SAN ANTONIO – The Battle of Flowers and Fiesta Flambeau parades have been canceled in 2021 due to concerns over COVID-19, parade officials announced Monday.
The cancellations come on the same day that Fiesta San Antonio officials announced that other Fiesta 2021 events are being postponed until June.
“It is with great sorrow that we announce the CANCELATION of the Battle Of Flowers® Parade and Fiesta Flambeau® Parade by the City of San Antonio for 2021,” officials said in a Facebook post. “Thank you for your purchase of tickets to our parades. Because of the ongoing pandemic, and the extraordinary safety precautions in planning these events, The Battle of Flowers® Association and The Fiesta Flambeau® Parade Association were forced to cancel their respective parades in 2020. Part of safe planning is re-evaluating whether or not to hold both parades that draw well over one million spectators to the streets of San Antonio for the traditional day and night parades during Fiesta® week. Due to public health safety concerns regarding COVID-19, both organizations have decided to cancel the 2021 festivities.
“Although we will all miss the lights, floats and marching merriment, the Association’s primary concern is the health and safety of our spectators, participants and volunteers,” Fiesta Flambeau Parade Association officials said in a news release. “Unfortunately, several members of our Association have lost their lives to the COVID-19 virus.”
Parade officials are offering residents who have already purchased tickets the following options:
You may request a refund of the ticket price to the Battle of Flowers® Parade online beginning Feb.15. Click on ticket information and follow instructions.
You may request a refund of the ticket price to the Fiesta Flambeau® Parade online beginning Feb. 15. Click on ticket information and follow instructions.
You have the option to convert your ticket into a tax-deductible donation to the Battle of Flowers® Association or the Fiesta Flambeau® Parade Association, Inc. by choosing that option on their respective web sites.
You will have until March 15 to choose one of these options
This the second year in a row that the parades have been ultimately canceled by the pandemic.
This year would have been the 73rd year that the Fiesta Flambeau Parade would have lighted up the streets of the Alamo city. Close to 750,000 spectators line the streets of downtown San Antonio for the award-winning, internationally recognized parade that features participants from across the United States and Mexico.
Fiesta Flambeau Parade officials said they are looking forward to the 2022 parade, which is scheduled for April 9.
“We are already busy planning for 2022 and looking forward to bringing our fans a celebration they will remember for many years. Viva Fiesta!” the news release said.
Fiesta has three main parades. On Monday, Fiesta officials announced that The Texas Cavaliers River Parade will now take place in June.