Fall festival at La Villita to take place of NIOSA with limited-ticket event
SAN ANTONIO – This year will deliver a pumpkin-spiced, scaled-back version of NIOSA in November. The Conservation Society of San Antonio announced it will hold a “Fall Heritage Festival” in La Villita that will have “comparisons” to NIOSA — just with a 1,000-attendance limit and admission of $125 per person. While the fall festival will be larger this year, Zaiontz said it “is nothing new for The Society.” This will be COSA’s 10th fall festival, she said. Guests are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate to the San Antonio Food Bank. Fiesta San Antonio was canceled entirely due to the coronavirus pandemic in July.
Conservation Society of San Antonio to hold NIOSA-style fall celebration in November
click image Instagram / liveitupsaThe Conservation Society of San Antonio will hold a “Fall Heritage Festival” at La Villita on Friday, November 6, featuring NIOSA-adjacent food, booze and entertainment.“This is not a NIOSA celebration, but San Antonians will notice many welcome comparisons to NIOSA in food and drink,” Conservation Society President Patti Zaiontz said in a release . “The spread-out nature of this festival will hearken back to the roots of our first festivals on the grounds of Mission San Jose.”Attendance will max out at 1,000, so those interested in the pricey, three-hour-long soiree better get cracking on getting tickets — sales went live Friday morning. Each $125 ticket is all-inclusive and allows attendees access to visit all food and drink booths. Two local bands will be on hand to entertain.Confirmed food booths include Mr. Chicken (to sate that chicken on a stick craving), Maria’s Tortillas, Bongo K Bobs, German Sausage and more. Drink booths will offer imported and domestic beers, wine margaritas, wine and non-alcoholic drinks.To throw an event that is “smart, small and careful” the Society will follow safety and sanitation procedures such as enforced social distancing and mask-wearing when guests aren't seated.The festival will run 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Electronic tickets are available at the NIOSA and Conservation Society of San Antonio websites.
sacurrent.comSan Antonio bar owners vent about Conservation Society's NIOSA-style Fall Festival on social media
click image Instagram / lucycoopersicehouseTickets went on sale Friday morning for a pricey, NIOSA-reminiscent Fall Heritage Festival produced by and benefiting the Conservation Society of San Antonio.Since many Alamo City bars sit idle because they don’t qualify to relicense as restaurants — or are still waiting for approval — some owners took to social media to express frustration that the event received approval to move forward.In a Facebook post, Lucy Cooper’s Icehouse owner Braunda Smith called the festival, which could draw as many as 1,000 people, "tone-deaf. “Please help us, Ron Nirenberg. The restaurant and bar industry needs dedicated help! “This is politics, this is killing small businesses, and this is bullshit.”While Smith, McDiarmid and Peña have all gained necessary approval to operate as restaurants, that process came at a significant price. Any bar that's been approved to operate as a restaurant has spent around $800 for the licensing in addition to added expenses for new equipment, inspections, food costs and more.
sacurrent.comHang a rain rock with SA Live
SAN ANTONIO – Today would have been the start of NIOSA, so Mike and Fiona make and hang their own rain rocks in honor of the event. While they are coming to you from the KSAT Garden all week, it’s best to have some good luck when it comes to the weather. See the video above to see their personalized rain rocks.
SA Live hangs our own rain rocks | SA Live | KSAT 12
SA Live hangs our own rain rocks | SA Live | KSAT 12Published: April 21, 2020, 3:02 pmToday would have been the start of NIOSA, so Mike and Fiona make and hang their own rain rocks in honor of the event. While they are coming to you from the KSAT Garden all week, it's best to have some good luck when it comes to the weather...
San Antonio will likely learn Fiestas fate Friday amid coronavirus cancellations
San Antonio will likely learn Fiestas fate Friday amid coronavirus cancellationsFILE PHOTO Mayor Ron Nirenberg takes part in the parade to kick off Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) on its first night of celebrations during Fiesta Week on Tuesday, Apr. Hosted by the San Antonio Conservation Society, thousands of eager party-goers flocked to La Villita for food, music and all-around revelry. Hosted by the San ... more Photo: Kin Man Hui /San Antonio Express-News Photo: Kin Man Hui /San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close San Antonio will likely learn Fiestas fate Friday amid coronavirus cancellations 1 / 1 Back to GalleryThe question of whether Fiesta will go on in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak will likely be answered Friday. Postponing or canceling Fiesta slated to have more than 100 official events this year would likely have a sizable effect on the San Antonio economy. Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio city government and politics.
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