Review - Texas - San Antonio - Six Flags Fiesta Texas - Mardi Gras Festival

This was the first time I'd attended the Mardi Gras Festival at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and was really impressed by the offerings.

When you head toward the entrance, you will be greeted by a giant sign.

And you will find decorations throughout the park.

There are creole and cajun style treats throughout the park - look for these colorful displays. Look for the beignets (ben-yays) or the French-style donuts covered with powdered sugar. Also, if you purchased the dining package add-on for your ticket, some of the booths offer items that work with that program (look for the "M").

The Six Flags app lists the locations and times for live entertainment if you don't find the signs. The Big Easy Band was playing jazz hits near a nice sitting area where you can find adult beverages and some time to sit and enjoy. Right across this area was the kid's craft stations where they were making masks and coloring pages. There was also a family-friendly show featuring singing and acrobatics on the Texas Stage (near the center of the park). Looney Toons characters were roaming outside their photo studio wearing Mardi Gras colored accessories if you or your kids enjoy meet-and-greets.

Also, the staff at different rides and at the entrance booths were handing out beaded necklaces.

Lots of photo props throughout the park.

The highlight of the festival is the Mardi Gras Parade which runs through most of the park with guest interaction, music, and lots of fun. Good for the whole family.

Maardi Gras Festival February 7 – March 15

Six Flags Fiesta Texas, 17000 IH-10 West, San Antonio, TX 78257

Park is open weekends and daily through during Spring Break (March 9-15th plus March 19th-22nd)

For more information, click here: https://www.sixflags.com/fiestatexas/events/mardi-gras
You can also find a park map here: https://qr1.be/ZYX2

Review - Texas - San Antonio - Sea World San Antonio - Mardi Gras

For a short time, Sea World San Antonio is celebrating Mardi Gras (a carnival theme which was made famous in New Orleans) with colorful theming, fun characters roaming the areas with beads to give away, musical and animal shows and some Cajun-style foods for purchase.

After getting through security then the ticket scanning stalls, you will come upon the park map and the fountain area. If you come too early, you may miss the fun guys on stilts but not to worry as you can circle back later and catch a picture with them - which is what I ended up doing since I arrived a little after park opening and they hadn't come out yet.

Head past the service buildings and you may find Shamu the killer whale waiting on the righthand path to take a picture with you and your family. If the line is long, be patient because it will get longer throughout the day and Shamu tends to disappear as it gets hotter or later in the day. Don't be intimidated by the park's photographer, you can take your own pictures as well.

If you're really lucky and you arrive early in the day, you may get to see Star, a bald eagle, just behind all the fountains.

As we headed toward the roller coasters, we ran into the colorful King and Queen.

When you head further into the park (and a bit later in the day since they weren't open in the morning), there's a nice Queen's Concoctions truck serving Mardi Gras-themed adult beverages.

Throughout the kid's areas we met several costumed characters wandering around. A few of them were handing out beaded necklaces. One fellow had a little bead-throwing game for kids to win a necklace.

There's special musical shows throughout the day. Use the Sea World app to find the times and locations. You can enjoy the Bexas Brass brand and The Krewe's Beats and Beads Jamboree. There's also a nice Cajun Critters show at the Biergarten Stage.

There was a small offering of Cajun or Creole foods and adult beverages. Definitely not as grand as their food festival which makes sense since this event only runs about a month long.

And finally, I took a peak at the new roller coaster coming soon - Barracuda Strike.

The party only lasts until February 16, 2026. Also, Sea World operating hours are on the "shorter" schedule - 10:30am - 5:00pm CST on weekends plus President's Day.

Sea World San Antonio, 10500 SeaWorld Drive, San Antonio, TX 78251

For more information, click here: https://seaworld.com/san-antonio/events

Event - #Travel #Texas - #San Antonio - Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival - November 8, 2025

San Antonio, Texas - Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival
November 8, 2025
Briscoe Western Art Museum
Wonderful annual festival featuring Native American art and culture. The festival will kick off with a Native American spiritual blessing and followed by a ceremonial drum circle. In addition to art demonstrations there will also be performances and hands-on crafts. Lots of fun for all ages.

