This year Fiesta San Antonio, the 11-day citywide festival that starts Thursday, will feature new discounts for transportation to get to your favorite events and spaces throughout the city. Whether you prefer to park-and-ride, walk, call a cab or use rideshare, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the Fiesta season without worrying about parking, traffic or getting behind a wheel when you’ve had too much to drink.
Uber + Yellow Cab
A partnership between Silver Eagle Distributors, Bud Light, the Valero Energy Foundation, the Fiesta San Antonio Foundation, Yellow Cab and – for the first time – Uber will provide ride options for Fiesta-goers who need a safe, affordable ride home. The program will provide more than 3,000 discounted rides this Fiesta season.
Uber will offer a $20 discount for all new user rides starting on Thursday. Uber users can also visit www.fiesta-sa.org for a daily Uber Fiesta discount code, which takes $10 off all rides within a quarter-mile of Fiesta events with alcohol. The code may be used between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Fiesta-goers can also pick up $10 Yellow Cab pre-paid taxi cards at various locations including the Fiesta Store. Both $10 discounts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
“The Fiesta Safe Rides program provides San Antonians with a great opportunity to plan ahead,” stated John L. Nau, III, President and CEO of Silver Eagle Distributors, in a press release on Wednesday. “We are proud to sponsor this important initiative for the eighth consecutive year and encourage all festival-goers to celebrate this exciting time of year responsibly.”
Fiesta attendees can find Uber and Yellow Cab at designated ride pick-up locations at the following events and dates:
- Fiesta Fiesta: April 14
- Fiesta de los Reyes at Market Square: April 14-24
- Fiesta Carnival: April 14-24
- St. Mary’s Oyster Bake: April 15-16
- Taste of New Orleans: April 15-17
Lyft
New Lyft users can use the code FIESTAWEEK for $5 discounts toward their first five Lyft rides. This offer can only be used in San Antonio during Fiesta Week.
VIA
VIA will offer park-and-ride services for several Fiesta events, including St. Mary’s Oyster Bake, A Night in Old San Antonio, and the Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Bus fare costs $2.50 each way, with available discounts for children, students, seniors and active-duty military members in uniform, or individuals with a valid VIA Reduced Fare ID. Cash and credit cards are accepted at the park & ride location. However, VIA bus passes are not valid for the Fiesta event service.
Additionally, Uber will provide a free ride credit (up to $20) for new Uber users who are going to and from any of the participating VIA Fiesta park-and-ride stations from Thursday, April 21 to Saturday, April 23. Park-and-ride users at the Madla Transit Center, Crossroads park-and-ride, and Blossom park-and-ride on Thursday, April 21 will also be offered VIA’s limited-edition 2016 Fiesta medals, while supplies last.
According to the VIA website, Fiesta Fiesta will cause several downtown detours on Thursday, April 14, between 8:30 a.m. and midnight. Fiesta parades such as the Battle of Flowers Parade and the Fiesta Flambeau Parade will significantly affect downtown bus services on April 22 and 23. To view VIA’s Fiesta 2016 schedule, click here.
To plan your bus trips during the Fiesta parades, call 210-362-2020 or use the online VIA Trip Planner.
Downtown Tuesday on Hold
The free parking provided by the City on Tuesday nights as part of its Downtown Tuesday programming will be suspended on Tuesday, April 19.
“Event parking rates will apply at all City-operated lots and garages,” according to a press release. “Regular meter rates will also be in effect. Special event and parade attendees are advised that street closures may impact the availability of metered parking in some areas. ”
This post has been updated with information about a partnership between VIA and Uber for discounted rides to and from VIA park-and-ride stations, and was originally published on April 14.
*Top Image: Long lines and big crowds fill the streets during NIOSA 2015 at La Villita. Photo by Scott Ball.
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