Thrills and chills

Six Flags Fiesta Texas unveils wild plans for fastest ride ever

The Joker Wild Card ride at Fiesta Texas will throw riders 17 stories into the air.

Rendering courtesy of Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Six Flags Fiesta Texas is kicking off the fall season with the announcement of its most fiendish ride yet. On August 30, the amusement park unveiled The Joker Wild Card, a 17-story pendulum ride billed as one of the tallest in the world.

The diabolical contraption, named after the popular DC Comic character, features a center disk that can accommodate up to 40 riders. Each swing of the pendulum gets higher and higher, until the ride reaches breathtaking speeds of up to 75 miles per hour, giving daredevils an unparalleled — if quick — view of the park.

“The Joker Wild Card will be the fastest ride in park history and is the perfect villainous twist to our already spectacular ride lineup in the newly themed DC Universe area,” says park president Jeffrey Siebert in a release.

The ride will join DC attractions like Batman: The Ride; the Superman Krypton Coaster; and the Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster, the single rail ride that debuted on May 12.

In addition to the Joker Wild Card news, Fiesta Texas also disclosed that it will be adding weekend and holiday hours to its regular January and February dates for year-round operation.

To get guests in the spirit for the thrills, the company is offering a flash sale on 2019 season passes. From August 30-September 3, the park will offer up to 70 percent savings on 2019 passes and other special deals.

The wild ride is set to debut in summer 2019, but you can experience a simulation of the twisting, turning attraction here.

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SÍ SE PUEDE

San Antonio celebrates 27th annual César E. Chávez March for Justice this weekend

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

The theme for this year's March for Justice is “Finding True Life Through Service to Others.”

Every year, thousands of San Antonians come together to honor the legacy of civil rights leader Cesar E. Chavez with a two-mile walk through downtown on Saturday, March 25. Plans for the 27th annual César E. Chávez March for Justice have been released, including this year’s new theme.

The César E. Chávez Legacy and Educational Foundation (CECLEF) announced March 25 as the date for their next march, with the new theme titled “Finding True Life Through Service to Others.”

Interim District 7 Councilwoman Rosie Castro, U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro, and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro (her sons) will be the march’s Grand Marshals.

CECLEF Chair Ernest J. Martinez said in a press release that it’s inspiring for him to see how the longstanding San Antonio tradition has been well-received by the local community and continues to be embraced by the younger generation.

“This year, we are strongly encouraging our K [through] 12 and college students to march alongside our friends, family, community, civic leaders, and elected officials,” he shared. “The March has always been a time to engage in civic participation and advocate for social and economic justice for our communities.”

Another priority with this year’s march is to give recognition to the many farm workers in San Antonio, while also bringing awareness to the food disparities in the community. CECLEF encourages participants to bring canned goods to the march for their “Yes We CAN” food drive, which will be donated to the San Antonio Food Bank.

District 5 Councilwoman Terri Castillo, who is the daughter of migrant farm workers, said the march serves as a prominent commemoration of the farm workers who advocated for better working conditions.

“This march serves as a reminder that we all have a role to play to carry on the legacy of labor leaders like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta," she said. "When we march together, we say yes to organizing for safe working conditions, a living wage, and a better future for San Antonio. ¡Sí se puede!”

The 27th annual César E. Chávez March for Justice will begin at 10 am on March 25 at the corner of Brazos and Guadalupe Street.

More information about the March for Justice can be found on sanantonio.gov.

san antonio cesar chavez march for justice food drive