Fencing around Milam Park and Market Square, metal detectors, and a clear bag policy will be in effect starting April 25 for the traditional Fiesta event.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio police announced new safety measures for the 2025 Fiesta De Los Reyes on Wednesday, almost one year after a deadly shooting interrupted the festivities at Historic Market Square.
“As we prepare for this year’s Fiesta De Los Reyes, I want to assure everybody that the safety of the community is our top priority,” said Thomas Aguillon, regent with Rey Feo Consejo Educational Foundation.
Security improvements for major events like Fiesta have been in the works over the past year.
“You won’t be able to stand anywhere in Market Square without seeing a police officer,” said SAPD Chief William McManus. “It’s been that way pretty much every year. We’re going to have the appropriate number of police officers to make sure that everyone feels safe and is safe.”
One of the enhanced security measures includes the implementation of fencing around Milam Park and Market Square.
“Milam Park will be fenced in, there will be access points where attendees have to go through. There’ll be magnetometers that people will have to pass through to make sure no one is carrying any weapons and there will be a clear bag policy,” McManus said.
He said all bags are subject to search to ensure no one brings in weapons. Bags must be 12 inches by 6 inches or smaller.
Ice chests and backpacks, meanwhile, are not allowed inside Fiesta De Los Reyes.
It was just after midnight on April 28 when San Antonio police responded to a shooting at Market Square involving a 20-year-old man and an 18-year-old man who had “some sort of beef,” as stated by McManus at the time.
Authorities at the time said officers fired their weapons at 18-year-old Mikey Valdez after seeing him fire at 20-year-old Albert Cisneros Jr.
Both young men died while four other bystanders were injured.