Fiesta parades: Your guide to Battle of Flowers and Fiesta Flambeau
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Skies over the parades might be cloudy again this year. Photo: Madalyn Mendoza/Axios
Friday is the day — students will be out of school, downtown streets will be full of shouts to "show me your shoes," and everyone will be crossing their fingers for the rain to stay away.
Why it matters: The Battle of Flowers Parade draws what feels like the whole city of San Antonio to a small section of downtown for Fiesta's final weekend.
- Well, maybe not quite that many. But more roughly 350,000 people are expected to gather.
Here's what you need to know to navigate the Friday morning parade and the nighttime Fiesta Flambeau Parade on Saturday.
When to go
Friday, Battle of Flowers: The vanguard will kick things off at 9:55am, followed by a 10:30am parade start time.
Saturday, Flambeau: The vanguard gets going at 7:15pm, with the parade starting at 7:45pm.
If you go: Plan to show up well ahead of time for both events, and allow extra time for travel.
- Taking a VIA bus or a ride-hailing service downtown are good options, as parking will be limited.
- But here's a map of downtown parking options, for those who insist.
Plus: Parade streets will close beginning 6am Friday and 2:30pm Saturday.
- They will reopen by 3pm Friday and midnight on Sunday.
Weather
Unfortunately, the forecast is not looking optimal. Rain could affect the parades, but forecasts are still uncertain.
- Light drizzle is possible for Battle of Flowers, with higher rain chances later Friday and Saturday morning.
- Odds are lower for rain during Fiesta Flambeau, according to KSAT.
- It'll be a good idea to grab an umbrella with your Fiesta crown.
Route
This year's route is the same for both parades.
How it works: It will start near San Antonio College at North Main Avenue and East Locust Street.
- The route then heads down Main into downtown.
- It will pass by Madison Square Park, over the River Walk, past Alamo Plaza and then wind back over the San Antonio River again.
- It ends at Santa Rosa and East Martin streets on the west side of downtown.
Tickets
While you don't necessarily need tickets to see the parades, having them guarantees that you'll get a good view and a spot on the bleachers.
- Tickets are still available online.
Nearby bars
Fiesta experts know that the Bonham Exchange after the Battle of Flowers Parade is tradition, but it's not the only place to keep the party going.
- Check out our list of bars near the parade route.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect organizers expect about 350,000 attendees (not half a million).