This home movie captures scenes of the Battle of Flowers Parade in downtown San Antonio on April 25, 1941. Representatives of many community organizations and schools ride on elaborately decorated floats, and military corps and high school marching bands from all over Texas march in uniform. The Battle of Flowers parade began in 1891 and is held each year in April to honor the heroes of the Alamo and celebrate the victory of the Battle of San Jacinto when Texas gained its independence. The parade was founded by Ellen Maury Slayden, a congressman’s wife, who recruited her friends to form the original Battle of Flowers Parade committee. The parade is still produced entirely by women. The 1941 parade celebrated the event’s 50th Anniversary.
Fiesta San Antonio is an annual event that celebrates the heroes of the Texas Revolution and San Antonio's local culture. Fiesta began as a one parade event with the first Battle of Flowers Parade in 1891. The Battle of Flowers parade includes elaborate floats and an actual battle of flowers, where blossoms are thrown in lieu of ammunition, in front of the Alamo. The parade is held in honor of the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto, held on or during the week of April 21, the day Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836. Fiesta San Antonio grew to include balls, parties, a carnival, and a coronation - crowning a queen, a princess, 24 duchesses, and King Antonio. It eventually evolved into its present day, 10-day celebration that features over 100 events, including three major parades, one of which takes place on the San Antonio River Walk where the floats actually "float." Fiesta San Antonio's festivities have come to celebrate not only the Texas Revolution, but also San Antonio's rich, diverse culture and heritage.
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