Texas State Historical Association - My Texas

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Faux Pas, Fiesta-Style

Every year San Antonio throws open its doors to its local residents and visitors from all over the world for a ten-day Fiesta celebration. During this time various festivities take place all over the city--parades and parties galore.

The annual pilgrimage to the Alamo has various organizations laying wreaths of flowers in front of the Alamo to remember its fallen heroes. King Antonio's investiture takes place at Alamo Plaza. Night in Old San Antonio is sponsored by the San Antonio Conservation Society to raise money for its philanthropic activities. Every ethnic group prides itself on participating during this wonderful time. Hermann's Happiness and the Beethoven Maennerchor's Fiesta Gartenfest share their gemütlichkeit. El Rey Feo (the Ugly King) has his annual formal reception.

There's the street carnival centered on City Hall that is well attended by San Antonio's Hispanic population. The Asociación de Charro de San Antonio has its annual charreada (rodeo) in its arena on the south side of San Antonio. The San Antonio Zulu Association holds its "Taste of New Orleans" in Brackenridge Park. Throngs of people attend the Texas Cavaliers' River Parade on Monday night, sitting alongside the river anxiously waiting for the colorful floats to pass by. The annual Battle of Flowers Parade takes place on a Friday afternoon along Broadway through the middle of downtown. The King William Fair takes place in the historic King William neighborhood complete with a folksy and silly street parade, food, music, and handicrafts made by local artists. A masked ball is held at La Villita Assembly Hall and St. Mary's University hosts a world-famous oyster bake. And, of course, the "Fiesta Flambeau" parade held on the last Saturday night officially ends the ten-day party.

Not to be outdone, the local military bases also host great celebrations with ample food, beer, and free-flowing wine. Lackland Air Force Base participates along with Fort Sam Houston with its Pass in Review of soldiers marching in front of the grandstand. The Golden Knights Army Parachute Team thrills onlookers by dropping out of the sky and landing in their midst. And, finally, the hour-long fireworks display after dark lights up the San Antonio skyline with majestic sprays of colored lights and giant "booms" that can be heard a mile away.

Brooks Air Force Base participates as well by holding a Saturday morning breakfast at its historic Hangar 9 that is well attended by local military personnel and Fiesta dignitaries. The U.S. Army Drill Team thrills the spectators with the lead soldier tossing a sabered rifle over the heads of the soldiers behind him to the last man in line who catches it in midair--all while marching in precision form with heads down. The Fife and Drum Corps and the Old Guard from Washington, D.C., play tunes from our country's revolutionary days as they march on the parade ground.

My favorite reception, however, is one of the first events of the season held at the Randolph Air Force Base Officers Club. My husband, Claus, gets invited to this party every year as he is a recipient of the Order of the Cascarón. The Fiesta Commission awards this medal to its most worthy volunteer who has spent years promoting Fiesta. Claus has been president of the Beethoven Maennerchor for twenty-one years now and has made great strides in advertising Fiesta throughout his homeland of Germany. He and I always arrive early for this affair as within the first few minutes the ballroom will be full of generals, colonels, and military personnel dressed in their formal uniforms. Fiesta queens will be there in their beautiful gowns wearing their rhinestone-studded tiaras, their escorts dressed in tuxedos. The leaders of San Antonio's business community are also there in their formal wear. A reception line is always formed and the couples slowly make their way to the commanding general's hand for a firm shake, introductions, and welcoming words. Official speeches are offered to the audience from the stage decorated with colorful, handmade paper flowers and streamers. I always feel so resplendent in attending such a grand occasion full of military protocol. Claus always goes out mingling (as he does so well) with all the Fiesta dignitaries and young soldiers. People from every walk of life are there.

At last year's event Claus approached me with a very dignified, gray-haired gentleman accompanied by his genteel-looking wife. He introduced a Mr. So-and-So and his wife. One or two jazz quartets had filled the room with loud, snazzy music, making hearing over the throng somewhat difficult. "He's the head of bowling," I understood Claus to say. I was a little surprised. But, oh, how very nice, I thought to myself. They invited the head of the bowling alley to come to this wonderful, elegant occasion. I told the gentleman how very nice it was to meet him and that I thought it remarkable that Randolph has a bowling alley on base for its military families. What a wonderful thing for them. The gentleman chuckles to himself. His wife looks at me somewhat confused. Aghast, Claus says, "No, Jean. He's the head of Boeing."

Jean Heide
San Antonio, Texas
Published: November 14, 2005