UTSA kicks off its Fiesta® celebrations with Fiesta UTSA April 17

By Jesus Chavez,
Public Affairs Specialist

(April 15, 2015) -- The UTSA community is gearing up celebrate the 2015 Fiesta® San Antonio from April 16-26. The monument lights on the UTSA Main Campus will be lit in Fiesta colors every night through April 26.

Since 1891, the annual San Antonio celebration honors the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. More than 100 Fiesta events take place throughout these 10 days, sponsored largely by local nonprofit groups in order to generate funding for scholarships, grants, health organizations, and arts and music groups. UTSA has been an active participant in the yearly celebrations for many years.

Fiesta® Fiesta at the Alamo, April 16 Mr. UTSA and representatives from Roadrunner Productions will participate in Fiesta® Fiesta, the annual opening ceremony for the Fiesta celebrations. UTSA will also participate in Pin Pandemonium. Fiesta® Fiesta will take place on Thursday, April 16 from 5 to 9 p.m. in Alamo Plaza.

Fiesta UTSA, April 17

On Friday, April 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., UTSA will host its 38th annual Fiesta UTSA in the Sombrilla Plaza on the UTSA Main Campus. The annual family-friendly event is an official Fiesta® San Antonio event and free and open to the public.

This year’s theme for Fiesta UTSA is “All It’s Cracked Up to Be,” in honor of the ubiquitous Fiesta tradition of the breaking of cascarónes on the heads of fellow Fiesta-goers. The UTSA community is invited to attempt to set the first-ever record for the most cascarónes cracked at a single event. More than 11,000 cascarónes will be distributed to participants throughout the event.

Registered student organizations will offer a variety of festive food options, activities and music, with proceeds benefiting their organizations. Variety band The E7 Band will perform throughout the event. A limited amount of free t-shirts will be distributed to attendees, and Fiesta Medals will be available for purchase and distribution. (Find out where to purchase your 2015 UTSA Fiesta medals here.)

President Ricardo Romo and the UTSA community will welcome Fiesta® Royalty – including King Antonio and El Rey Feo LXVII Jon Gary Herrera – to campus with a special parade at 1:30 p.m. A presentation for the royalty will immediately follow the parade.

The event, like other Fiesta® events, will take place rain or shine. Attendees are advised to dress accordingly.

Football Fiesta® Spring Game, April 18

The fifth annual UTSA Football Fiesta® Spring Game will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 18 at the Alamodome. Admission to the game will be free. For more information, visit GoUTSA.com.

Parades, April 20, April 24 & April 25

The Texas Cavaliers River Parade will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 20. Representatives from the UTSA Bands, Roadrunner Productions, the ROTC, the UTSA Student Government Association, Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society, Alumni Association and the President’s Leadership Council will board a 20-person barge to participate in the annual parade. This year’s parade theme is: “Believe!” (Visit the Texas Cavaliers website for ticket and event information.)

The Battle of Flowers Parade, San Antonio’s oldest Fiesta® event, will take place downtown at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, April 24. UTSA student leaders and Mr. and Ms. UTSA will be on a Tower of the Americas and Cascarónes themed float. The parade’s theme this year is “This Land is Your Land.” (Visit the Battle of Flowers website for more information.)

The Fiesta® Flambeau Parade will take place downtown on Saturday, April 25 at 7 p.m. UTSA Roadrunner Football players and Mr. and Ms. UTSA will be a part of the parade. Student leaders will be walking alongside the float. The parade theme this year is “Television Then & Now,” and the UTSA float will be themed “Your Town, Your Team.” Visit the Fiesta Flambeau website for more information.

Party on the Paseo, April 23

An unofficial Fiesta® event during the celebrations, Party on the Paseo will take place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 23 in the University Center Paseo on the UTSA Main Campus.

Sponsored by student organization Be a Responsible Roadrunner (BARR), Party on the Paseo is geared toward alcohol awareness during the opening weeks of Fiesta. It is a BACCHUS Network General Assembly Outstanding Creative Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program award-winning event, and it is geared at reducing alcohol abuse among college students.

Live musical performances will be provided by band Brent & Co. and artist Courtney Shilo.

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For more information about Fiesta® San Antonio events, visit www.fiesta-sa.org.

For more information about UTSA’s participation in Fiesta® 2015, contact UTSA Student Activities by visiting University Center 1.210, calling 210-458-4160 or emailing getinvolved@utsa.edu.

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