Got a DWI During Fiesta or a Spurs Playoff Game? Here’s What to Do.

(Photo credit Chavis Barron for MySA)

San Antonio is one of the best cities in the country for celebrating — and right now, we’ve got two massive reasons to do exactly that. Fiesta 2026 runs April 16–26, bringing over 100 events, three major parades, and more than three million people into the streets of the Alamo City. At the same time, your San Antonio Spurs — 62 wins, 20 losses on the season — are deep into the NBA playoffs, and this city is electric. If you’ve been out celebrating and found yourself on the wrong side of a traffic stop, you need a Fiesta DWI attorney in San Antonio who knows Bexar County courts and can move fast.

Fiesta + Spurs Playoffs = Heightened DWI Enforcement

SAPD doesn’t hide the fact that they surge DWI resources every single year during Fiesta. In 2025, San Antonio police made 147 DWI arrests over the 11-day celebration — up from 114 the year prior. In 2023, the number was 151. Historically, arrest totals during Fiesta have reached as high as 270 across Bexar County in a single year.

Officers are out in force, they’re watching the roads near every major event venue, and they’re actively looking for signs of impairment. That’s not speculation — SAPD’s DWI unit has gone on record saying they ramp up patrols specifically because Fiesta means more alcohol, more late nights, and more people on the road. Add packed Spurs playoff watch parties and postgame bar scenes into the mix, and it’s not hard to see why the weeks of April and May are among the highest-risk periods for a DWI arrest in San Antonio.

Saturdays tend to be the most active days for arrests. During Fiesta 2024, the single busiest day saw 18 DWI arrests. If you’re driving home late on a parade night or after a playoff watch party at a Southtown bar, the odds of encountering a checkpoint or a patrol unit are higher than usual.

What’s Happening During Fiesta 2026

This year’s Fiesta is one of the biggest in recent memory. Here’s a quick look at what’s drawing the crowds — and the late-night traffic:

• Fiesta Fiesta — Opening ceremony at Travis Park, April 16
• Fiesta Oyster Bake — St. Mary’s University, April 17–19, featuring live music and tens of thousands of attendees
• Taste of New Orleans — Sunken Garden Theater, April 18–20
• Texas Cavaliers River Parade — San Antonio River Walk, April 21
• A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) — La Villita, April 22–25, four consecutive nights
• Battle of Flowers Parade — Broadway, April 25
• King William Fair — King William Historic District, April 26
• Fiesta Flambeau Parade — The famous illuminated night parade, April 26

Each of these events draws massive crowds, plenty of alcohol, and — inevitably — some people making bad decisions behind the wheel afterward. SAPD knows the schedule just as well as you do, and they plan accordingly.

A DWI in Texas Is Serious — Even a First Offense

A lot of people underestimate what a DWI charge actually means in Texas. Under Texas law, a first-offense DWI is a Class B misdemeanor — but it carries real consequences: up to 180 days in jail, fines up to $2,000, a driver’s license suspension of up to one year, and an annual surcharge to maintain your license for three years afterward. A second offense bumps to a Class A misdemeanor, and a third becomes a felony.

Beyond the courtroom, a DWI conviction affects your insurance rates, your employment background checks, and your permanent record. It’s not a ticket you pay and forget. You can learn more about how DWI cases are handled in this area on our DWI attorney service page.

The Texas Department of Transportation estimates the total cost of a DWI conviction — including fines, legal fees, increased insurance, and surcharges — can exceed $17,000. That’s before you factor in lost wages or professional consequences.

What to Do If You’re Arrested for DWI During Fiesta or a Spurs Game

If you’re pulled over and arrested, the decisions you make in the first 24–48 hours matter. Here’s what you need to know:

• Stay calm and be respectful. How you behave during the stop will be noted in the officer’s report.
• Do not answer questions beyond identifying yourself. You have the right to remain silent — use it.
• Request an attorney before making any statements. This is your right, and invoking it early protects you.
• Note the details. Time of stop, location, what you were told, whether field sobriety tests were administered, and whether a breath or blood test was requested.
• Contact a DWI attorney as quickly as possible. In Texas, you have only 15 days from the date of arrest to request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing to contest your license suspension. Miss that window and you lose the right to challenge it.

That 15-day deadline is one of the most commonly missed and most consequential steps after a DWI arrest. An experienced attorney will handle it automatically — but only if you call in time. You can also review our post on navigating Bexar County DWI offenses for a fuller picture of how the local process works.

Why the Spurs Playoffs Make This Even More Relevant Right Now

The Spurs finished the 2025–26 regular season 62-20, one of the best records in franchise history in the Wembanyama era. This city hasn’t had a legitimate playoff run to get excited about in years, and the energy in San Antonio right now is real. Watch parties are packed, bars along the River Walk and around the AT&T Center are doing record business, and Fiesta overlaps directly with the early rounds of the playoffs.

That’s a perfect storm for DWI arrests. SAPD doesn’t care if it was a Spurs win or a Fiesta parade — they’re looking for impaired drivers either way.

Gilbert Law Office: Your Fiesta DWI Attorney in San Antonio

If you or someone you know was arrested for DWI during Fiesta or a Spurs playoff game, don’t wait. Attorney Matthew Gilbert handles DWI defense in Bexar and Kendall County, and he understands how local courts and prosecutors approach these cases. Whether this is a first offense or a more complicated situation, Gilbert Law Office will give you a straight assessment of where you stand and what your options are.

With offices in San Antonio and Boerne, contact Gilbert Law Office today to schedule a consultation. The sooner you call, the more we can do.

Note: The ALR hearing request deadline in Texas is 15 days from the date of arrest. If you were recently arrested, call today.