At 4 p.m. amid temperatures in the 70s, groups of people trekked to the River Walk on Monday, some wearing floral crowns with pink, orange and yellow strings floating in the air. They were making their way to their seats along the San Antonio River in anticipation of the 78th annual Texas Cavaliers River Parade.
The annual parade is among Fiesta’s most prominent events, attracting more than 250,000 people each year. As of 6:30 p.m., a “low hundred” of the 17,000 tickets the Texas Cavaliers had for seats along the river were available but still selling, according to a spokesperson for the organization. Hundreds more spectators also watched from the streets above the river.
Fifty river barges participated in the parade this year, each one as colorful as the last. The parade kicked off at 7:53 p.m., with Grand Marshal Charlie Duke, a former U.S. astronaut, riding on one of the first barges in the procession. Duke earned the distinction of being the youngest person to walk on the moon by making the voyage to the moon on five Apollo missions, including Apollo 16.
Duke’s river barge included a tall astronaut figurine and the winner of the annual Children’s Art Contest, Fiona O’Dell, a student in District 10. Families who sat at the Arneson River Theater yelled in excitement as music played from the float.
Falling in line with the grand marshal’s occupation, the Texas Cavaliers selected this year’s theme to be “Fantastic Voyages” to celebrate “everything from the discovery of the new world to the discovery of new worlds.”
The Bexar County Commissioner’s Court carried Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, who was seated due to an injury, and several county commissioners, including Rebeca Clay-Flores (Pct. 1), Justin Rodriguez (Pct.2) and Grant Moody (Pct. 3).
Selena’s “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” played from the barge as crowds began to dance.
Along East Commerce Street, a family of four looked down onto the River Walk from the street level, scoping out the best area to get a clear view of the parade barges floating past.
Seemingly fitting into this year’s theme of “Fantastic Voyages”, the family voyaged to San Antonio from Chicago to attend Fiesta events, especially Monday night’s river parade. Stephanie Martinez, accompanied by her mother, father and grandmother, said what they have loved the most about their first-ever Fiesta is the music and culture they had experienced thus far.
“I’m here for the music,” Martinez said. “Unfortunately we leave the day Ramon Ayala comes and he’s one of the biggest music artists that I love.”
So far, the family had seen Tejano music artist Gary Hobbs at Fiesta de Los Reyes at the Historic Market Square.
“They are so festive. They’re dressed in the Mexican gowns with the headgear and the sashes with the badges and it’s a lot of San Antonio spirit in the Fiesta,” Martinez said. “A lot of people are really enriched in the culture and they’re proud of it and they want to show it.”
The Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation this year chose Rise Recovery as its charitable honoree. The nonprofit organization helps families overcome the effects of drugs and alcohol and educates the community on prevention.
Rise Recovery’s barge was also among the first to float down the river, with the staff wearing angel wings, dancing and waving to the crowds. Cumbia music played as spectators applauded.
The organization was chosen because of its service to children and families in the community, according to a statement from the Texas Cavaliers.
“The need for recovery has never been higher in today’s circumstances,” the Texas Cavaliers said.
San Antonians Jessica and Javier Moreno attended the parade with their four daughters, aged 3 to 21. The couple had been to numerous Fiesta events in the past, but were most excited for the night river parade.
“Making and creating memories with my children and my family, that’s my favorite part of [Fiesta],” said Jessica Moreno.
Moreno, who grew up in central San Antonio, said the music at the river parade was the most intriguing part of the event this year. The family of six each wore floral crowns, and Javier Moreno wore a handmade Fiesta sombrero.
“Our culture, where we came from, being proud of our heritage. … We’re all proud we come from San Antonio.”
