Illuminate at the San Antonio Botanical Garden November 21 through January 11
Illuminate lights up the San Antonio Botanical Garden with dazzling new lanterns, radiant trails and towering sculptures that turn every evening into a magical escape. This must-see holiday installation promises an unforgettable journey through art, nature, and luminous wonder. www.sabot.org/illuminate
GAMEZ LAW FIRM: 50 YEARS OF JUSTICE, COMPASSION, AND COMMUNITY
GAMEZ LAW FIGHTS. GAMEZ LAW CARES.
For over half a century, Gamez Law Firm has stood as a steadfast advocate for the people of San Antonio, fighting for justice in the courtroom while investing deeply in the community beyond it. Founded by Joe A. Gamez, a proud son of San Antonio’s West Side, the firm’s story is one of integrity, service, and unwavering dedication to the city that shaped him.
From the very beginning, Joe Gamez understood that true leadership extends far beyond legal victories. Alongside his wife, Carmen Gamez, he built a legacy rooted in giving back.
Together, they have supported countless local organizations - from education scholarships that open doors for young dreamers, to initiatives that provide hope and resources for children battling cancer. Their generosity reaches into every corner of the community, fueling performing and cultural arts programs, school supply drives, and countless other causes that uplift families and neighborhoods.
Through five decades of service, Gamez Law Firm has become more than a trusted name in personal injury and community advocacy, it’s a symbol of what it means to care. Joe and Carmen’s commitment has earned them numerous community leadership awards, but what truly defines their legacy is the impact they’ve made in the lives of others.
Today, Gamez Law Firm continues to embody the same values that began on the West Side: hard work, honesty, compassion, and an unshakable belief in justice for all.
For Joe Gamez and his team, success isn’t measured only in verdicts, it’s measured in the strength of the community they serve.
Joe A. Gamez and Carmen Gamez, photographed by Crane The Agency.
TRISHA DOUCETTE
I settled in to write about San Antonio — the city that raised me and captured my heart. After much reflection — and thoughts of escape in my early years — I can say with certainty: there’s nowhere else on earth
I’d rather call home. Then I read something written by my friend and colleague, Susan Yerkes, who says everything better than anyone I know. I realized I could never truly capture the beauty of our city in words as well as she can. So, with gratitude, I'm sharing Susan’s love letter to San Antonio — her tribute speaks for both of us.
WHY I LOVE SAN ANTONIO
Live in San Antonio! Are you kidding?
I couldn't wait to get out of this town when I got out of high school. To New York, L.A. ... even just up the road in Austin, life seemed fuller, the people seemed brighter, the pace seemed faster.
Way back then, San Antonio seemed like a small-minded burg with big pretensions, run by old white guys in suits. Maybe it was a "good place to raise a family." I was much more interested in raising hell, and this town was far too small to do that while you lived at home.
So, I went away, as many do.
Years later, when the family needed me, I came back for a short stay that turned into a long one. And a funny thing happened as I waited to get out of Dodge.
I fell in love. Not with a man — with a city.
San Antonio sneaked up on my heart like the "interesting" suitor with the funky ethnic vest who's sometimes a little scruffy. One night, you realize his broad, spontaneous smile may be a little snaggly, but it's completely unique, and it lights up your life. And those weird clothes are cool. He's funny and laid back. He has this rhythm that makes salsa dancing with him heaven. And then boom! You're hooked.
San Antonio has changed so much since my high school days, when The Rolling Stones toured here and Haight-Ashbury was still hippie heaven. A significant event in those days was hijacking the cannon from the Texas Military Institute, then located just up the hill from Olmos Park, and parking it in
By Susan Yerkes
the main entrance to Alamo Heights High, with daisies in the barrel and a peace sign.
Today, the hill where Texas Military Institute trained kids from Dwight Eisenhower to Tom Frost is covered with pricey homes, and the venerable academy long ago decamped to a site near the Dominion.
The medical community is thriving, with new hospitals and clinics all over. UTSA's merger with the University of Texas Health Science Center created a new powerhouse. Texas A&M San Antonio is growing rapidly. With Trinity, Incarnate Word, St. Mary’s, Our Lady of the Lake and the expanded Alamo Community Colleges, we’re a center of research and learning. SeaWorld and Fiesta Texas draw hundreds of thousands of visitors, while the River Walk and the Alamo — with marvelous new features soon to open, are still the hottest spots in Texas.
Texas A&M, Toyota and Brooks City Base have revitalized the South Side, and our beautiful old Spanish Missions won international fame as a World Heritage site. And the Alamo is finally getting the world-class treatment it deserves.
A new Spurs arena and a Missions baseball stadium are planned downtown. The Pearl and the Culinary Institute of America have transformed the River Walk's Museum Reach.
But the things I fell in love with haven't changed
The soul and spirit of San Antonio, forged on a shifting border where one country could become another, haven't changed. Cultures and customs from many nations have
Photo courtesy of Lewis F. Fisher
produced a rich, thickly textured lifestyle here that blends Tex-Mex, German, French, Eastern European, African and Asian influences. Even Northerners are welcome. (Yow. Who woulda thunk it?)
San Antonio's deep roots in history color the character of her people. We are individualists here; we appreciate a little quirkiness and, in the tradition of the Alamo, we love a good fight. San Antonians are also proud of preserving our treasures. Clara Driscoll and Adina de Zavala saved the Alamo. The Conservation Society saved the River Walk. The King William neighborhood is a national example of urban preservation, as are the Majestic and Empire Theatres, the McNay Art Museum and many more.
The past and the future are next-door neighbors here, and we celebrate them at the drop of a sombrero. The sounds and brilliant colors of Fiesta light up our lives all year.
We celebrate noisily together — Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Greek Easter, Cinco de Mayo, Bastille Day, the Fourth of July; multiple traditions breed more fun.
San Antonio's arts community, always rich in spots, has opened to more people and styles. Blue Star and Artpace, Ruby City, the McNay and the San Antonio Museum of Art are the tip of the iceberg. The walls sprout murals.
The Philharmonic struggles, but chamber music thrives, and a rich mix of conjunto, Tejano, rock, rap, jazz and country music lays down the beats.
The pickleball courts are never closed because of snow, and you can hike, bike and golf at the city's many courses yearround, even if it means getting up very early in the heat of summer. I could stable my horse 10 minutes from my condo and 15 from the office, and canter through miles of trails around Salado Creek when the world seems like a little too much.
When I left after high school, Naples was the only gourmet game in town. Like me, Naples left for years and returned.
Mi Tierra, Casa Rio, Schilo’s, the Barn Door and the Little Red Barn are still around, but a generation of new chefs made us a foodie destination, and the Culinary Institute of America at the Pearl has inspired a host of Michelin-worthy chefs. From breakfast tacos to fancy foie gras, we have it all.
But there’s more to San Antonio. A subtler charm that grows on you. The city gets in your blood. Makes you restless anywhere the groceries don't stock picante sauce, or the tires have snow chains. Makes you hum mariachi tunes, or tap your foot to an invisible steel guitar. Makes you want to show it off to visitors, and say, “Y’all come back,” when they leave.
When I left, I thought I'd find new and exciting places, and I did. But when I came back, I found San Antonio had plenty of beauty and excitement, and opportunities to make a difference. It’s a place to live an exuberant life, with depth that only a confluence of cultures can produce.
And today if I want to raise some hell, I don’t have to leave town to do it.
CHILDREN 12 & UNDER RECEIVE FREE ADMISSION
THE LIFE OF A SHOW CURATOR:
An Inside Look at What it Takes to Put on a Show in San Antonio’s Thriving Theatre Scene
From touring Broadway favorites to homegrown productions, San Antonio’s performing arts scene is more vibrant than ever. And behind every production that lights up the marquee, there’s a team of people working hard to bring it to the stage. As it turns out, the real performance starts long before curtain call.
At the center of it all is Callie Hoch, Vice President of Programming at The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. She knows exactly what it takes to put on a show at one of San Antonio’s biggest theatres. “The Tobin Center’s approach to curating its lineup is guided by our mission statement, which is to provide a world-class venue that promotes a diverse range of cultural, educational and artistic experiences that improve the quality of life in San Antonio,” Hoch explained.
By Drew Henry
“Beyond that, we embrace our secondary motto: something for everyone.”
That “something for everyone” philosophy drives The Tobin Center’s carefully curated mix of Broadway hits, dance showcases, concerts, comedy and community performances. The team strives to strike a balance between crowd favorites and artistic exploration, ensuring every audience member leaves feeling seen and inspired.
Water Street Dance
The Tobin Center
BEHIND THE CURTAIN AT THE TOBIN CENTER
Deciding which shows make it to The Tobin stage is equal parts strategy and intuition. “Several factors influence which shows make the cut,” Hoch said. “Audience demand is a key consideration, as we strive to bring in performances our community is eager to experience. But equally important are the quality of the content and maintaining variety across genres, from Broadway and dance to concerts, comedy and community events.”
That variety is what makes The Tobin Center’s lineup so dynamic. But scheduling doesn’t happen overnight. Hoch said, “Planning often begins well over a year in advance, and in some cases, nearly two years out.”
That long runway allows her team to secure international acts, coordinate visa timelines, and attend conferences and showcases to scout fresh talent. “It’s a highly collaborative and relationship-driven process,” she added.
That commitment to forward-thinking programming has paid off. In just over a decade since its 2014 opening, The Tobin Center has become one of Texas’s premier performing arts destinations. It’s home to five resident companies, including Opera San Antonio, Ballet San Antonio, The Orchestra San Antonio, the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio and the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio.
“Our flexible campus makes it possible to host everything from grand touring productions to intimate local performances,” Hoch said. The Tobin Center houses three unique performance spaces. These include the H-E-B Performance Hall, the Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater and the Will Naylor Smith Plaza, which provide enough space to average about two events daily.