“Yanaguana” is a word the Native Americans used to describe the San Antonio River.
Address: 210 W. Market Street, San Antonio, TX 78205
Hours: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm CST
Fees: FREE admission and FREE parking
For more information - https://briscoemuseum.org/etn/yanaguana-indian-arts-festival/

Event - #Travel #Texas - #San Antonio - National Day of the Cowboy Aloha Vaqueros - July 26, 2025

San Antonio, Texas - National Day of the Cowboy Aloha Vaqueros
July 26, 2025
Briscoe Western Art Museum
Free admission to the museum in addition to a day of activities focused on cowboys including the paniolos (island cowboys) of Hawaii. Kids can ride stick ponies and race around barrels or play games like horseshoe toss. Arts and crafts such as making your own cowboy hat or spur. There will story time, poetry reading, and food trucks ($).
Address: 210 W. Market St, San Antonio, TX
Hours: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm CST
Fees: FREE
For more information - https://briscoemuseum.org/etn/national-day-of-the-cowboy-aloha-vaqueros/

Review - Texas - San Antonio - Holiday in the Park Six Flags Fiesta Texas

The annual Holiday in the Park has started again at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and will continue through January 3rd.

You do need to make a start-time specific reservation on their website before arriving. Be sure to add parking to your purchase!

Six Flags is also offering a drive-through holiday lights experience. The cost is $14.99 per person if you purchase your tickets online or $20.00 per person at the gate, yet they still require a reservation to enter. Members get discounted tickets.

When you arrive, you will head toward the temperature-taking tent at the end of the parking lot and zig-zag through a long queue to get your temperature checked via a camera setup and then heading to the security station to have your tickets scanned and bags checked.

 

Holiday in the Park is basically Six Flags decorated with holiday themed props and lights as well as a few Christmasy shows. You can also find holiday-themed treats to purchase as well.

 

The crowds didn't show up until the sky started getting darker and the holiday lights were glowing, about 4pm (CST), just two hours before the holiday tree-lighting at 6pm (CST). There were decals placed on the ground around the tree for social distancing.

Six Flags has implemented many safety measures throughout the park in response to Covid. The restrooms, for example, all have "entry" and "exit" signs to create one-way flow in and out of the bathroom. Most people, however, don't really pay attention or follow it. One note if you have young children or babies is not every restroom has a changing table.

All the eating locations are set up with outdoor or open-door seating that is spaced out or with tables marked out. One note is we didn't see anyone cleaning the tables so be prepared to use napkins or wipes.

There were sanitizer stations throughout the park, however, the liquid smells TERRIBLE. Best to bring your own!

A few costumed characters from Looney Tunes do meet but in a socially distanced way. As you can see in this picture, Pepe Le Peu meets behind a bench area where you can sit for pictures.

 

Most of the rides were operating. The longest line seemed to be Wonder Woman. The employees were pretty diligent about spraying down the ride vehicles after every session (which adversely made lines feel longer).

Plenty of spaced out benches throughout the park to sit. Near the front is a mask-free zone where you can relax in cushioned chairs without your mask on. That was a nice area to rest for a bit with the younglings.

Overall, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is doing a good job with Covid safety measures and trying to offer a balance of fun and safety.

Review - Texas - San Antonio - Christmas Celebration at Sea World San Antonio

Sea World's annual Christmas Celebration has started and despite the new processes and many changes to the normal agenda, it was still an enjoyable visit for our family.

 

You must make a reservation to visit the park ahead of time (or same day) on their website. Be sure to add parking. No need to select a specific time slot like Six Flags. Bring your reservation barcodes with you in addition to your park entry tickets. Once you park, you will head past the Texas stonework photo-op to the white tent where they will take your temperature before you proceed to the security check and then ticket scanning.

Be sure to bring your masks!

They do have hand santizer stations throughout the park but personally I didn't like the strong aroma of their solution and was so glad that I had brought my own!

 

In the Bay of Play area for younger children, characters are meeting but in a socially distanced way (standing on a platform).

 

Also, the playground areas are closed off. Most of the other rides and activities throughout the park were operating even the splash pad.

 

Holiday decorations and photo-op statues are spread throughout the park.

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite part of the Christmas Celebration are the limited edition treats and dining opportunities. You can make reservations to eat with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus (tip - you can see Mrs. Claus wandering the park late in the day). There are refillable mugs for hot chocolate (prices vary by location). We always stock up on kettle corn as the sealed portions make great gifts.

 

 

 

As the sun starts setting, the lights come on and you will see why Sea World's Christmas Celebration is named one of the largest light displays in Texas. The lights are very bright. Be sure to check out the dancing light tunnel.

The day started out with light crowds but the people started trickling in steadily as the lights came on, but there are signs for social distancing throughout the decorated areas.