Fiesta continued

Another photo of one of the Duchess' dresses from the week...

On Thursday, the San Antonio German club throws a party for all of the Duchesses, their friends and their families. The German is a festive party that used to be held at the San Jose Mission in San Antonio, but now has been moved to the San Antonio Museum of Art on the San Antonio River Walk.

Friday brings the most fun of all of the days. Local schools have a holiday for the Battle of Flowers Day Parade down the main streets of downtown San Antonio. Not only to all of the local schools participate in the parade, but so do all of the Texas Cavaliers, the Duchesses, the Queen and Princess and other local organizations. The whole city comes together for this festive event.

As all of the duchesses pass by, the crowd yells "Show us your shoes" and the girls raise their long dresses to show the original shoes that they have chosen to wear for the parade. Most wear cowboy boots or some other shoes that have some meaning to them.

Friday night after everyone leaves the parade parties and gets freshened up, the Princess and Queen host a party known as the Garden Party. This year the Garden Party was hosted at Red Berry Mansion, an old estate near down town San Antonio.

Saturday night is the last night of Fiesta and its ends with another parade and the Queen's Ball - a black tie event that lasts from 7:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. at the Menger Hotel, a local San Antonio legend. During the Queens Ball, each duchess reserves a hotel room and decorates the balcony with their name and the inside however they please. They then invite all of their friends and family up to the rooms to watch from the balcony as they have a "mini coronation" - their dad walks them around the pool in their train and dress so that everyone can see from the hotel rooms. Its a really special event for both the attendees and the duchesses. Afterwards, the party lasts until the wee hours of the morning and at dawn everyone walks over to the Alamo which is across the street for photos.

The next day is Fiesta Ultimo, one last party that ends the week with a bang.

Fiesta is truly one of the most exciting times of the year for San Antonio, and I can't wait to be a part of it next year.