The official Fiesta poster was unveiled Wednesday evening, marking the start of the countdown to the annual festival set for March 31-April 10.
Fiesta San Antonio Commission Executive Director Steve Rosenauer promised that Fiesta 2022 would be a return to a full-on version of San Antonio’s citywide party, with a list of more than 100 events already on the schedule.
After the festival was canceled in 2020, a smaller version was held in June 2021 with a mix of virtual presentations and socially distanced, in-person events.
“We thank everybody for their patience for enjoying the June Fiesta,” Rosenauer said. “Even though it wasn’t a full Fiesta, it was still exciting … but [we’re] taking that energy and excitement from June and really enhancing that now for a full Fiesta in 2022.”
Popular events set to return are the Battle of Flowers parade, which has not been held since 2019, on April 8, along with the Texas Cavaliers River Parade on April 4 and the Fiesta Flambeau Parade on April 9.
Other returning events include the Oyster Bake on April 1-2, the Fiesta Arts Fair at the Southwest School of Art on April 2-3, and Cornyation on April 5-7.
Some events might be held virtually, depending on pandemic conditions and the health and safety protocols of each participating member organization, Rosenauer said.
Rey Feo LXXIII Augustine “Augie” Cortez Jr. was present for the unveiling inside the crowded Mays Family Center of the Witte Museum. He wore a custom crown featuring quartz crystals and polished minerals in place of jewels, honoring his love of nature, according to his spouse, King’s Queen Sandra Cortez.
Already busy raising scholarship funds for area high school students to attend college, Cortez said this year’s Rey Feo message is “to empower their mind and always be kind,” and “to be resilient and stay strong and make sure we practice being safe.”
During his introductory speech, new Fiesta Commission President Jon Fristoe honored several past presidents, including 1973 President Augie Cortez, demonstrating the family tradition of Fiesta.
Poster artist Ricky Williamson said he also carries on a family tradition, having attended Fiesta parades with his mom as a boy, and creating his first Fiesta poster for the 2002 festival.
Two members of Grupo Folklorico de Bendiciones danced in front of the stage before the unveiling, foreshadowing Williamson’s poster design featuring two folklorico figures in gala Fiesta attire in front of the downtown skyline.
