By Anaiah Liserio, Melody Mendoza, Chris Ramos
Although Fiesta is known to be one of the biggest parties in San Antonio, few people celebrate the parking nuisance.
SAPD Officer Matthew Porter said the best way to beat the Fiesta crowd and get a good parking spot is to arrive early.
As a part of the city’s promotion of safety during Fiesta, Porter added a few tips for parking: park in a well-lit area, and if possible, walk in groups to and from the parking lot.
He said officers are out and about during every Fiesta event, and encouraged people to flag down an officer to ask about parking, if in doubt.
He said unavailable parking lots will be marked with signs and barricades. If public streets are available for parking and are not marked off with a sign, they are open to the public.
Mary Ann’s Pig Stand
During Fiesta time, prices for parking vary from all corners of San Antonio, but a few places still remain the same no matter what time of the year.
“We don’t raise prices during Fiesta,” Pig Stand Owner Mary Ann Hill said.
Mary Ann’s Pig Stand, 1508 Broadway, is in route of San Antonio’s two oldest parades — the Battle of the Flowers parade April 27 and the Fiesta Flambeau parade April 28.
People who want to be close to the parade park at the Pig Stand, Hill said.
Hill added that by charging $20 to $25 for parking every year, events like Fiesta help pay the bills for the restaurant, which has been open since 1921.
Hill was unclear on the amount of parking spots available, but was sure people would still be coming by to park.
The parking next to the Mary Ann’s Pig Stand toward the highway is owned by Henry Benavides, who has not decided if he is going to allow parking on his side of the Pig Stand or open the space for food vendors. Benavides was unavailable for comment at the time of publication to verify how the space will be used.
San Antonio Independent School District
A block away from the starting point of the parade route lay the SAISD parking lots near the Student Support Building, 1653 N Alamo St. Three lots will be available for parking at $10 per vehicle from 8 a.m.-noon April 27 and 2 p.m.-6 p.m. April 28.
“We’ve been doing this for years and years,” Reggie Stevenson, assistant director of plant operations, said. “We have three slots, a gravel lot, our hackberry lot and the student support building lot.”
Although Stevenson added that the parking lots have an estimated 200 spots, there is one rule, “no ins and outs.”
Central Catholic High School
Central Catholic High School, 1403 N. Saint Mary’s St., also charges $10 for parking during the Fiesta parades.
The high school holds about 250 parking spots behind the football stadium, said Major Louis Ullrich, senior army instructor for Central Catholic High School.
Ullrich added that the Central Catholic High School’s JROTC program not only volunteers for parking during the Fiesta parades, but proceeds go to the program as well.
The following garages are privately owned and available for parking on along the parade route. Prices do vary at each garage upon the hour:
• Central Parking System
• Market Street Parking Garage, 421 West Market Street, San Antonio, TX
• Market Square parking garage, 1037 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205
• Riverbend Garage, 210 North Presa Street, San Antonio, TX
• Rivercenter, 849 East Commerce Street, San Antonio, TX
This story is part of The Mesquite Fiesta Guide, a special edition where reporters and photographers will contribute information on San Antonio’s Fiesta events, parking and food.
