“A Night In Old San Antonio®” (NIOSA®)—a four-night festival that celebrates the city’s diverse cultural legacy—will be held April 25-28, 2023 from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. nightly during Fiesta San Antonio®.

 

Celebrating its 75th presentation this year, NIOSA is the top fundraiser for historic preservation in the United States—living up to its motto as a “Celebration for Preservation.”  It is solely produced by and benefits The Conservation Society of San Antonio (one of the nation’s oldest and most active historic preservation organizations that will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2024).

 

Through the magic of 165+ food, drink and atmosphere booths and entertainment stages; continuous live musical acts; decorations; souvenirs; and many dedicated volunteers, NIOSA brings the city’s heritage alive in its 14 cultural areas.  San Antonians have consistently voted NIOSA as their favorite event; it was listed the #1 Fiesta event by San Antonio Current, which called it an “essential experience.”

 

SOMETHINGS ARE COMING BACK (for the better!):

  • NIOSA 2023 will again sell paper coupons for food, drink, souvenirs on the grounds that can be purchased outside and inside the NIOSA gates during the event. Yes, no wristbands!
  • NIOSA only takes cash for coupons; ATM machines available on the grounds
  • In honor of its 75th Anniversary, the Chili Queens are back, whose origins at NIOSA date back to 1947 when Society members created replicas of the old-time chili stands that dotted Juarez Plaza
  • Advance discount entrance tickets are available early March through April 28 for $20/pp at

area H-E-B grocery stores; Ft. Sam Houston; Lackland AFB and Randolph AFB

  • Advance entrance tickets for $20 are available from early March through April 28 on NIOSA website; additional handling fee will be charged. These e-tickets from NIOSA website can be loaded to your phone or tablet, or printed.  NIOSA leaders strongly recommend you print out e-ticket as back-up.
  • Tickets can be purchased nightly during NIOSA at the gates for $25 for adults; children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and close at 10 p.m.; food sales and entertainment continue until 10:30 p.m. All tickets are non-refundable; NIOSA is open, rain or shine.
  • All areas will be located within La Villita this year. Check NIOSA website often for map and list of foods in each area.
  • Children 12 and under are still free when accompanied by an adult. However, there will not be children’s games nor face-painting.

SOMETHINGS NEVER CHANGE (thank goodness)!  NIOSA 2023 will still:

  • occur in the heart of downtown San Antonio on the grounds of La Villita Historic Arts Village District, with its four+ acres of historic buildings, cobblestoned streets, walls and fountains.
  • serve the foods NIOSA has created or perfected, prepared and served including these favorites: Mr. Chicken, Maria’s Tortillas, Anticuchos, its signature German sausage, Bongo-K-Bobs, Beignets, Fried Mushrooms, Yak-i-Tori, Steer on a Stick, Eggrolls, Gorditas and Fajitas de Pollo.
  • feature NIOSA’s favorite entertainers who perform every night of NIOSA.
  • be put on by an army of volunteers, led by the Society’s Fourth Vice President/NIOSA Chairman Patti Zaiontz who is ultimately responsible for everything from decorations to cascarones and security. She is assisted by four NIOSA vice chairmen (Julie Terrell, Lisa Pierce, Terry Campbell and Glenda Duffin) and NIOSA Treasurer Wayne Hartman; 14 area chairmen; and chairmen for more the hundreds of food and drink booths.  Some food booths have been run by  second or third generations of a family; all are volunteers.
  • sell its popular NIOSA souvenirs on its website and during NIOSA, including the 2023 NIOSA medal
  • allow children 12 and under in for free with paying adult.
  • continue as one of the top Green events during Fiesta with recycle bins in all of its 14 areas so guests can reduce, reuse and recycle.
  • VIA Metropolitan Transit will offer Park and Ride services; check www.viainfo.net/park-and-ride/ for complete information.
  • allow members of the Conservation Society to purchase tickets in advance at $15/pp. Join the Society at https://www.saconservation.org/get-involved/membership/
  • only allow clear bags on the grounds (not tinted plastic) and cannot exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12.″ Exceptions are diaper bags held by guardian.  All bags are subject to search.
  • not allow strollers, pets, backpacks, ice chests, alcoholic beverages to be brought in.

