It's that time of the year to bring out the flower crowns and colorful clothes, San Antonio. Fiesta brings hundreds together at events all across the city, especially downtown, for a huge 11-day celebration that honors San Antonio's history and culture.

The Fiesta season originally commemorated the Battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto that led to the independence of Texas from Mexico. It started with one parade, the Battle of Flowers, in 1891, and grew into the mammoth season of festivities enjoyed today ( though not without some criticism ).

San Antonio loves to party with a purpose, but we make a lot of trash during 11 days of revelry. All that garbage isn't so great for the environment, but there are ways to party more sustainably. How it works: The city of San Antonio certifies certain events as "green" based on organizers' efforts to reduce waste,