.  San Antonians go wild for Fiesta, and it’s a blast whether you’re experiencing it for the first time or the fiftieth.  I’ll admit, though, that there are aspects of Fiesta that just don’t make any sense, no matter how much fun it is.

1. The events have no rhyme or reason.

The Battle of the Flowers was the original Fiesta event, but since it’s meager beginnings Fiesta has expanded to include a pooch parade, fashion show, oyster bake, strawberry festival, on and on and on.  Every event only has one requirement: it must benefit a charity of some sort.  Other than that, it’s free game as far as themes go.  So don’t expect to see an underlying purpose to each event; San Antonians just want a reason, ANY reason, to party.

2. Chicken on a stick is chicken. On a stick.

You know how state fairs have become famous for fried everything? Fried Oreos, fried twinkies, fried cheese?  Fiesta is all about stuff on a stick.  Chicken on a stick, especially.  One year we waited in line for probably an hour at NIOSA for chicken on a stick, and while it was delicious, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s truly just poultry on a small wooden spike.  Not exactly a culinary breakthrough, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say my mouth is watering a bit thinking about it.

3.  People go crazy for medals.

As you walk through a random Fiesta event holding your chicken on a stick, you’ll see older women with large sashes adorned with hundreds of medals like some sort of Girl Scout mafia.  It seems as though every business in South Texas, small or large, has a Fiesta medal that San Antonians will hunt down like the lost treasures of Cortez.  My question is, what do you do with the medals after Fiesta is over?  And why does a restaurant, a law firm, and a utility company all need to have their own Fiesta medal?  Do people take a look at their fiesta medals after the party is over and decide where to eat, seek legal counsel, and remember to pay their light bill?

4.  Kids get to miss school.

I’m trying to think if there were any Indiana-specific holidays when I was growing up where we got to miss school that might seem a bit crazy to outsiders.  Considering the fact that we often went to school with two feet of snow on the ground, though, I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet that we didn’t get any freebies.  San Antonio children, however, can always look forward to having the day of the Battle of Flowers off.  Thousands of them will flock to watch the intricately decorated floats pass by, but I’m 90% sure thousands more will just be glad for a day off without a care in the world as to why.

5.  People get crazy drunk and make, er, interesting decisions.

I must admit, this isn’t a San Antonio specific thing.  People all over the world like to party and can end up getting themselves into trouble sometimes.  Fiesta is one of those events where the drunk driving ads come out, the crowd can get a little rowdy, and things happen.  It doesn’t matter if it was a beer bottle over the head or an errant chicken on the stick stabbing you in the mouth, a trip to the ER might be necessary during the celebrations.  All in the name of good fun, though, right?

XO,

A