Hoch continued, “Our range of spaces and dedicated programming team allow us to create a balanced, vibrant schedule that serves both world-class artists and our local arts community.”
And the commitment to local connection takes center stage. Hoch emphasized, “Our lineup intentionally blends major touring productions with performances by our resident companies and community partners, showcasing the city’s creative talent and cultural diversity. We strive to represent the many voices that make San Antonio unique.”
THE ART OF THE LINEUP
What most people don’t realize is just how intricate the booking process can be. “It’s not as simple as just choosing an artist and picking a date,” Hoch explained. “It’s a long process of aligning tour schedules, artist availability, venue dates and budgets. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes coordination with agents, managers and producers.”
In many ways, the art of the lineup is similar to the dance choreography played out on stage. “We’re always balancing
audience demand, artistic quality and variety to make sure the lineup feels fresh and exciting,” Hoch continued. “It’s a bit like putting together a giant puzzle, but when it all clicks and the artist takes the stage, it’s worth every bit of the work.”
But after all is done and the curtains close, the real satisfaction is bringing a sense of connection and inspiration to the audience. “We hope every person who walks through our doors leaves feeling inspired, connected and proud to be part of this community,” Hoch concluded. “The Tobin Center experience, and theatre in general, is about more than just seeing a show. It’s about creating moments that stay with you.”
SAN ANTONIO’S THEATRE ROW
The Tobin Center only marks the start of San Antonio’s Theatre Row. This stretch of historic venues showcases San Antonio’s past and present through architecture, artistry and unforgettable performances.
Kevin Couch, Director of Programming for the Majestic and Empire Theatres, says programming across San Antonio’s stages is always evolving. “Over the last 18 months, we’ve really seen music performances surge across all three theatres,” Couch explained. “It’s the natural ebb and flow of the entertainment industry here. Two years ago, comedy dominated our calendar; now audiences are craving more live music.”
MAJESTIC THEATRE
Stepping through the doors of the 1929-built Majestic takes you back to the Gilded Age of show business. This opulent Spanish Mediterranean-style theatre was designed by architect John Eberson, famous for creating immersive stages complete with twinkling starry lights above.
Elf The Musical Majestic Theatre
Today, the Majestic remains the crown jewel of downtown, home to Broadway in San Antonio and major touring concerts. Couch says that magic is what keeps audiences coming back year after year. “I’ve been to a lot of shows at a lot of venues,” Couch said, “and there’s a feeling at the Majestic that can’t compare. Every seat, whether in the orchestra or the balcony, is incredible. From the starry ceiling to the stage, the whole experience feels intimate and unforgettable.”
The Majestic’s Upcoming Performances
Disney's Beauty and the Beast The Musical | November 19-30
Ezra Ray Heart: 90s Hits & Xmas Riffs | December 14
Sarah Brightman: A Winter Symphony| December 20
Elf The Musical | December 23-28
Ali Wong LIVE | January 18
Water For Elephants | January 20-25
Steve Martin and Martin Short | January 29
CHARLINE MCCOMBS EMPIRE THEATRE
Just next door, the Empire Theatre offers a more intimate experience. Built in 1914 and lovingly restored in 1998, this smaller sibling to the Majestic combines Beaux-Arts charm with state-of-the-art sound. “The Empire has that perfect blend of intimacy and grandeur,” Couch noted. “Comedians especially love it for that classic vaudeville feel. It’s one of those rooms where you can feel the audience right there with you.”
The Empire’s Upcoming Performances
Dan Soder: The Golden Retriever of Comedy Tour | November 7
The Irish Tenors | December 13
Demetri Martin: The Quick Draw Tour | December 14
Fortune Feimster: Takin' Care of Biscuits Comedy Tour | February 6
The Irish Tenors
Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
Sarah Brightman: A Winter Symphony Majestic Theatre
Demetri Martin: The Quick Draw Tour Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
Ezra Ray Heart: 90s Hits & Xmas Riffs Majestic Theatre
AZTEC THEATRE
A little further down the river, the Aztec Theatre is pure spectacle. Opened in 1926, it was designed in the elaborate Mesoamerican Revival style, with stone gods and colorful murals that give the feeling of an ancient temple. After a major renovation, the Aztec now serves as a live music venue hosting national touring acts.
The Aztec’s Upcoming Performances
The Evil Dead | November 7
Zack Fox | November 20
A Drag Queen Christmas | December 17
TOBIN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
And of course, The Tobin Center is central to the Theatre District. It opened its doors in 2014 as a reimagining of the historic Municipal Auditorium. Its sleek glass façade merges with preserved architectural elements, blending history and innovation, just like its programming. With cutting-edge acoustics and a mission to make art accessible, The Tobin represents the next era of San Antonio theatre.
The Tobin’s Upcoming Performances
Water Street Dance | November 13
The Sixties Show: The Greatest 1960s Music Re-Creation | November 16
Neko Case: Fall Tour 2025 | November 24
Ballet San Antonio: The Nutcracker | December 5-14
Sister’s Christmas Catechism | December 14
Merry-Achi Christmas | December 17-18
The Choir of Man | January 31
Glass Menagerie | February 11-22
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
San Antonio’s theatres each play a part in telling the city’s story, one performance at a time. Together, their teams bring show seasons that are as inspiring and diverse as the audiences who fill their seats.
As Hoch reflected, “Whether it’s someone’s first Broadway musical, a student’s first time on stage or a lifelong fan seeing their favorite artist up close, we want audiences to feel the energy, creativity and inclusivity that define San Antonio.”
Couch adds that collaboration among the city’s venues is what keeps the energy alive. “Each theatre has its own personality, but together we create the rhythm of San Antonio’s arts scene,” he said. “That’s what makes programming here so special.”
So, next time the lights dim and the curtains draw, remember that the show you’re about to see has been years in the making and brought to you by a dedicated show curator.
On Christmas Eve, young Clara is gifted a beautiful Nutcracker doll by her mysterious godfather, Drosselmeyer. That night, as the clock strikes midnight, Clara finds herself in the middle of a magical battle between toy soldiers led by the Nutcracker and an army of mice commanded by the fierce Mouse King. After the Nutcracker triumphs, he transforms into a prince and invites Clara on a fantastical journey. Together, they travel through the sparkling Land of Snow and arrive in the enchanting Land of Sweets, where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy and a host of delightful characters from around the world. Each one performs a unique dance in Clara’s honor.
The adventure is filled with wonder, music and imagination. As the celebration ends, Clara awakens back in her home, left to wonder whether it was all a dream — or something more magical.
Clara’s magical journey with the Nutcracker Prince has enchanted audiences for generations — but how did this beloved holiday tradition begin? To understand its enduring charm, let’s take a look at the fascinating history behind The Nutcracker ballet.
The Nutcracker started as a story called The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, written by German author E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816. The original was much darker and complex, and it was later adapted by French writer Alexandre Dumas into a more family-friendly version. Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky turned the story into a ballet, which debuted on December 18, 1892, at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. Choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, the first performance received mixed reviews but Tchaikovsky’s music was instantly praised. Before the full ballet premiered, Tchaikovsky had released the Nutcracker Suite, a selection
of eight pieces that quickly gained popularity on its own.
Interestingly, Tchaikovsky’s score introduced the celesta, a keyboard instrument with a bell-like sound, which became iconic in the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.”
The ballet didn’t gain widespread popularity until the mid-20th century, especially in the United States. The San Francisco Ballet staged the first full American production in 1944, and George Balanchine’s 1954 version for the New York City Ballet helped cement its status as a holiday tradition. Today, The Nutcracker is a financial and cultural cornerstone for many ballet companies, often accounting for a significant portion of annual ticket sales.
From a modest Russian debut to a global holiday phenomenon, The Nutcracker has become more than a ballet — it's a seasonal ritual, a gateway to classical music for young audiences and a celebration of imagination.
The Children's Ballet of San Antonio, Photograph by Infinite Photography SA
ALAMO CITY ARTS 33RD ANNUAL NUTCRACKER
Founded in 1991, the Alamo City Dance Company celebrates its 33rd Annual Nutcracker production in 2025. A pivotal year for ACA came in 2018, when the Dance Company debuted San Antonio’s first-ever Sensory Friendly performance of The Nutcracker in partnership with Eva’s Heroes. That same year, ACA acquired Symphony Viva, allowing The Nutcracker to be performed with a live symphony orchestra for the first time in its history — bringing together the magic of music and movement, as Artistic Director Katie Rodriguez Hall proudly shared.
True to the spirit of “the show must go on,” the Company adapted during the pandemic by producing a filmed version of The Nutcracker. And in the fall of 2021, ACA launched the Alamo City Arts Academy, establishing a permanent home for the Dance Company and nurturing the next generation of performers.
This year, Alamo City Arts proudly continues its cherished holiday traditions, beginning with a special gift to our military community: a free performance of The Nutcracker for all Department of Defense ID cardholders and their dependents. Presented by the Alamo City Dance Company, two showings will take place on December 13 at the Fort Sam Houston Theater.
In partnership with Eva’s Heroes, ACA will also offer a Sensory Friendly performance — an abridged version of the beloved ballet, thoughtfully adapted with adjusted lighting and sound levels to ensure an inclusive and welcoming experience for all.
Military Appreciation Performance
December 13 | 2:00 & 7:00pm Fort Sam Houston Theater
Eva’s Heroes Sensory Friendly Production
December 19 | 7:00pm
Thiry Auditorium, Our Lady of the Lake University
TheNutcracker
December 20 & 21 | 2:00 & 7:00pm
Thiry Auditorium, Our Lady of the Lake University
NUTCRACKER! MAGICAL CHRISTMAS BALLET
Majestic Theatre
Talmi Entertainment’s NUTCRACKER!Magical Christmas Ballet celebrates its 33rd annual tour in 2025, continuing a beloved holiday tradition for families across North America. This year, the production returns to more than 100 cities, including the Majestic Theatre, December 29-30, bringing with it the enchantment and festive spirit that have captivated audiences for over three decades.
