OYSTER BAKE

Fiesta returns June 17-27 with a slate of 50 events. Some favorites missing from the schedule: Oyster Bake and the two largest parades.

click image Instagram / barbacoabigredfestivalclick image Instagram / barbacoabigredfestivalCOVID-19 has claimed another puro San Antonio gathering.Organizers of the annual Barbacoa & Big Red Festival announced via social media Wednesday that its 2021 festivities have been cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.“We have consulted our team of experts in health and wellness as well as our community leaders to play it safe by doing our part to combat the spread of this deadly virus,” the post read. “We are hoping to come back strong in 2022 and celebrate San Antonio’s staple of Barbacoa & Big Red once again safely as a community together.”Last year's festival was also postponed then ultimately called off due to COVID-19 concerns.News of the Barbacoa & Big Red Festival's 2021 cancellation comes as other big San Antonio gatherings have retooled or completely called off the festivities this year.Last week, Oyster Bake , one of Fiesta’s best-attended attractions, announced its cancellation. The annual Cowboy Breakfast also pivoted by delivering breakfast tacos to local nonprofits instead of hosting its annual event that draws as many as 25,000 people.

click to enlarge Courtesy Photo / St. Mary's Alumni AssociationIn what could be a barometer for other Fiesta 2021 events, St. Mary’s University has canceled Oyster Bake for a second year due to high COVID-19 infection rates, KSAT reports“I am sad to announce that we are canceling Fiesta Oyster Bake 2021 due to the substantial numbers of COVID-19 cases in our region,” St. Mary’s University Alumni Association President Joe L. Vela Jr. said in a release supplied to the station. “We cannot risk impacting the health of our campus residents, alumni and the community by scheduling the event this spring. We will return next year stronger and more focused on continuing a better and safer celebration.”The event will resume on April 1-2, 2022, according to the statement. Oyster Bake is one of the best-attended events at San Antonio's annual citywide party, drawing up to 70,000 people to enjoy food and multiple stages of live music.

SAN ANTONIO – The Fiesta Oyster Bake at St. Mary’s University has been canceled for a second year due to the coronavirus pandemic. “I am sad to announce that we are canceling Fiesta Oyster Bake 2021 due to the substantial numbers of COVID-19 cases in our region,” association president Joe L. Vela Jr. said in a news release. The Oyster Bake is one of Fiesta’s biggest events, drawing in about 60,000-70,000 fans to the university’s grounds. San Antonio officials had hoped to postpone Fiesta events to Nov. 5-15, 2020, but those plans were scrapped as virus cases continued to increase. The COVID-19 case count reached 155,588 total on Thursday, an increase of 2,507 new cases from the day prior.

Edward A. Ornelas /San Antonio Express-NewsWhile plans for Fiesta 2021 remain in limbo as the coronavirus pandemic continues, Oyster Bake has already decided to pull out of San Antonio's largest celebration. The headliner Fiesta event which has unfurled on the St. Mary's University Campus for more than 100 years canceled the 2021 event, the school's alumni association confirmed in an email sent to MySA on Friday. The event was canceled early on in 2020, when organizers announced they would not participate in Fiesta amid the early days of the pandemic. Fiesta as a whole was eventually canceled in July.

Graphic by Ivan BrionesDIDIER CADENA – STAFF WRITERAs this fall semester begins to come to a close, St. Mary’s has started to send out some information about adjustments to this upcoming spring semester. The spring semester is set to begin on Jan. 20, a week later than the original start date of Jan. 13. The next and more controversial announcement to come out of this email is the declaration that spring break will be canceled this spring semester. Many feel that this will not be beneficial to campus safety and that makes students worry for themselves and their fellow students on campus. However, precautions will remain uncertain until the continuation of Oyster Bake is determined.

The annual Fiesta San Antonio event has grown to having over 70,000 attendees and more than 7,000 volunteers at the festival. The Witte Museum is hosting its Fiesta Couture exhibit through Nov. 29. Fiesta San Antonio describes the event “Founded by San Antonio businessmen and community leaders in 1909. ‘Fiesta Couture: Behind the Seams’ will give visitors a look into this unique art of storytelling through clothing that makes the Order of the Alamo such a well-loved part of Fiesta San Antonio. As with any outing these days, if planning to visit the Witte Museum, be sure to social distance, wear a mask and sanitize frequently.

They'll also be able to partake in a rockin'-for-Jesus mosh pit as Christian nu-metal act P.O.D. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit oysterbake.comWere keeping you informed...and its what we love to do. From local politics and culture to national news that hits close to home, San Antonio Current has been keeping San Antonio informed for years. If quality journalism is important to you, please consider a donation to San Antonio Current. Every reader contribution is valuable and so appreciated, and goes directly to support our coverage of critical issues and neighborhood culture.

| Photo courtesy of @stmu_eco_clubCONTRIBUTING WRITER POLINA PROTOZANOVAWaste free living or the zero waste movement has gained attention in 2019. Unfortunately, those two things are what most peoples perception of zero waste ends with. Zero waste is a social movement that focuses on creating as little waste as possible all while living life to the fullest potential. They allow customers to buy things in bulk, using their own or provided packaging and, therefore, avoid unnecessary waste. For those students on a budget, try buying from clothing stores that practice recycling of their products.