NIOSA officials hang ‘rain rock' before annual Fiesta event

Tradition began with cowboy legend

SAN ANTONIO – Another Fiesta favorite begins Tuesday night: A Night in Old San Antonio.

The rock has become a tradition that dates back to the 1970s with a cowboy legend.

2017 Fiesta Schedule of Events

Organizers said in the 1800s during a cattle drive if the weather was bad or rain was coming cowboys hung a limestone rock with a hole in it.

That was to keep the bad weather away and prevent a stampede.

"This tradition of hanging the rain rock is part of our character,” chair of NIOSA Patti Zaiontz said. “It's part of, whether the rain rock itself truly keeps the rain away or if it's just the spirit of what we do with our 1,500 volunteers that participate in NIOSA every year."

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NIOSA kicks off on Tuesday and runs through Friday in La Villita.

The gates open at 5:30 p.m. and close at 10:30 p.m.

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