About Fiesta® San Antonio
- 10 days
- 100 events
- 100 local nonprofit member organizations
- 3.5 million attending
- $284 million economic impact
- A real Texas-sized festival!
Fiesta never ends because 100 local nonprofit groups work in their communities year round, helping their neighbors. And the military organizations that take part in Fiesta are, of course, defending our country 365 days a year.
Fiesta really is one of America's truly great festivals. It began as a way to honor the memory of the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. That commemoration still takes place. But over the past century and more, Fiesta has grown into a celebration of San Antonio's rich and diverse cultures. 2009 marks Fiesta's 118th anniversary.
History of Fiesta
In 1891, a group of ladies decorated horse-drawn carriages, paraded in front of the Alamo, and pelted each other with flower blossoms. The parade was organized to honor the heroes from the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto. Read More
Fiesta® Commission
The Fiesta® San Antonio Commission, led by a volunteer board that includes community leaders and representatives from its nonprofit member organizations, makes it happen! In fact, the commission alone is responsible for coordinating some 100 local nonprofit organizations and the more than 75,000 volunteers it takes to make Fiesta San Antonio a real Texas-sized festival!
The Commission works year-around to coordinate the thousands of details and day-to-day tasks essential to the planning and execution of the huge citywide celebration. It also acts as the liaison between participating member organizations, local military activities taking part in Fiesta and the departments of the City of San Antonio that provide key services absolutely essential to the conduct of Fiesta® San Antonio. The purpose of the Commission is stated in its mission:
As a non-profit, volunteer, self supporting organization, the Fiesta® San Antonio Commission, Inc. plans, promotes, coordinates and preserves Fiesta® San Antonio through support of its Participating Member Organizations in presenting a safe, educational, annual celebration of the diverse heritage, culture and spirit of San Antonio for its residents and visitors. |
The Commission promotes Fiesta® San Antonio regionally, nationally, and internationally, and the festival has become a popular attraction for visitors from far and wide. Some 3.5 million party-goers enjoy Fiesta® San Antonio. More than 20 percent of Fiesta-goers travel from across the state, the nation, and even the world!
One of the most important functions of the Fiesta Commission is the funding of Fiesta events that are not financially self-supporting. This year the Commission will provide more than $400,000 to the participating member organizations that sponsor such events. The commission itself is funded entirely by the private sector and receives no governmental funding. Instead, it relies heavily on membership dues, retail sales and corporate participation to remain self-sustaining.