A dazzling spectacle, NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet features world-class ballerinas and danseurs from premier opera houses, stunning Broadway-caliber sets and costumes, and innovative choreography that blends classical ballet with puppetry and acrobatics. Praised by critics and cherished by audiences, it remains a cornerstone of the holiday season.
NUTCRACKER!MagicalChristmasBallet
December 29 & 30 | 3:00 & 7:00pm
BALLET SAN ANTONIO: THE NUTCRACKER
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
Choreographed by Haley and Easton Smith exclusively for Ballet San Antonio, this dazzling production features over 100 local children, live accompaniment by The Orchestra San Antonio and beloved community heroes stepping into the iconic role of Mother Ginger. It’s a festive spectacle that captures the spirit of the holidays.
Ballet San Antonio, Photograph by Em Watson
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
Alamo City Arts
Both Ballet San Antonio and The Orchestra San Antonio are proud Resident Companies of The Tobin Center, which champions cultural, educational and artistic experiences. Though each company operates independently, together they help elevate the world-class performing arts that flourish within The Tobin’s walls.
Although sold out for 2025, the Ballet San Antonio-Valero Sensory Friendly performance on December 9 is one of many productions at The Tobin Center with accommodations in place for guests with sensory sensitivities. As Dr. Kimberly Stephenson, Director of Education, The Tobin Center | Generation NEXT, explains, “The most important thing to know about Sensory Friendly events with Generation NEXT is that we do not adjust the performance. Patrons who come to the Sensory Friendly event will see the same performance as offered during School Time Performances. We adjust the experience to meet the needs of our sensory sensitive patrons while maintaining the integrity of the experience. All of this is made possible by the generous support of Valero.”
Sensory Friendly performances include softened visual effects, movement-friendly spaces, sensory supports in the lobby and a live stage video feed for added comfort and accessibility, among others. Pre-show, GenNEXT supports patrons with materials like sensory maps and visual schedules, and a free 30-minute Preparatory Tour of The Tobin Center before audiences arrive. When applicable, GenNEXT provides ASL for all performances that use speech or song.
“In addition to our annual sponsorship of Ballet San Antonio’s Nutcracker Sensory Friendly performance, GenNEXT presents at least three Sensory Friendly events each school year. Every Sensory Friendly performance is free to the community,” said Dr. Stephenson.
Ballet San Antonio: TheNutcracker
December 5 | 7:30pm
December 6 | 2:00 & 7:30pm
December 7 | 2:00pm
December 12 | 7:30pm
December 13 | 2:00 & 7:30pm
December 14 | 2:00pm
THE CHILDREN’S BALLET OF SAN ANTONIO: THE CHILDREN’S NUTCRACKER
The Lila Cockrell Theatre
The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio is back with The Children’s Nutcracker, lighting up the Lila Cockrell stage with stunning choreography, dazzling sets and gorgeous costumes. This magical production showcases incredible young talent and brings Clara’s classic adventure with the Nutcracker Prince to life — perfect for longtime fans of the beloved story and those seeing it for the very first time.
For over 10 years, the Children’s Ballet of San Antonio has been at the forefront of youth performing arts — training with acclaimed Artistic Director Vanessa Bessler, Master Ballet Teachers and the most talented local choreographers. Their dancers have earned international awards and scholarships to some of the world’s most prestigious ballet schools.
The Children’s Nutcracker is where CBSA’s mission truly shines — celebrating tiny prima ballerinas, supremely talented young adult dancers and inspiring special needs performers. It keeps all the magic of Tchaikovsky’s original score and the timeless Nutcracker tradition, while its 90-minute runtime is perfect for keeping younger audiences fully engaged from beginning to end.
The magic begins as soon as guests arrive, with a pre-show holiday market offering gorgeous gifts and collectibles, along with photos with Santa, the Sugar Plum Fairy and other cast members as they listen to the joyful sounds of San Antonio Academy’s Choir.
The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio: TheChildren’sNutcracker
December 12 | 7:00pm
December 13 | 2:00pm
December 14 | 2:00pm Browse for more info on arts and culture in San Antonio.
The Children's Ballet of San Antonio, Photograph by Infinite Photography SA
The Children's Ballet of San Antonio, Photograph by Infinite Photography SA
RUBY CITY, a contemporary art center in San Antonio, TX, is dedicated to providing space for the city’s thriving creative community to experience works by both local & internationally acclaimed artists.
For more informaiton on upcoming events and programs visit RUBYCITY.ORG OPEN THU TO SUN 10AM —6PM 150 CAMP ST SAN ANTNIO TEXAS 78204 @RUBYCITY FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
&
DANIEL RIOS RODRIGUEZ: OPEN THIS WALL OCOTBER 25, 2025 - OCTOBER 4, 2026
SENSING MEANING, ABSTRACT PAINTING SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 - AUGUST 30, 2026
JOEY FAUERSO: BEDROOM PAINTINGS JUNE 7, 2025 - MAY 10, 2026
ARTISTS TEACHING ARTISTS:
Passing the Torch in San Antonio’s Creative Community
By Kimberly A. Suta
What does it take to keep the arts alive from one generation to the next? In San Antonio, the answer lies in the dedicated work of artists who not only perform and create but also teach, mentor and inspire. From Alamo City Arts, where Folklorico dancers and Mariachi musicians pass down centuries-old traditions, to The Tobin Center’s groundbreaking Generation NEXT program, which begins arts education as early as infancy, to S.M.A.R.T. 501c3, where art, neuroscience and gardening converge into a holistic model for education — these initiatives prove that art is more than performance. It’s legacy.
Together, they showcase how teaching artists are nurturing courage, creativity and cultural pride in students of every age, ensuring the language of art remains a living, breathing force in our community. Why is it so important? Although there are numerous statistics that support the multi-faceted benefits
of arts education, according to the Arts Education Navigator, students who receive arts instruction are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and three times more likely to win awards for school attendance. Here’s what our city is doing to keep the arts alive and thriving.
Alamo City Arts
ALAMO CITY ARTS: PASSING DOWN TRADITIONS
THROUGH
MARIACHI AND FOLKLÓRICO
When it comes to preserving and celebrating cultural heritage in San Antonio, Alamo City Arts has become a driving force. What began in 1989 as a cost-saving nonprofit for the San Antonio School for the Performing Arts has since evolved into a wide-reaching organization encompassing everything from a dance company and symphony to a mariachi academy and folklórico troupe. Their mission is clear: to perpetuate the arts by teaching, training and inspiring performers of every age and level.
At the heart of this mission are two distinctly Mexican traditions — Mariachi and Ballet Folklórico — which Alamo City Arts has expanded to ensure future generations carry forward. The Alamo City Mariachi Academy, launched in March of 2025, is already creating ripples. Students as young as 8 years old gather to learn violin, guitar, vihuela, guitarrón, trumpet and voice, guided by instructors who are also professional performers.
“These little kids are learning the violin or guitar now, but in a few years, when they’re juniors or seniors in high school, they’ll be accompanying the mariachis for events. So, the band is sort of self-replenishing,” shared Artistic Director, Katie Rodriguez Hall. “We’re teaching the next generation to take over their spots.”
It’s not just about technique. Mariachi carries immense cultural pride — a sense of identity that resonates in every note. As Katie described, “When they start to learn some of these songs they grew up listening to, you can see it connecting dots — core memories they’re triggering and making at the same time. It’s this beautiful chord that represents a state and a heritage.” Instructors celebrate small victories, from tuning an instrument correctly to hitting that first clean note, often with laughter and encouragement.
Alongside mariachi, folklórico dance remains one of the organization’s most vibrant offerings. Alamo City Arts teaches dances from regions across Mexico — Jalisco, Veracruz, Chiapas, Sinaloa, Tabasco, Chihuahua and Oaxaca — each with its own authentic costumes, rhythms and stories. The program welcomes everyone, from toddlers to a 76-year-old student who still commands the dance floor. Katie delights in the way folklórico empowers children: “What I think is so sweet is that the little girls just want to twirl in the skirt. They love it. It’s instilling that pride, again, without arrogance.”
Whether through the swirl of ribbons in a Jalisco skirt or the strum of a guitarrón, Alamo City Arts is ensuring that these living traditions remain accessible and alive. With year-round classes, frequent performances and a focus on passing oral and artistic traditions from one generation to the next, they embody what it means for artists to teach artists — and in turn, to sustain community and culture.
Alamo City Arts
Alamo City Arts
THE TOBIN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS: GENERATION NEXT
At The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, education isn’t an afterthought — it’s at the heart of their mission. Through the Generation NEXT initiative, The Tobin Center has built a dynamic framework of programs designed to nurture creativity from birth through 12th grade.
“Our goal is to bridge the gap between education and the arts,” explained Kimberly Stephenson, Director of Education. “We want students to express themselves through the arts. There’s no need to become something else — we want to empower them.”
That empowerment begins at the very earliest stages of life. The Baby Arts Play program helps teachers use music, rhythmic speech and playful interaction to engage infants and toddlers, preparing them for later learning. From there, children grow into Early Arts, which introduces 3- to 5-yearolds to performance through classroom visits from dancers, actors, musicians and even puppeteers. For many, it’s their first-ever field trip to a theatre. The Tobin Center then expands into school-time performances, sensory-friendly programming, master classes and artist workshops tailored to match curriculum in subjects ranging from architecture to reading comprehension.
