Battle of Flowers Association April 23, vanguard 11:50 a.m., parade 12:45 p.m. Parade Route
The first Battle of Flowers® Parade took place in 1891 to honor the heroes of the Alamo and to commemorate the Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836, where Texas won its independence from Mexico. Despite rain that postponed the first parade for four days, a group of determined San Antonio women made the colorful “Flower Battle” a success. The parade has entertained our city every year except during World Wars I and II. It is now recognized as the founding event of Fiesta® San Antonio.
The parade was the first major celebratory event to take place on Alamo Plaza. It is sponsored by the Battle of Flowers® Association, a nonprofit and civic women’s organization chartered in 1914 to celebrate Texas history. Remembering the heroes of the Alamo has remained the focus of the parade, and participants are asked to bring a floral tribute to be place on the lawn in front of the Alamo.
R.O.T.C. units march in a Vanguard ahead of the parade and delight spectators with precision drills. The parade arrives with an explosion of color as splendid cavalcades and flying flags announce the festivities to come. Spectacular floats carrying costumed Fiesta royalty are interspersed with flower-bedecked antique cars and carriages. Giant helium balloons fly through the air, accompanied by the music of military and high school bands.
To accommodate the growing number of high schools in San Antonio, the Public School Section is expanding from eight to nine entries. As more schools are built, the BOF Association has a desire to continue adding more entries so that all area schools have the opportunity to participate.
Tickets: $18 for Alamo Grandstands, Cenotaph Stands; $15 for Alamo Street Bleachers—North (Travis/Houston), Alamo Street Bleachers—South (Crockett/Commerce) and Plaza Bleachers. $12 for Maverick and Broadway Bleachers. To purchase advance tickets by mail until March 25, send your request and check to the Battle of Flowers® Parade, P.O. Box 6432, San Antonio TX 78209, or call 822-2929. Please add $2.50 per order for postage and handling. Beginning March 26, tickets will be available at the Fiesta Centralized Ticket Sales Center at the Fiesta® Store, 2611 Broadway. For street chair information call 225-5191, or go to www.fiesta-sa.org. For parade information, visit our website at www.battleofflowers.org.