Texas celebrates their Independence Day on March 2. It is the day Texas adopted the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836. The document was signed by 59 delegates and it officially declared independence from Mexico and created the Republic of Texas.

In San Antonio, you can find events being held from February 23 through Thursday, March 6. These events honor the 13-day siege leading up to the Alamo. They bring the Alamo’s unique story to life, inspire visitors, and honor all those who lived, fought, and died at the Alamo. You can find out more about the events that will be held on their website at www.thealamo.org/remember/commemoration.

The only local celebration we are aware of is the Independence Day parade in Alamo. This year’s parade will be on Saturday, March 1. You can find more details on their Facebook page.

The Chamber of Commerce parade is one of only a few in the entire state of Texas to remember the 13-day battle between 1,800 to 6,000 Mexican soldiers under General Santa Anna and 189 defenders of the Alamo under Lt. Col. William Travis that came to a bloody conclusion on that fateful day when Santa Ana ordered an assault on the San Antonio mission complex in which 600 or more Mexican soldiers died along with all the Texas defenders. The only Americans to survive were civilians, almost all women and children.

While the price was high, it gave enough time for 59 politicians in the hamlet of Washington on the Brazos to hammer out a declaration of independence from Mexico four days earlier.

It was April 21, 1836 that a Texan force led by Sam Houston defeated Santa Anna’s army of 1,500 men at San Jacinto, near present day Houston. It was marked by the rallying cry of “Remember the Alamo.” It also ended the war for independence from Mexico and created a new nation—the Republic of Texas.

If you want to find other events, you just need to go online, search Texas Independence Day celebrations and you will find many events being held.

CUTLINE: Trophy Gardens participates in the Texas Independence Day Parade in 2022. (Photo by Herb Moering)