The impact is tangible. In one example, Stephenson recalls a selectively mute student who, through a visual art tableau exercise, revealed comprehension and engagement in ways teachers hadn’t seen before. “Creating that safe space where students feel empowered to take risks — that’s the real work in creative education,” she said.
Artists themselves are integral to the program’s strength. Puppeteer Katrin Blucker Ludwig has witnessed the spark first-hand: “What I enjoy about working with young artists is their fearless creativity and teamwork. Theatre, improv and puppetry create a space where all ideas are welcome — it’s a ‘yes and’ environment that encourages even the shyest voices to join in.”
Sarah Davis, a Tobin teaching artist and Certified Child Life Specialist, highlights the developmental impact: “It’s amazing to see what the performing arts can do for a child of any age and it’s clear that it’s a necessary part of a child’s education.”
Other artists echo the sentiment. “Being a teaching artist means witnessing how art inherently creates space for collaboration and relationship,” said Tanesha Payne, founder of sumRset Movement. And Joyous Windrider Jimenez added, “The joy and engagement I see on children’s faces during these sessions inspire me to keep learning and growing in this important work.”
Now in its tenth year, Generation NEXT has grown into one of San Antonio’s most robust arts education programs. With world-class artists like David Gonzalez leading workshops on storytelling and bullying prevention, The Tobin Center is raising the bar for communities not just in Texas, but across America. As Kimberly puts it, “We bring in amazing programming that others can’t or won’t. We want to create more options rather than making people choose.”
Tanesha Payne
David Gonzalez
Katrin Blucker Ludwig
S.M.A.R.T.
501C3:
CREATIVITY AS A FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING
At the heart of San Antonio’s Southside, renowned artists, Yvette and Andy Benavides, have created more than just a studio — they’ve built an ecosystem of creativity. For over three decades, the couple has combined art handling, design, cultural consulting and community-building with a passion for education. Their nonprofit program, centered at Briscoe Elementary School, has become a model for how the arts can shape academic performance, emotional wellness, self-confidence and, ultimately, success in young learners.
Two decades ago, when art was being stripped from public school curriculums, the couple saw an opportunity. “At the root of it, it’s all about creativity — being an innate part of our human existence,” reflected Andy.
Their approach has been transformative — Briscoe Elementary’s performance has improved from a D to a B rating, with creativity woven directly into the classroom experience. The Benavides’ holistic curriculum blends art, neuroscience, yoga and gardening, teaching children not only how to create but how to understand their own minds and emotions. “You start to own your learning when you understand how your brain and body works,” said Yvette.
The program is comprehensive and grade-specific: kindergarteners begin with ceramics, first graders explore abstract painting and color theory, and by third grade, students are connecting optical illusion art to neuroscience. Fourth and fifth graders dive deeper, often creating public art projects — some even commissioned and paid for — that give them real-world validation as artists.
As Andy puts it, “We’re not just creating the next generation of artists, we’re empowering them with individuality so they can become independent decision makers, empathetic adults and contributors to society.”
Field trips to the Benavides’ garden and studio add yet another dimension. Briscoe Elementary integrates these visits into its year-round curriculum, allowing children to connect art with sustainability, science and daily life. For Andy and Yvette, the message is clear that creativity isn’t a luxury, it’s a foundation for human growth. “We teach our kids that everything is art,” said Yvette. “It’s how you speak, how you pick out your clothes. I don’t say art anymore — I say creativity.”
Through their work, Andy and Yvette have taught over 10,000 children in 20 years. Their program is ambitious, but its impact is undeniable. Generations of young San Antonians are learning not just how to draw or sculpt, but how to see themselves as creators in every aspect of their lives.
FUELING THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO’S CREATIVE PULSE
Across the Alamo City, these integral programs highlight a simple yet profound truth — that the arts are not just for audiences, they’re for all of us. They’re how we learn to see ourselves, how we preserve traditions and how we imagine what’s possible. Whether it’s a preschooler discovering rhythm through puppetry, a teenager finding pride in a mariachi song or an elementary student planting the seeds of creativity in a garden classroom, the impact reaches far beyond the stage or studio. By teaching the next generation, San Antonio’s artists are doing more than passing on skills — they’re cultivating empathy, resilience and imagination in our communities, and in the leaders of tomorrow.
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“Uvalde” by Yvette Benavides
Bee Mural by Andy Benavides
RUBY CITY’S BOLD VISION FOR CONTEMPORARY EXPRESSION RUBY CITY’S BOLD VISION FOR CONTEMPORARY EXPRESSION
By Trisha Doucette
Ruby City got its start thanks to the late Linda Pace — an artist, collector and philanthropist — who dreamed up the idea back in 2007. She wanted to create a space where people from all walks of life could experience powerful, thought-provoking art from both local and international artists. And she made sure it would be a place where everyone could join in, with free events designed for all ages to explore contemporary art in a hands-on way.
Courtesy of Linda Pace Foundation, Ruby City. Photograph by Dror Baldinger.
Courtesy of Linda Pace Foundation, Ruby City. Photograph by Dror Baldinger.
Fast forward to 2019, and that dream became a reality. The bold red building, designed by the world-renowned firm Adjaye Associates, officially opened its doors. Inside, you’ll find more than 1,400 pieces from the Linda Pace Foundation Collection — everything from paintings and sculptures to immersive installations and video art. Ruby City is part of a larger creative campus that also includes Chris Park, a peaceful one-acre sculpture garden dedicated to Pace’s son, and Studio, a gallery space that hosts rotating exhibitions and public programs year-round.
Together, these spaces offer a vibrant and ever-changing way to experience contemporary art. “We want everyone to know that Ruby City is here not only to honor the vision of our founder but, most importantly, to serve the people of San Antonio,” said Patricia Morales, Head of Public Engagement & Communications for the Linda Pace Foundation and Ruby City. “Our spaces are designed to be welcoming and engaging for everyone, regardless of prior knowledge of or interest in contemporary art. Visitors can connect with Ruby City in many ways — through the striking architecture of the building, the beauty and tranquility of Chris Park, and the variety of programs and experiences offered throughout the year.”
Creating awareness for contemporary art is a big part of what Ruby City is all about — and perhaps more specifically, the impact that contemporary art can have on its viewers. Reflecting on the subject matter and style seen in the current exhibition, Sensing Meaning,Abstract Painting, Ruby City Director Elyse A. Gonzales shared, “What makes abstraction so powerful is its ubiquity and fluidity. Without relying on representational imagery, these artists specifically embrace abstraction to convey their personal experiences. But there is also an inherent generosity to these artists and their works, as they recognize (and celebrate) that viewers will bring their own feelings, meanings and interpretations. That generosity is what makes abstraction deeply personal and universally accepted and accessible.”
That spirit of openness shows up in everything Ruby City does — from teaming up with local organizations to hosting family-friendly events and school tours. And the best part? It’s all free, including admission. “We’ve focused on making contemporary art accessible and relevant through multiple avenues. We offer free public access to our galleries and programs, and our location in Southtown along the San Pedro Creek Culture Park helps make Ruby City a visible and inviting destination. Dynamic programming like exhibitions, artist talks, concerts and workshops encourages hands-on engagement and dialogue with art. Through educational outreach and community collaborations, we connect audiences directly with artists, creating meaningful experiences that foster understanding and appreciation of contemporary art.
We also maintain a strong digital presence to share our exhibitions, events and artist features with a broader audience. Ultimately, everything we do is guided by a commitment to community engagement, ensuring that contemporary art is accessible, inclusive and meaningful to everyone in San Antonio,” said Morales.
Courtesy of Linda Pace Foundation, Ruby City. Photograph by Paola Longoria.
Courtesy of Linda Pace Foundation, Ruby City. Photograph by Paola Longoria.
Courtesy of Linda Pace Foundation, Ruby City. Photograph by Paola Longoria.
Three exciting exhibitions now on view at Ruby City offer a fresh look at contemporary art through personal, abstract and immersive experiences. Whether you’re drawn to abstraction, personal storytelling or immersive installations, there’s something here to inspire and engage through 2026.
SENSINGMEANING,ABSTRACTPAINTING
September 27, 2025 – August 30, 2026
Ruby City
Sensing Meaning,Abstract Painting invites visitors to dive into the expressive world of abstraction, spanning eight decades of art. Featuring over 25 artists — from mid-20th century icons to today’s trailblazers — the show features pieces by Willem de Kooning, Yves Klein, Jacqueline Humphries, Sarah Morris, Patrick Quarm and Joan Mitchell, whose Flying Dutchman (1961–62) is on view as part of a global celebration marking the centennial of her birth.
Drawn from the Linda Pace Foundation Collection, the exhibition reflects founder Linda Pace’s evolving approach to collecting. Early acquisitions focused on major artists like Picasso and de Kooning, but after launching Artpace in 1993, Pace shifted her attention to bold, emotionally charged pieces by emerging artists. “The kind of art I’m drawn to is progressive, not conventional,” she once said — a sentiment that continues to shape the collection.
Sensing Meaning expands the definition of painting to include sculptural forms, digital processes and unconventional materials. Visitors are encouraged to slow down and engage with the works, discovering how abstraction can communicate emotion, memory and meaning across different cultures and generations.
JOEY FAUERSO: BEDROOM PAINTINGS
June 7, 2025 – May 10, 2026
Ruby City
Known for her intimate, politically engaged work, Joey Fauerso blends video, painting, printmaking and custom-designed furniture to explore how everyday life and creativity overlap.
At the heart of the exhibition is a four-channel video, Bedroom Paintings (2024), featuring 18 of Fauerso’s friends and family members performing nightly rituals — sleeping, tossing, turning, taking pills, sipping water and dreaming. These scenes unfold entirely in and around beds made with Fauerso’s own black-and-white painted canvases, transforming everyday gestures into a living, breathing painting, where with each movement, the artwork itself seems to come alive.
