Fiesta, San Antonio’s two-week city-wide get together, is lower than a month away. To be able to optimize the enjoyable and decrease the trouble, there are some things you are able to do proper now to get your cascarones in a row earlier than the enjoyable begins.
Begin Planning
Check out the Fiesta web site and comply with them on Fb, Instagram, and X to begin planning out which occasions you and your loved ones wish to attend. There are such a lot of choices to select from, and there’s no solution to see and do the whole lot. My household has our perennial favorites, however we’re at all times looking for brand spanking new, off-the-beaten-path occasions to attend. Many Fiesta occasions now have their very own web sites and social media platforms.
Look Into Park & Experience
Most of the greatest Fiesta occasions are serviced by VIA Park & Experience. The fee is $1.30 every means or $.65 every for college students and senior residents. You possibly can keep away from the trouble—and value—of parking for those who park and journey, and your children will love using on a giant metropolis bus!
Purchase Tickets in Advance
Some (however definitely not all) Fiesta occasions provide a slight low cost for those who pre-purchase your tickets. Check out the knowledge and web sites for the occasions that you’ve chosen to find out if you should buy advance tickets as a way to save a bit dough. Even higher, scope out free occasions on the Fiesta web site, or proper right here!
Make a Sassy Sash for Your Children’ Medals
One factor my children love about Fiesta is accumulating medals from Fiesta royalty and from the varied occasions we attend. I recycle them to make use of as a part of my eating room desk centerpiece each spring. It’s enjoyable to return by the previous medals, remembering the enjoyable instances we’ve had collectively. I like medals, too, however I don’t love the holes that the medals make in my children’ garments. A straightforward, cheap, and downright cute resolution to this “first world Fiesta drawback” is to make your children a regal sash out of huge grosgrain ribbon. They’ll affix the medals to the ribbon and to not their garments. Add a crown and ole! You’ve acquired prompt Fiesta royalty! Take a look at Shanti’s put up on what to do along with your medals after Fiesta!
Outsmart the Parade Distributors
I’m at all times fascinated by the distributors on the parades and all the costly junk they promote. This 12 months, earlier than heading out to a parade, stick a couple of greenback retailer finds in your tote. When your 3-year-old grabs a maintain of your leg and hollers, “I WAAANNNTTTTT ONNNNE!!!” on the nearest parade peddler, you’ve acquired one thing even higher. FOR TWENTY TIMES LESS DINERO THAN WHAT THE GUY WITH THE CART IS HAWKING. Begin testing the Greenback Tree, the Greenback Spot at Goal and different comparable shops now and get your stash began.
Load Up On Confetti Eggs
Okay, Fiesta revelers. You’ve acquired a couple of weeks earlier than the primary confetti falls, so now could be the time to begin stockpiling cascarones. Yow will discover them at quite a lot of locations round city HEB, Wal-Mart, random avenue corners, Alamo Fiesta (to call a couple of), and naturally you possibly can simply buy them at numerous Fiesta occasions—for a premium. Purchase them in bulk now earlier than you go to a parade or an occasion and also you’re all set.
Inventory Your Survival Package
Okay. Let me set the scene. You’re out on the Fiesta Arts Honest having fun with the wonders of the Youngsters’s Artwork Backyard and also you’ve acquired one child as much as her elbows in clay and one other who managed to spill her total cup of sticky watermelon aguas frescas down her embroidered Mexican marriage ceremony gown. What’s a besieged Fiesta mama to do? Get out her trusty Survival Package, that’s what. Whether or not you’re going to a parade or a family-friendly competition, your children (and let’s be sincere, most certainly your husband) will get messy. Right here’s an inventory of stuff that it is best to positively pack in your tote or diaper bag:
Snacks: Nothing fairly takes the wind out of your Fiesta-trimmed sails than to your baby to begin whining that he’s hunnnnnngrrrrrrrry. Fabulous meals objects abound in any respect Fiesta occasions (watch out—a lot of them are on small picket swords sticks!), nevertheless it by no means hurts to have a Zip-locked baggie of Goldfish helpful to tide him over between a fajita and a gordita.
Pack of Hand Wipes: See clay-and-juice state of affairs above. A number of Fiesta occasions have enjoyable exercise areas for youths that inevitably contain getting messy. When you have loads of wipes, you may be ready.
Hand Sanitizer: One phrase (or three, hyphenated): Port-A-Potties.
Tissues: See hand sanitizer and Texas pollen.
Disposable Ponchos: Texas weather- am I proper? Don’t depart these large bundle of disposable ponchos at house. You by no means know when the winds will flip.
Hat/Sunscreen: Inevitably, we depart the home when it’s cool and cloudy, solely to reach at our Fiesta vacation spot with blazing sunshine and nobody thought to lube up. Slap on a bit sunscreen earlier than you head out. And produce a tube of SPF 30 with you (or a hat), and you’ll Fiesta sunburn free.
Glowsticks: Seize these on the greenback retailer and you’ve got a conveyable get together when the solar goes down however the fireworks haven’t fairly began but. Additionally good for when that aforementioned “Pesky Peddler” on the River Parade begins turning on all of his eye-catching (learn EXPENSIVE) light-up toys. I’m not saying it’s foolproof, however a stash of glowsticks may simply stave off a mood tantrum or two.
Sippy Cup and Water Bottle: Overload on lemonade and aguas frescas? Discover a water fountain and hydrate. With a cup or bottle, you’re at all times ready. Bonus: for those who run out of wipes, you possibly can pour water on a serviette or paper towel in a pinch for a clean-up.
Spare Cascarones: You’re out of tickets, and it’s time to go house. The plenty are getting surly. The get together is just about over, however you might have a couple of additional confetti stuffed egg bombs in your Survival Package. Do you hand them to your 3-year-old and let her have at her 5-year-old sister? NO. I’ve discovered from expertise that cascarones and drained toddlers might appear to be a good suggestion on the time, however they only don’t combine. That being mentioned, one sure-fire solution to preserve the Fiesta going is to GENTLY crack a confetti stuffed egg in your unsuspecting husband’s head to maintain everybody in a festive temper. Higher but, secretively hand one-off to your 5-year-old, name your husband over and ask him to lean WAY over to tie your 3-year-old’s shoe, and gleefully holler to your 5-year-old, “GET HIM!” It’s humorous each time.
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Initially written by Kelly in 2014, and up to date in 2025 by Anastasia
