Here comes the parade -- and the parade, and the parade and the parade! Yes, during San Antonio's world-famous Fiesta, there are four fantastic parades to delight viewers of all ages.

River Parade

Thousands of enthusiastic viewers will line the banks of the San Antonio River downtown to view the Texas Cavaliers' River Parade at 7:30 p.m., Monday, April 23. Inspired by the flower-laden canal boats of Xochomilco, this parade started in 1941 with Cavaliers navigating by poles and paddles. This year's parade takes the theme "Olé, S.A." and salutes San Antonio's historic buildings, festivals and organizations, with 47 festively decorated, motorized floats following the curving river bends along the River Walk. Selected as the parade's honoree children's charity this year is the Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children.

Founded in 1926 to preserve and promote the ideals for which the heroes of the Alamo died, another of the Cavaliers' original goals was to promote horsemanship at a time when the automobile was gaining prominence. A number of members ride in a mounted platoon in the Battle of Flowers Parade. Their distinctive, powder-blue and red uniforms with gold military braid are said to be modeled after the French Foreign Legion's. Each year a member serves during Fiesta as King Antonio, and this year's King Antonio LXXIX will lead the River Parade in the traditional, ornate "King's Cruiser," followed by gaily bedecked barges bearing festive bands and colorfully-costumed participants. More than 225,000 people are expected to view this year's parade, either from ticketed, reserved seating or free from restaurants, hotels, bridges and open areas along the river.

Battle of Flowers Parade

On Friday, April 27, the vanguard or the "mother" of all the parades and of Fiesta itself, the 110th Battle of Flowers Parade, takes off through downtown San Antonio at 11:30 a.m. This fabulous parade originated in 1891, when a group of civic-minded women determined to honor the heroes of the Alamo and commemorate the Battle of San Jacinto by staging a parade. An announced visit by President Benjamin Harrison caused a slight date change, but when it rained on their parade, the event was postponed for four days and finally took place after the president returned to Washington. Nonetheless, it was a colorful sight, with flower-trimmed carriages from which the ladies merrily pelted each other with flowers in front of the Alamo. The parade has taken place annually since 1891, except during World War II.

This year's parade, with "2001: A World Odyssey" as its theme, will feature 200 entries, including: lavish floats; numerous military, high school and college marching bands (led by the famed Aggie Band); gigantic helium balloons; cavalcades, and horse-drawn carriages. This "Queen of Parades" features the Queen of the Order of the Alamo, a civic organization founded in 1909. The Queen and her court, garbed in elaborately jeweled and spangled gowns with flowing trains, are one of the parade highlights. The grand marshal this year is Texas singer/songwriter Robert Earl Keen, with the San Antonio Spurs' Coyote mascot serving as honorary grand marshal. This is the only parade in the nation put on entirely by women, The Battle of Flowers Association, an educational and patriotic organization.

King William Parade

Parade fever reaches its peak on Saturday, April 28, when two parades hit the streets of San Antonio. The day starts with the King William Parade at 10 a.m. on the tree-lined streets of the genteel King William Historic District. Billed as the "Funkiest Parade of Fiesta," this is a neighborhood parade that has grown into one of the truly fun events of Fiesta. The unofficial ruler of this parade is "King Anchovy," of the highly irreverent "Cornyation." This year's theme is "2001: A Neighborhood Oddyssey," and you can expect to see just about anything. Floats are homemade and you will find everything from a dog club pushing dachshunds in baby buggies to a van converted into a giant toaster accompanied by a marching butter stick. The parade culminates in the King William Fair, a fun, family event in this historic neighborhood of stately Victorian mansions.

Fiesta Flambeau

The final parade of Fiesta, the Fiesta Flambeau, with "Celebration of Lights" as its theme, is just as exciting as the earlier parades and starts at 6:50 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, with the Junior Vanguard, a children's parade. This largest illuminated night parade in the country was the brainchild of Reynolds Andricks, who conceived the idea of a torch-lit parade similar to those of New Orleans' Mardi Gras. (The French word flambeau literally means "burning torch.") The original line of march was interspersed with four-men torch brigades carrying warning flares. Bands attached flashlights to their music stands, and float decorators illuminated their floats in a variety of ways.

The first Flambeau illuminated San Antonio's downtown streets in 1948, and it grew more spectacular each year. Following Andricks' death in 1984, it was feared the parade might end, but a variety of organizations have taken it on until the present Fiesta Flambeau Parade Association, composed entirely of volunteers, was formed in 1989. The Flambeau is known as "The Peoples' Parade," as it features a diverse array of royalty, including Miss Fiesta (chosen from local college students in a scholarship contest that involves Texas history research), as well as queens from other organizations, towns, states and military bases, King Antonio and Rey Feo ("The Ugly King"). The elaborate floats are now lit by more than 150 propane torches.

So don't let the parade pass you by, or, if it does, catch the next one!

A Quick Look

Texas Cavaliers' River Parade
Monday, April 23, 7:30 p.m.
Seats: $10-$25
210 22-RIVER

Battle of Flowers Parade
Friday, April 27, 11:30 a.m.
Seats: $8-$10
210-822-2929

King William Parade
Saturday, April 28,
10 a.m., Free.

Fiesta Flambeau
Saturday, April 28, 6:50p.m. $8-$10
210-733-9141
Some Free Areas, All Parades