The soundtrack deepens the experience: the opening lullaby features music by Fauerso’s father, lyrics by her brother and text from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Crack-Up. Fauerso composed and recorded the rest of the audio herself, layering sound to create a rich, meditative atmosphere. Bedroom Paintings is a poetic reflection on how our most private moments can become powerful works of art.
Courtesy of Linda Pace Foundation, Ruby City. Photography by Jorge Villareal.
Courtesy of Linda Pace Foundation, Ruby City. Photography by Jorge Villareal.
Joey Fauerso: BedroomPaintings
DANIEL RIOS RODRIGUEZ:
OPEN THIS WALL
October 25, 2025 – October 4, 2026
Studio at Chris Park
This year-long solo exhibition spans 12 years of Daniel Rios Rodriguez’s work — paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture — marking a major chapter in his career, from his return to San Antonio in 2013 to his recent appointment as Assistant Professor of Painting at SMU.
Named after one of his dreaminspired pieces, Open This Wall dives into themes of portraiture, memory and transformation. The show features Rodriguez’s first-ever site-specific wall drawing, wrapping the entire gallery for an immersive experience. Known for mixing abstraction and found objects, his work blends personal moments — like
Daniel Rios Rodriguez; Nerodia, 2017; oil, acrylic, rope, wire, wood, nails on panel; 11.5 x 8 in.; Courtesy of Simon Cole.
Daniel Rios Rodriguez; begin, again, begin, 2011-2025; oil on linen, canvas, wood and nails; 11 x 16 5/8 x 1 1/4 in.; Courtesy of the Artist and Seven Sisters Gallery, Houston, TX; Paul Hester, photographer.
riverside walks and summer heat — with surreal symbols and references to his Mexican-American heritage, including preColumbian glyphs and Spanish titles. It’s a layered look at life and identity, and the power of visual storytelling.
UPCOMING EVENTS
FAMILY DAY
Saturday, November 8 | 11:00am to 2:00pm
Chris Park
Ruby City’s fifth annual Family Day is a vibrant celebration of creativity, community and contemporary art. The event features a festive streamer installation by The Color Condition and offers a full day of artmaking, performances and familyfriendly fun. Highlights include a storytime reading of The Last Tamale by children’s author Orlando Mendiola, live music from the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio and a drum circle led by brothers Cameron and David Montalvo. Guests can also enjoy hands-on activities like ribbon-wand making, live screen printing and tamale-toy creations. This free event is a day to connect, create and celebrate with the whole family.
MEDITATION SUNDAY
Third Sunday of every month | 9:00 to 10:00am
Chris Park
Unwind with a peaceful hour of outdoor meditation led by Pamela Martinez. Whether you're new or experienced, you'll enjoy a gentle intro and a mix of mindfulness techniques. Just bring a mat or cushion and dress for the weather. RSVP requested.
MINDFUL MAKING PHOTO WALK
Saturday, November 22 | 11:00am to 1:00pm
Ruby City
This free, hands-on workshop is all about slowing down and seeing creatively. You’ll use handmade “finders,” snap mindful photos around the campus, and make simple frames and journals to capture your observations. Open to all ages — no experience or registration needed, and all materials are provided.
CREATIVE MORNINGS
Friday, December 5 | 8:30 to 10:00am
Ruby City
Creative Mornings San Antonio is a monthly meetup for local creatives to connect, get inspired, and hear from visionary speakers. Stop by for free coffee, breakfast, good vibes and a celebration of San Antonio’s creative spirit.
MUSIC IN THE PARK WITH KRTU: NORI
Friday, December 12 | 7:00 to 9:00pm
Ruby City
Ruby City and KRTU team up for a special Music in the Park night featuring Austin’s genre-blending jazz band NORI, led by powerhouse vocalist Akina Adderley. Bring a blanket or chair, kick back under the stars, and enjoy live music with snacks and drinks. It’s all free and open to everyone.
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Meditation Sunday, Chris Park, Ruby City. Bria Woods Photography.
THE AM PROJECT: MASS/LITTLE CARVER THEATRE/CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER
November 13
AZTEC THEATRE
www.theaztectheatre.com
ANDY BELL OF ERASURE: TEN CROWNS TOUR
November 14
JORGE CELEDON
November 15
ZACK FOX
November 20
MATT MATHEWS: BOUJEE ON A BUDGET TOUR
November 21
J.I.D - GOD DOES LIKE PARADISE TOUR
November 26
PERFUME DE GARDENIA - 7+ RECOMMENDED
November 28
OSAMASON - PSYKOTIC TOUR
November 29
JESSE & JOY - EL DESPECHO TOUR
December 5
SEVENDUST SOUTHSIDE DOUBLE-WIDE TOUR
December 12
QUEENSRYCHE - VOLUME AND VENGEANCE TOUR
December 13
A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS18+ W/ID
December 17
TOADIES
December 27
MOJO BROOKZZ: I KNOW YOU F*CKIN LYING TOUR
December 31
MANIA: THE ABBA TRIBUTE January 22
LED ZEPPELIN 2 January 24
THE PRINCE EXPERIENCE January 25
CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER
www.thecarver.org
AVERY*SUNSHINE/MAIN STAGE November 8
JOAQUIN & THE GLOWLINERS/ INTIMATE SERIES/THE LITTLE CARVER November 14
MAVIS STAPLES/MAIN STAGE November 21
A SOULFUL CHRISTMAS FEATURING J-DARIUS & THE EXPERIENCE/MAIN STAGE December 12
CENTRO SAN ANTONIO
www.centrosa.org
HOLIDAY ON HOUSTON STREET December 5-14
CHARLINE MCCOMBS EMPIRE THEATRE
www.majesticempire.com
THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER OF COMEDY TOUR November 7
JESSICA KIRSON/THE NEVER ENDING TOUR November 8
STOP MAKING SENSE/LIVE EVENT HOSTED BY JERRY HARRISON November 13
1964 THE TRIBUTE November 15
THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE TO JOURNEY & STYX/FEATURING MAJESTY OF ROCK November 16
TOMMY EMMANUEL C.G.P. December 5
THE CHILDREN’S BALLET OF SAN ANTONIO/THE POLAR EXPRESS December 6-7
FLOW/ “NARUTO THE ROCK” December 12
THE IRISH TENORS December 13
DEMETRI MARTIN/THE QUICK DRAW TOUR December 14
ESPEE
www.theespee.com
NOCHE DE FUEGO (21+)/A NIGHT OF SALSA, CUMBIA, DANCING, COMEDY, DRINKS & COMUNIDAD November 15
ELLIS BULLARD/ST PAUL SQUARE’S FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE November 21
BROADWAY THANKSGIVING BREAK CAMP: ONCE UPON A STAGE/PRESENTED BY ATG ENTERTAINMENT AND THE MAJESTIC EMPIRE FOUNDATION November 24-25
ELNUH/ST PAUL SQUARE’S FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE December 19
BROADWAY HOLIDAY MAGIC December 22-23
FREEMAN COLISEUM
www.freemancoliseum.com
MIGUEL BOSE: IMPORTANTE TOUR
November 15
INTOCABLE: ANTOLOGIA TOUR 2025
November 26
XAVI: X TOUR
December 6-7
FROST BANK CENTER
www.frostbankcenter.com
CHRISTIAN NODAL/PA’L CORA TOUR November 23
TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA/ THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS EVE: THE BEST OF TSO & MORE December 21
JOSEPHINE THEATRE
www.josephinetheatre.org
JOE CAPLOE & THE EVOLUTION A WORLD MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA!
