City: San Antonio, TX

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (210) 227-4262

Description: It takes a mighty festive city to turn the draining and cleaning of a river into a party, but, hey, San Antonio’s just that kind of place. Since 1987 this 3-day event has elevated mudslinging to an art. The fun begins with the Mud Pie Ball. The peak of the celebration is the election of the Mud King and Mud Queen to preside over the festivities. The King and Queen rise to their positions by collecting the most nickels, money to be used by the Paseo del Rio Association to hold free events along the River Walk throughout the year. The prospective Kings and Queens (usually celebrities, politicians, or business leaders) can obtain nickels any way they choose, and don’t think that mud wrestling is out of the question for these campaigners. When the nickels are tallied, the winners enter the “Brown House on Pig Pen-­sylvania Avenue” and wear a sand-­colored royal robe. Admission to all the festivities is free.