NEW IN 2023:

  • A large selection of Silver Eagle beers and beverages – watch website for updates
  • FOOD BOOTHS: Fish and Chips in Irish Flats; Chicken Wings in Main Street; Chili Queens in Haymarket; Potato Pancakes in Sauerkraut Bend; Barney Bacon is returning to Irish Flats

 

For more information, visit https://www.niosa.org/, contact (210) 226-5188 or niosa@niosa.org, or follow NIOSA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NIOSA.NIOSA/ and Instagram at www.instagram.com/anightinoldsa/.

 

“A Night In Old San Antonio” pays homage to the city’s diverse culture with food, music and décor that transforms the village into 14 distinct areas: The Mission Trail area celebrates the early years with a colorful façade of the San Antonio Missions.  Explore the amphitheater built in 1941 on the beautiful Riverwalk in the Arneson Theatre area.  Find tastes from Asia in China Town.  Listen to jazz and enjoy beignets and escargot in French Quarter.  The old west comes alive in Frontier Town with its famous horseshoe sausage and country music.  Munch on Potato skins in Irish Flats.  Tejano sounds and famous handmade Maria’s tortillas can be found in Haymarket.  Have nostalgic fun in Clown Alley.  The music in Froggy Bottom rocks as you wait for the infamous Chicken on a Stick.  It’s always 4th of July in Main Street USA.   The Mexican Market area features great music and the very popular Anticuchos beef kabob.  Find sizzling sausage and a German Oompa band in Sauerkraut Bend.  Sample cuisine influenced by Northern Mexico in South of the Border.  Colorful Spanish murals will surround you in Villa España.

 

HISTORY:  The Conservation Society held its first harvest festival in 1936.  Until 1946 (with breaks in 1943 and 1945 because of the war), it was held in the fall—under different names and with slightly different themes and locations.  In 1946, city officials asked the Society to hold its event during Fiesta. In 1948, the one-night festival was called “A Night In Old San Antonio” for the first time.  By 1958 it had expanded to four nights and in 1966, the name was registered and trademarked.

 

PROCEEDS:  From 2010 to 2020, more than $12 million was netted at NIOSA to enable The Conservation Society to continue its 99-year mission of preserving historic buildings, objects, places and customs.  The NIOSA committee presents the Conservation Society with profits to fund the Society’s preservation of historic properties and parks throughout the city and neighboring counties, as well as education and advocacy programs such as the Heritage Education tours for the benefit of fourth grade students annually; over $1.6 million (yes, $1.6 million) in renovations and improvements to La Villita since 2000 and $2.5 million (yes $2.5 million) in building grants available to all San Antonians—and that is just a few examples.

 

An example of the Conservation Society’s diligence is its decades-long campaign to conserve the San Antonio’s five Franciscan Missions. Starting just two years after being formed, the Society purchased items including aqueducts, farmland and the bronze-medallioned door of the San José Granary.  It also brokered the establishment of a state park at San José Mission with the Catholic Church in 1941.  In 1978, the Society was critical in the creation of the National Historical Park, and in 2006 launched the UNESCO World Heritage nomination that led to the Missions’ inscription in 2015—the only World Heritage Site in Texas.

 

More recently, the Conservation Society is working to secure state and national historic designations for the Institute of Texan Cultures—one of the few structures remaining from the 1968 World’s Fair—and the protection of the John H. Wood Jr. Federal Courthouse.

 

The Society also produces and hosts NIOSITAs (private mini-NIOSAs) in La Villita’s historic plazas for conventions, meetings and any group that loves a fiesta—for groups of 300 and up—to raise additional funds.  The Conservation Society was the first organization in San Antonio to produce these outdoor festivals for private groups, establishing NIOSA as the premiere caterer of “fiestas.”