November 1
JOSEPHINE JAZZ: FEATURING MELODIOUS PHUNK
November 4, 11, 18, 25, December 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 January 16,13,20,27
CANDLELIGHT: TRIBUTE TO COLDPLAY
November 8
CANDLELIGHT: TRIBUTE TO JUAN GABRIEL & TRIBUTE TO METALLICA
November 14
CANDLELIGHT: TRIBUTE TO QUEEN AND THE BEATLES
November 15, December 6
CANDLELIGHT: TRIBUTE TO TAYLOR SWIFT
November 21, December 5, 12
CANDLELIGHT: VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS AND MORE
November 21, December 6, 18
CANDLELIGHT: TRIBUTE TO FLEETWOOD MAC November 22, December 27
CANDLELIGHT: SALSA HITS
November 22
CANDLELIGHT: TRIBUTE TO COLDPLAY & IMAGINE DRAGONS
November 29
CANDLELIGHT: ANIME SOUNDTRACKS
December 5
CANDLELIGHT: ROCK FAVORITES ON STRINGS
December 12
CANDLELIGHT: 90S HIP-HOP ON STRINGS
December 18
CANDLELIGHT: CHRISTMAS CAROLS ON STRINGS
December 19-20
CANDLELIGHT: CHRISTMAS CLASSICS
December 26
LILA COCKRELL THEATRE
www.sahbgcc.com/Facilities/ Lila-Cockrell-Theatre
THE CHILDREN’S BALLET OF SAN ANTONIO/THE CHILDREN'S NUTCRACKER December 12-14
MAGIK THEATRE
www.magiktheatre.org
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS November 22 - December 24
MAJESTIC THEATRE www.majesticempire.com
JOHN MULANEY/MISTER WHATEVER November 11-12
JAGGED EDGE/CUFFING SEASON TOUR 2025 November 13
BRIAN CULBERTSON/DAY TRIP TOUR
November 16
DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST November 19-30
LA INDIA YURIDIA/PORQUE ASI SOY December 4
VIENNA LIGHT ORCHESTRA/ CHRISTMAS TOUR 2025
December 5
KANSAS
December 11
ELIDA REYNA Y AVANTE/ FAREWELL TOUR
December 12
DOC WATKINS AND HIS ORCHESTRA/CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
December 13
‘90S HITS & XMAS RIFFS WITH EZRA RAY HART
December 14
RALPH BARBOSA (18+)/BEAN WITHOUT A CAUSE
December 19
SARAH BRIGHTMAN/A WINTER SYMPHONY
December 20
ELF THE MUSICAL
December 23-28
NUTCRACKER! MAGICAL CHRISTMAS BALLET
December 29-30
NEW YEAR’S EVE FEATURING CHRIS D’ELIA
December 31
SAN ANTONIO PHILHARMONIC
@ Scottish Rite Cathedral www.saphil.org
CLASSICS IV: A FAMILY AFFAIR
December 12-13
HOLIDAY POPS
December 19-21
NEW YEARS POPS
December 31
SAN PEDRO PLAYHOUSE
www.sanpedroplayhouse.org
DISNEY'S FROZEN/RUSSELL HILL ROGERS THEATER
November 21 - December 23
THE FROSTY FOLLIES: A HOLIDAY CABARET/CLASSIC THEATRE
December 4-21
STABLE HALL @ PEARL www.stablehall.com
SAM REIDER & THE HUMAN HANDS - RHR MUSICAL EVENINGS
November 9
LEITH ROSS W/ ANNIKA BENNETT AND NOA JAMIR
November 15
SHAKEY GRAVES | SOLO SHOW November 16
GLOKK40SPAZ: BABY WOAH 2 TOUR
November 18
THE BAND OF HEATHENS: 20TH ANNIVERSARY
November 21 - December 23
ROB49: LET ME FLY TOUR
November 22
FUTUREBIRDS W/ LEON III
November 23
MARC BROUSSARD W/ TAYLOR RAE
December 5
HAYES CARLL - GRATEFUL FOR CHRISTMAS TOUR December 6
WILLIAM BECKMANN’S FOURTH ANNUAL LAS POSADAS TOUR December 12-14
RICK CAVENDER’S GLOW OF CHRISTMAS CHEER December 16
SILVERADA X THE WILDER BLUE December 19
BOB SCHNEIDER & HIS BAND W/ BRAEDON BARNHILL January 24
THE TOBIN CENTER
Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater www.tobincenter.org
THE LONG CHRISTMAS DINNER November 28-29
CHRISTMAS WITH C.S. LEWIS December 5-7
CHAMBER CONNEXIONS | CHRISTMAS BAROQUE BRILLIANCE December 11
SISTER’S CHRISTMAS CATECHISM: THE MYSTERY OF THE MAGI’S GOLD December 14
THE REALISTIC JONESESWILL ENO January 26
THE TOBIN CENTER
H-E-B Performance Hall www.tobincenter.org
TOSA | DANCING THROUGH TIME November 8
BORED TEACHERS: THE STRUGGLE IS REAL! COMEDY TOUR November 9
WATER STREET DANCE November 13
RENE VACA | 2025 TOUR November 14
THE SIXTIES SHOW | THE GREATEST 1960’S MUSIC RE-CREATION
November 16
JOHN CRIST: JOKES FOR HUMANS
November 21
NEKO CASE: FALL TOUR 2025 November 24
BLANK SPACE: THE UNOFFICIAL TAYLOR SWIFT TRIBUTE November 29
BALLET SAN ANTONIO | THE NUTCRACKER December 5-14
ALLMAN BETTS FAMILY REVIVAL
December 16
MARIACHI SOL DE MEXICO PRESENTS JOSE HERNANDEZ‚ MERRY-ACHI CHRISTMAS
December 17-18
YOSA PRESENTS: A HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR
December 20
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
December 21
CIRQUE MUSICA - HOLIDAY WONDERLAND
December 28
GARY OWEN | BACK 2 BASICS TOUR
December 30
WONDER THEATRE www.wondertheatre.org
THE SOUND OF MUSIC November 28 - December 23
MUSEUMS
ARTPACE
www.artpace.org
FALL 2025 INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE September 11 - January 18
BRISCOE WESTERN ART MUSEUM www.briscoemuseum.org
GOING TO TEXAS 2025: FIVE CENTURIES OF TEXAS MAPS October 3 - January 19
MCNAY ART MUSEUM www.mcnayart.org
SANDY SKOGLUND: ENCHANTING NATURE September 11 - February 1
HOUSES TO HOMES October 15 - January 18
DO NOT MEDDLE WITH IT!!: PRINT CENSORSHIP IN 19TH CENTURY PARIS
August 21 - December 7
O’ POWA O’ MENG: THE ART AND LEGACY OF JODY FOLWELL July 31 - January 4
SPOTLIGHT: SAN ANTONIO'S K-12 ARTISTS EMBRACE JENNIFER STEINKAMP May 18 - November 2
ORLY GENGER: STOMPING GROUND October 14 - June 7
RUBY CITY www.rubycity.org
DANIEL RIOS RODRIGUEZ: OPEN THIS WALL
October 25 - October 4, 2026
SENSING MEANING, ABSTRACT PAINTING
September 27 - August 30, 2026
JOEY FAUERSO: BEDROOM PAINTINGS
June 7 - May 10, 2026
SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART www.samuseum.org
LARRY BELL: IMPROVISATIONS
August 29 - January 4
READYMADE REMIX: NEW APPROACHES TO FAMILIAR OBJECTS
April 12 - April 12, 2026
MAYA BLUE: ANCIENT COLOR, NEW VISIONS
May 10 - May 10, 2026
CANVAS TO CLAY: GEORGIA O'KEEFFE & MARIA MARTINEZ TO MATA ORTIZ & TONALÁ
October 4 - October 4, 2026
SAMURAI SPIRIT: SWORDS, ACCESSORIES, AND PAINTINGS
January 6 - January 3, 2027
TIPSY
November 15 - November 14, 2027
THE WITTE MUSEUM www.wittemuseum.org
FIESTA MAKES A SPLASH April 24, 2024 - November 2
TEXAS CERAMICS: FROM LAND TO HAND April 26 - February 8
UNSEEN OCEANS October 25 - May 10
AT THE CHEF’S TABLE:
San Antonio’s Most Immersive (or Avant-Garde) Culinary Experiences
By Kimberly A. Suta
San Antonio, a UNESCO-designated “Creative City of Gastronomy,” is celebrated for its bold flavors, rich heritage and deep roots in community, from the Chili Queens who invented and served chili in historic Market Square to modern iterations getting recognized by James Beard and, now, the Michelin Guide. But for those looking to go beyond the everyday menu and guest experience and opt in for something truly one-of-a-kind, it’s time to sit down at the chef’s table, which offers a front-row seat to culinary creativity
— and sometimes even its inception. These intimate, chef-guided dining experiences blur the line between kitchen and dining room, giving guests a taste of the imagination, skill and passion that drive top local chefs and restaurants. And you may be wondering, like I did, who benefits most? The chefs, who use these experiences as a playground for experimentation or the guests who savor rare dishes, paired wines and personal stories from the chefs themselves? Dive in or “dine in” to find out!
Photos by Drew Henry
Photograph courtesy of Clementine
CURED AT PEARL: CHEF STEVEN MCHUGH
At Cured, James Beard-nominated Chef Steven McHugh runs his chef’s table with the same spirit that earned him acclaim: whole-animal butchery, creativity on the fly and a dash of whimsy. “We use the whole pig and half a cow, for example,” explained McHugh.
Guests never quite know what they’ll find, because the menu changes “at my whim.” One constant, however, is a 48-day dry-aged steak sourced from HeartBrand Akaushi beef. “Some of the best beef in the state,” said McHugh. “It’s dry-aged in a Meatico cabinet imported from Italy, and the steak is so rare that you’ve got to do the chef’s table to try it, as we only get seven out of every rack.”
From pasta with stuffed squash blossoms to unexpected cuts like picanha or even rabbit delivered by local ranchers, the chef’s table highlights ingredients too limited or unusual for the regular menu. “It’s all things I might only have one or two of — stuff you won’t find on the regular menu. Something I’m ideating on and playing around with,” he added.
But the experience is more than food. “My favorite people that come to the chef’s table … they go, oh my God, I’ve never had rabbit or squash blossoms or bone marrow, and I’ve always wanted to try it. And they are adventurous. Those are the tables that make me so happy,” McHugh added.
Highlights often include a bone marrow paired with seafood, a quirky staple where servers upsell a bone marrow “luge” of bourbon or sherry. “It’s very interactive and so much fun,” promised McHugh. Cured’s chef’s table includes five courses (plus an amuse-bouche), with wine pairings available, making it not just dinner — but a conversation with one of San Antonio’s most exceptional chefs.
At Mon Chou Chou, Chef Laurent Réa’s “La Table de Chou Chou” offers a more formal and regional French experience. “The goal was to provide a different experience for the guest and also for the kitchen,” he shared. “We’re elevating the French comfort food we do at the restaurant and focusing on some specific regions and pairing the wines with the regions.”
Four times a year, Réa crafts a seven or eight course menu highlighting the flavors of places like Alsace, Lyon or the South of France. Each dinner begins with a regional introduction from the sommelier and maître d’, describing terroir, culture and history. Guests enjoy appetizers and Champagne before sitting down for the courses.
Recent highlights included a sweet onion tart with anchovy and olives, a baby squash with braised lamb shank and Mediterranean branzino, as well as a multi-course tasting experience featuring curated selections from Maison Paul Déthune, a prestigious Grand Cru Champagne producer. “I describe the dish when they bring it — the history of the dish and its complexity,” he noted.
The exclusivity only adds to the allure. “As soon as we post about it, we’re pretty much fully booked within two weeks,” said Réa. For him, the joy lies in connecting with diners directly.
“It’s about the close connection with the guests and getting to fully see their excitement after the dinner — that’s really the best part,” he added.
