Your favorite parade you never saw is on a river and run by the Texas Cavaliers

San Antonio's River Parade is a cavalcade of traditions

Last week

Shawn-Laree O'Neil

and I were in San Antonio, TX as I was attending a conference. We flew in Monday, rode to the hotel, and unexpectedly found ourselves in the middle of Fiesta, an 11-day citywide celebration of San Antonio's heritage and culture.

That evening was the night of the Texas Cavaliers River Parade, which is a cross between Mardi Gras, Kentucky Derby, a Shriners Parade, El Grito, and halftime of a college football homecoming game. There’s the throwing of things to and from floating floats, people wearing elaborate things on their head, fundraising for charities, peppering each other with confetti, and multiple sets of kings & courts.

We stayed at the HQ hotel for the 76th Rey Feo, which has a fascinating working class history (/r/sanantonio/) of alternative fealty. The elevators were decked out in his honor.

Here’s two lobbyites awaiting festivities.

Each float is driven by a Cavalier. Some mustered on windy Commerce Street.

Confetti missiles are an important component. Here’s a sashed person handing some out and a person who sits in the particles; no big deal.

Here’s a supercut of our favorite floats: