Imagine 10 straight days of parties, food, music, dancing and art. Well, for our San Antonio team this isn’t a dream but a reality. This is Fiesta.
Since its inception in 1891, Fiesta takes over the city each and every April (with the exception of the years that fell during WWI and WW2) to honor the heroes of the Alamo and Battle of San Jacinto. Today, Fiesta is filled with over 100 official and unofficial events that range from carnivals, street concerts, military firework displays, festivals filled with food booths and crowning of royalty. And our very own Moroch play’s a role in the festivities thanks to our client, McDonald’s.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities is one of the 150 participants in the Battle of Flowers Parade and the Fiesta Flambeau Parade, with a float that features Owner/Operators, the big guy himself – Ronald, and our Moroch team who has the honor of walking the 2.8 mile route with the “Mcfloat” and handing out McDonald’s Fiesta Medals.
Some notable facts about the parades:
The Battle of Flowers
- The first parade in 1891 had horse-drawn carriages, bicycles and floats covered with fresh flowers carrying children dressed as flowers
- Is the only one in the country that is planned and executed completely by women
- Ranked second in size in the nation behind the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California
The Fiesta Flambeau
- Takes place the day after Battle of Flowers and began in 1948
- The parade’s name comes from the French word for a candlestick or torch.
- In the event’s early years, four-man brigades marched between the other units, carrying torches on five-foot poles; Today, Boy Scouts carry safety flares and all the floats are lighted
This year, our team was blown away with the excitement from the community when everyone saw Ronald and the brand in the parade. I’ve grown up in San Antonio and have so many memories of both parades but now one that will be forever in my heart is hearing people yell “Show me your shoes!” and Ronald lifting up his big red shoes.
Viva Fiesta!