Photography courtesy of Brasserie Mon Chou Chou
Chef Laurent Réa
CLEMENTINE: CHEFS ELISE AND JOHN RUSS
Chef John Russ and pastry chef and wife, Elise, bring a playful, family-style approach to Clementine’s tasting menu, simply called “Feed Me.” And, boy, do they ever! Inspired by a small neighborhood restaurant where John worked as a young man in New Orleans but rooted in Southern sensibility, it reflects whatever ingredients excite the team each season.
“The things we love are seasonal right now and have been waiting all year to do something with; there’s the hope our guests love it, and that’s the kind of emotion that goes into the ‘Feed Me,’ dining experience,” explained Russ.
Around sixty percent of Clementine’s guests choose the experience, which typically includes cold and warm apps, veggie and starch dishes, an entrée, pre-dessert, dessert and mignardise.
“One of the things we work hard to do is meet people where they are,” said Russ. “We just work really hard to demystify dining — not make it everyman food, but give that space really solid, honest and delicious food, presented in a way that allows the meal to progress all the way to dessert.”
Favorites over the last year have included a peach salad, a squid ink pasta with a five-minute tomato sauce, duck confit with red lentil fritters and garlic sauce and Elise’s beloved strawberry shortcake — a once-a-year treat that Russ calls “the best thing in the world.”
For Russ, the joy is twofold: “It’s training a whole new generation of cooks … and the other 50 percent is hearing people say, ‘I never thought these two things would go together.’ That’s a huge amount of fun."
Photography courtesy of Clementine
Chefs Elise and John Russ
SUPPER AT HOTEL EMMA: CHEF GERONIMO LOPEZ
At Hotel Emma’s Supper, Chef Geronimo Lopez revived the chef’s table to create a laboratory for ideas. “When I got there, I thought it was something worth rescuing,” he recalled. “And the team agreed it was fun to create a menu and use that space like a lab to develop recipes and things we like that can, in turn, become part of the staple menu at Supper.”
Currently offered Friday and Saturday nights in two seatings of six, the experience is highly limited and intentionally personal. “We don’t want it to become a massive situation. Supper has a way of doing things we care deeply about. This gives us the chance to be more creative and have fun,” he said.
The menu changes every two to three weeks, driven by seasonality and farmers’ offerings. Lopez mentioned winter plans with Axis venison and other regional specialties. “It’s especially exciting for people coming to the hotel; they get to taste what’s unique and interesting around San Antonio and Texas.”
Guests often walk away appreciating not only the food, but also the intimacy. “At the chef’s table, they have a very upclose experience … one of the best experiences they can sign up for,” said Lopez confidently. “For any foodies that really love food, it’s such a complementary take on the whole dining experience, because as guests we barely get to see that ... sit down and have a conversation with the chef and why he does what he does,” he said.
Photography courtesy of Supper at Hotel Emma
Chef Geronimo Lopez
Antonio.
BLISS: CHEF TONY HERNANDEZ
At Bliss, Chef Tony Hernandez has perfected the art of bringing diners into the heart of the kitchen. “We’re about to celebrate 14 years in February [2026],” he said. “We’re the only restaurant in San Antonio where you’re able to dine in the kitchen. We designed it specifically for a chef’s tasting.”
The chef’s table seats six to ten (typically as one party) for a seven-course menu with optional wine pairings, offered Tuesday through Saturday nights. The table itself is actually in the kitchen, surrounded by glass, so regular diners are also part of the action, but only chef’s table guests have a front row seat.
“It’s literally in the kitchen and it’s really, really cool,” confirmed Hernandez. “We have a beautiful table right in the middle of everything. You’re off our line but you’re actually in the kitchen.”
Some of Hernandez’s signature dishes include braised octopus with a coriander dressing, white bean purée and avocado mousse, as well as a braised beef tongue (lengua) dish with salsa negra and green mole, not to mention seasonal specials like tempura fried soft-shell crab with a tomato coulis and fennel-tomato-corn salad.
“Favorite thing? Just getting to meet my guests and getting to interact on a one-on-one basis. I love it … creating a great experience for them,” offered Hernandez. For this chef, all challenges are just blessings.
“We don’t look at it as a challenge at all. We look at it like we’re blessed. Plus, it’s a well-oiled machine at this point,” he added.
A CULINARY INVITATION
San Antonio’s chef’s tables aren’t just meals — they’re journeys. They take you behind the pass, into the minds and imaginations of some of the city’s most talented chefs.
Whether it’s the whole-animal creativity at Cured, the regional French deep dives at Mon Chou Chou, the playful “Feed Me” at Clementine, the experimental lab at Supper, or
the kitchen-immersed energy at Bliss, each experience offers something delightfully rare and unforgettable.
So, next time you’re craving more than just dinner, consider reserving a seat at one of our city’s top chef’s tables. Because in San Antonio, the best meals aren’t just eaten — they’re shared, savored and revered.
Photography courtesy of Bliss
Chef Tony Hernandez
SAN ANTONIO RESTAURANT WEEKS: A Feast with a Purpose
For 15 flavorful years, Culinaria has hosted San Antonio Restaurant Weeks — the ultimate playground for food lovers that serves curated, three-course prix fixe menus from over 150 local restaurants. But it’s not just a celebration of the city’s rich and diverse culinary scene — it’s a lifeline for the industry itself.
Timing is everything. Restaurant Weeks are strategically scheduled at times of the year when restaurants need it most. Texas summers are scorching, and convincing folks to leave the comfort of their A/C is no small feat. Winter brings its own chill — especially after the holiday rush when wallets are tight and dining out takes a backseat. That’s where Restaurant Weeks steps in, offering diners an unbeatable value while giving restaurants a much-needed boost during slower seasons. For some, it’s not just a promotion — it’s a make-or-break moment.
“San Antonio Restaurant Weeks is founded on the principle that we want you to go out to local restaurants and eat. It helps boost the local economy in these down economic times, when kids are going back to school, or after the holidays when people are on tight budgets,” explained Suzanne Taranto-Etheredge, President/CEO, Culinaria. “What’s most important is we’re getting out there, supporting local restaurants, and keeping that local culture afloat. It’s a great way to experience new foods, new restaurants and even revisit some of your old favorites, because the price is right! Chefs go all out to make sure the flavor profiles are amazing and allow diners to try several different things on the menu.”
And the best part? It’s deliciously affordable: Brunch: $25 | Lunch: $20 or $30 | Dinner: $35, $45 or $55
Many spots also offer optional upgrades — think wine pairings, craft cocktails or bonus courses — to take your meal to the next level. Whether you’re craving classic Tex-Mex or modern fusion, Restaurant Weeks is your opportunity to taste the city without breaking the bank.
By Trisha Doucette
courtesy of Culinaria
This past summer, Culinaria leveled up the Restaurant Weeks experience by teaming up with local luxury hotels like The Hotel Emma and the Thompson San Antonio Riverwalk. These partnerships brought discounted room rates and added food and beverage credits for Culinaria fans. Designed with out-of-town food lovers in mind, the offer also appeals to locals looking to turn a delicious night out into a full-blown staycation in the heart of the Alamo City.
How to Slay Restaurant Week Like a True Foodie
1. Plot it Out: Don’t just wing it — scroll the list of participating restaurants and menus like you’re assembling a dream team.
2. Snag Your Resy Early: This is a popular event and tables fill fast, especially on weekends.
3. Live a Little: If you have a go-to at your favorite restaurant, it will be there next month. This is your moment to flirt with flavors you’ve never tried.
4. Say Yes to the Pairings: Many restaurants offer optional add-ons like wine, cocktails or desserts. So, treat yourself and toast to it.
5. Think Beyond Dinner: There are several lunch and brunch options — that’s three chances a day to live your best foodie life.
6. Respect the Establishments: Share the love by being kind, tipping generously and posting proudly.
Whether you have lived here forever or you’re just getting your first taste of the city, Restaurant Weeks is your golden ticket to explore San Antonio’s incredible culinary scene. As a proud UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, San Antonio chefs blend tradition, innovation and global influences into every bite, curating dining experiences that celebrate the city’s rich food culture — just when local restaurants need it the most. So come hungry and bring friends!
For a complete list of participating restaurants during Restaurant Weeks Winter Edition 2026, visit SATXRestaurantWeek.com.
Little Em's Oyster Bar
Longtab Brewing
Little Red Barn Steak House
Photography
TASTE, TRADITION AND TAMALES
By Susan Yerkes
When the holiday season rolls around, South Texans start thinking of tamales. Where to get them, how many, what kind to get and when to order (early! Some places run out weeks before Christmas). And for do-it-yourselfers — who’s coming to the tamalada?
WHAT’S WITH TAMALES? WHY ARE THEY SO SPECIAL? TWO MAIN REASONS — TASTE AND TRADITION.
A good tamal is a delicacy. A neat corn-husk packet of light, tender masa (ground corn dough) that melts in your mouth, with a generous filling of something savory, spicy or sweet. (In tropical climates, plantain leaves are often substituted for corn husks, so the tamales are more square than long.) The wrapper, the filling — even the masa — can be adjusted to popular taste.
Tradition plays a big part in tamales’ popularity, and tamal tradition goes waaaay back. In Tamales, Comadres and the Meaning of Civilization, historian Antonia Castañeda writes that tamales originated in Mexico and Central America as early as 7000 BCE. Their masa was made of maize — the ancestor of the corn we know today. Corn was a vital staple for those civilizations. The rich and the poor ate some form of tamales. For lavish ceremonial occasions in Moctezuma’s court, tamales were stuffed with elegant edibles. The gods liked tamales, too, and each god had a favorite filling. For the Jaguar god, women prepared bean and chiles tamales, for the Lord of Fire, shrimp and chiles ones. Huitlacoche tamales and cups of hot chocolate were offered to the Lord of Rain and Thunder.
