San Antonio is home to a diverse mix of ethnic and cultural heritages. Nowhere is this reflected better than in the many and varied celebrations, which are held throughout the year all around the city.
Martin Luther King Jr. March
Taking place on the third Monday in January – Martin Luther King Jr. Day – San Antonio’s Martin Luther King March is one of the largest marches in the United States. Attracting around 200,000 participants each year, the march is the culmination of the city’s 12-day DreamWeek, which promotes diversity, tolerance, and equality through a variety of events, workshops, and celebrations around the city.
Asian Festival
Asian Festival is a celebration of Asian culture. Held around the traditional Chinese New Year, the festival is hosted by the Texas Institute of Culture. Visitors to this event will be treated to a wide variety of traditional Asian music and dance performances, arts and crafts exhibitions, and food from China, Vietnam, Laos, Japan, Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, India, and other Asian countries. The annual event, which is approaching its 30th anniversary, attracts thousands of visitors each year.
St. Patrick’s Day
The luck – and love – of the Irish is celebrated in San Antonio with the Murphy’s St. Patrick’s Day River Parade & Festival. Featuring traditional Irish food, music, clog dancing, and of course green beer, green is the only color of choice at this event. The city even drops environmentally-friendly green dye into the San Antonio River at the end of the parade.
Cinco de Mayo
San Antonio is home to one of the largest Cinco De Mayo celebrations in the United States. While officially a Mexican holiday, San Antonio citizens of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds have embraced the fifth of May as their own, celebrating with events at Market Square and other parts of the city which feature live traditional Mexican music, food, and arts and crafts. And let’s not forget the tequila!
Independence Day
Celebrating love of country and what it truly means to be an American, San Antonio’s Fourth of July celebration is an all-day affair. The celebration starts with the family-friendly Salute to the Red, White and Blue parade (which also features a best costume contest) and ends most years with a massive musical fireworks event at Woodlawn Lake. Special musical events include those held at Market Square, Randolph Air Force Base, and the Star-Spangled Festival at Lackland Air Force Base.
Fiesta! San Antonio
Held in mid-April for the last 125 years, Fiesta! San Antonio is an eleven-day party celebrating what it means to live in this amazing city. The Fiesta was started to honor those killed at the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto, and over the years has evolved into a city-wide celebration of San Antonio’s cultural diversity. Jazz, Mariachi, Blues, Country, and Rock music concerts are held at venues throughout the city. Highpoints include the Battle of Flowers Parade, the Fiesta Carnival, the Fiesta Masquerade Party, the Fiesta Arts Fair, and the Fiesta Symphonic Band Concert.
San Antonio celebrates the cultural diversity that makes the city what it is – and what it means to live in San Antonio – throughout the year in many ways. Whether you are looking to celebrate your own unique culture or learn about the culture of your neighbors, you can do it in San Antonio.