The best annual events in San Antonio

Fiesta means "party" in Spanish, but "party" doesn’t quite describe San Antonio’s most famous event. Created in 1891 to honor the heroes of the Battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto, Fiesta is a 10-day festival full of extravagant parades and events: Participate in a 5K run, marvel at night parades with sparkling lights, and watch a parade where the floats actually float! The biggest spectacle of Fiesta is The Battle of Flowers which is the only parade in the country to be planned and directed entirely by women.

Dates: Mid-April 

San Antonio rings in the holiday season at one of its most picturesque spots: the River Walk. The Ford Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony is a one-hour floating parade consisting of 30 illuminated floats decorated according to a different theme each year. Costumed locals stand upon the floats waving to 50,000 people cheering along the banks of the river. Don’t be surprised if you catch sight of musicians on floats or even a celebrity or two. 

Dates: The day after Thanksgiving 

Pull out your best bolo tie and buff up those cowboy boots— you’ve got to look your best for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. Two million people attend the event each February to see livestock shows by local youth, cowboys wrangling steers, and cowgirls whipping around barrels on horses. Perhaps the biggest part of the event is the music lineup, which is packed full of singers like past headliners Cody Lynch, Sammy Hagar, Keith Urban and ZZ Top. 

Dates: February 

A total of 189 men died defending the Alamo against general Santa Ana’s Mexican troops, and each year from February 23 to March 6 San Antonio upholds the cry, “Remember, the Alamo!” Over 13 days, visitors can watch history replay itself by watching mock battles by actors in period-appropriate attire, listening to Mexican and Texan historians, attending multiple ceremonies to honor those who died on both sides, and even watching films and a musical about the battle.

Dates: February 23–March 6

Men and women don elegant outfits and paint their faces like catrines to participate in over 20 Dia de los Muertos events throughout San Antonio. The holiday kicks off with a free celebration—including concerts and stunning altars—at Hemisfair on October 26–27. On November 1, skeletons board a river parade called Catrinas on the River, while mariachis and local performers put on shows at the Arneson River Theater. Finally, families descend on La Villita Historic Arts Village November 2–3 for a kid-friendly event with face painting, sugar skull decorating, and piñata smashing.

Dates: October 26–November 3

Every year, the Tejano Music Awards Fan Fair hits San Antonio (the “Tejano Capital of the World"), bringing with it 200 musicians who perform over four days in the Historic Market Square. The Fan Fair draws 100,000 music-lovers who shake, sway, and dance to the best Tejano musicians around—all for free! Past lineups have included Michael Salgado, Elida Reyna y Avante, Shelly Lares, Hometown Boys, and Stefani Montiel—so you can’t help but bailar all night long. 

Dates: Mid-March 

On March 1, CAM kicks off with a celebration at Blue Star Contemporary followed by 31 days full of more than 200 gallery shows, museum presentations, panel discussions, literary readings, theatrical performances, and concerts. Though most CAM events are in private spaces and businesses, some happenings pop up in cool and unique outdoor spots around the city. 

Dates: March

Need a new book to read or want to meet your favorite author? The San Antonio Book Festival is a free one-day event hosted by the San Antonio Public Library Foundation. Local and national authors gather for a fun day of literary entertainment, including author presentations, book sales, signings, and panel discussions. Kids go nuts for the play and art stations as well as the children’s theater performances, while adults munch on cuisine from food trucks between author sessions. 

Dates: Early April

San Antonio manages to celebrate July 4th over the course of three days during Freedom Fest. Red, white, and blue décor covers the Historic Market Square, where vendors and food booths set up with areas set aside for kids’ activities, artists showcase their work, and live bands. You can expect a mix of country, cumbia, Latin, and rock performers. 

Dates: Early July

Ballet folklorico, German sausage, Native American pottery, blue grass bands, Korean barbecue, and ax throwing all have one thing in common: you'll find all of them at the Texas Folklife Festival, which celebrates Texas’ unique and diverse heritage. For two days in June, about 250 organizations representing 40 cultural groups come together to perform on six stages and offer 100 authentic food items. With 60 artisans and interactive activities, it’s one of San Antonio’s most memorable events. 

Dates: Early June

Celebrate San Antonio! draws over 50,000 people downtown for the largest free New Year’s Eve festival in Texas. Revelers enjoy free live music on stages at Hemisfair and in Maverick Plaza and fill up on delicious food from local food trucks. Parents play games with kids in the family zone and watch family-friendly shows at the Arneson River Theater as they wait for the night’s big finale. At midnight, get ready to countdown and cheers with beers and champagne under a spectacular fireworks show. 

Date: December 31