Like the old gods, today’s tamal-lovers have their own favorites with similar fillings. However, the most common tamal type in South Texas is pork simmered with red chiles, and there was no pork in the Aztecs’ time; Spaniards brought pigs to the New World later.
TASTES AND INGREDIENTS CHANGE OVER TIME, BUT TAMALE TRADITIONS ENDURE.
“The tradition hasn’t changed,” said Ellen Riojas Clark, PhD, co-author of Tamales, Comadres, and the Meaning of Civilization, with poet Carmen Tafolla. (An expanded edition of the popular book is due out from Texas A&M University Press soon.)
“We make tamales the way they were made thousands of years ago. To me, that’s astonishing. We still use corn that was first cultivated in Mexico. Chiles and tomatoes came from the Americas. We still use the molcajete, a tool thousands of years old.” (A molcajete is the rough black basalt mortar and pestle the Aztecs used to grind herbs and spices.)
Clark, a renowned professor emerita of bilingual-bicultural studies at UTSA, is also a go-to expert on the culinary traditions of Mexico and a passionate advocate of tamales. She wants to see San Antonio officially recognized as “The Tamal Capital of Texas.” “It has always been part of our cultural heritage in San Antonio,” she said. “We have them all the time, so most people just take them for granted.”
Clark relishes the title “La Mera Mera Tamalera” (the very best tamal maker). It’s also the title of a short documentary on tamaladas that won a prestigious James Beard Media Award this summer. Filmed
Ellen Riojas Clark, (seated lower left) and members of her family gather from around the U.S. to make tamales
Clark’s granddaughter working on masa
“Success!” Picture-perfect tamales
Clark giving a tamal-making lesson
Focus on the filling
Tamalada togetherness –Clark’s granddaughters
during one of Clark’s legendary tamaladas, it highlights both traditional and modern tamal traditions. Guests are urged to wear dangly earrings and red lipstick in honor of Clark’s favorite aunt’s tamale-making attire. Clark does the initial tamal prep work in advance — buying the masa harina, simmering the spices and meat, and soaking the corn husks to soften them. (She dries them modern style, in her clothes dryer.) When the guests are assembled, Clark kicks off the tamalada with a ceremony. “Everybody gather around the pot and grab a spoon or knife or whatever, and SING!” she urges. They do, and tamal-making commences.
The tamalada is about much more than food, Clark said. It’s about appreciating cultural traditions — together. It’s a community event where women share stories about their families and often share some juicy chisme (gossip). It’s an affirmation of identity, an appreciation of Mexican-American culture that brings generations together.
Those themes come to life in San Antonio writer Alicia Mena’s play, Las Nuevas Tamaleras, a beloved holiday tradition for many fans. Since its San Antonio debut at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in 1993, the heart-warming bilingual comedy has developed a kind of cult following. It follows the efforts of three young Mexican-American women friends to make tamales for the very first time. Fortunately, the spirits of two of their grandmothers step in to avert catastrophe. It’s a loving look at the importance of older generations in passing down time-honored traditions and cultural memory.
Mena grew up in Brownsville. “My mother made tamales in one day and night around Christmas,” she said. “She was very Mexican. She didn’t speak English and always listened to Mexico City radio. The food, the Mexican golden-age music, the voices I heard growing up on the border … I took that for granted.
When she passed away, I began to realize that she represented traditions I would no longer have. I couldn’t just go home and get my fix of our culture. I wanted to express my
sorrow that we can so quickly lose these things if we don’t pay attention, but my writing voice is comic, so it came out that way.”
Mena noted, “A lot of the people I work with are younger, and I love the fact that this is affecting their awareness of their culture.” That’s just the way Las Nuevas Tamaleras touched Justine Wallgren-Del Toro, the show’s stage manager. “I first saw the show three years ago,” she said. “I didn’t know too much about the tradition. I grew up in a Hispanic family, though, and my grandparents on my dad’s side would have the entire extended family over during the holidays. The women would gather in the kitchen, making tamales, and everybody would gather in the backyard to eat.
"After they passed, the family spread out. I grew up and went to college. When I started working with the show, I started to feel more connected to family and heritage. It transcends gender, race, age and language. Every time I see it, I hear a new joke. Even my husband, who doesn’t understand any Spanish except for paleta and chalupa, got the jokes.
“Last December, one of my cousins wanted to have a tamalada. It was kind of unreal to see art reflected in life, with husbands trying to touch the masa and getting their hands slapped away, us trying to remember how to make the tamales … it was like connecting with the past and also connecting with each other in the present,” she said. “I was very heartened to see everybody together again, talking and laughing. And we made some pretty good tamales.”
Special thanks to Ellen Riojas Clark for sharing her personal photos of her annual tamalada.
Las Nuevas Tamaleras photos byJ. Del Toro, courtesy of Carver Community Cultural Center.
Browse for more info on arts and culture in San Antonio.
Las Nuevas Tamaleras – ghostly grandmothers save a younger generation’s tamalada
Las Nuevas Tamaleras - Tamalada chisme (gossip) can be shocking
In the United States, March 23 is celebrated as National Tamale Day. Why March 23?
Probably because it was only established in the official Chase's Calendar of Events in 2015, and too many other days were taken.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
You can't eat just one tamale. It’s impossible. It’s not about willpower. It’s because one tamale doesn't exist. Tamal is the singular form of the word; for more than one, say tamales.
Tamal comes from the Nahuatl word for corn dough — tamalli. Tamales were food for the gods back then. For ceremonial occasions in Moctezuma's court, tamales were stuffed with a variety of ingredients, including honey, meat, chiles, roast turkey or quail, huitlacoche, amaranth seed, cornflowers, cherries, beans, shrimp and more.
THE FIRST DOGGY BAG
Tamales were also the first food "to go." Hunters, warriors and travelers could carry them.
LA MERA MERA TAMALERA
Free Tamalada program by Ellen Riojas Clark
Presented by the San Antonio Conservation Society
November 22 10:00am Mission San José RSVP to conserve@saconservation.org
DIFFERENT FOLKS, DIFFERENT TAMALES
Nicaragua has the fat, juicy nacatamal, chicken or pork paired with vegetables and fruit, wrapped in a plantain leaf and served for breakfast.
Colombia has tamales tolimenses. Pieces of chicken, pork and boiled egg are wrapped in masa made with corn and cooked rice, then tied up in a plantain leaf like a little round bag. They're a popular breakfast item.
Veracruz tamales are stuffed with turkey and chiles, and they're made for a crowd; up to 5 feet long and weighing up to 50 pounds.
SIZE MATTERS
You think a tamal 5 feet long is big? Hah! In 2018, in Villahermosa, Mexico, a team of 80 chefs from different cooking schools spent 12 hours constructing the world's largest tamal — 50 feet, 27 inches, according to the Guinness Book of World Records (which lists it as "Longest Steamed Cornflour Cake.") Yuck.
Here at home, in 2011, 1,300 students and community volunteers at San Antonio's Lanier High School set the Guinness record for “Most Steamed Cornflour Cakes Made by Weight in 12 Hours” — a whopping 12,232 tamales, weighing 2,4420.9 pounds.
There isn’t any sleeping during DreamWeek, but there’s a lot of dreaming. Also talking, listening, looking, laughing, tasting, dancing and experimenting with new people and practices. During DreamWeek 2026, an estimated 100,000 attendees will share their dreams for a better world and their work to make those dreams a reality.
The 13th annual DreamWeek isn't a week — it's a 17-day citywide series of events that showcases groups and individuals making a positive difference. It brings people from different races, religions and cultures together to share their dreams. Sort of like Fiesta, but with more speakers, no royals, fewer festivals and less confetti. There is one big parade during DreamWeek, and it's a lulu — the 39th annual Martin Luther King March, one of the largest MLK marches in the U.S.
The march, put on by the city's Dr. Martin Luther King Commission, is not an official DreamWeek activity. But it was the inspiration for DreamWeek, when marketing and design firm
By Susan Yerkes
owner Shokare "Sho" Nakpodia took up Mayor Julian Castro's challenge to create a campaign for the city highlighting the march.
Nigerian-born Nakpodia, who came to San Antonio by way of England and New York, is a deep thinker. He was fascinated by the massive turnout for the MLK march in a city where only six to seven percent of the population is Black. He began to reflect on how some 300,000 San Antonians from diverse backgrounds, cultures and races came together every year
Photography courtesy of DreamWeek
Colorful dance troupe performance
“World Class City” panel with Ron Nirenberg, Shokare Nakpodia, Andresa Andujar and others
in the march to honor Dr. King's vision of a more just and compassionate America. He began to think about how to bring some of those people together for more than one day, to communicate across cultural divides.
How do we work towards tolerance, justice and equality in practical ways, in our lives, where we live? In 2011, Nakpodia ventured an answer to that question. He founded a group called DreamVoice LLC, and in 2013, with help and participation from community partners, the first DreamWeek, billed as a "citywide summit," took place. Hundreds of people showed up to hear speakers and panels, participate in workshops, take tours, admire art and share meals. There were 35 events, almost all of them free.
DreamWeek has grown in ways few could imagine. This year's DreamWeek 2026 will have as many as 250 events, and more than 100,000 guests are expected to attend. There's also a global audience. DreamWeek events are streamed into dozens of other countries.
During DreamWeek, you'll witness a beautiful tapestry of diversity. People in hijabs and yarmulkes, saris, dashikis and couture outfits will sit side by side at luncheons, panels and concerts. All sorts of events will take place in venues all around town, from museums to malls and historic neighborhoods to sleek modern complexes. Students in hoodies and businessfolk in bespoke suits will rub shoulders, sharing space and ideas. DreamWeek is a celebration of our differences, a testament to our shared humanity.
"We allow people to adventure and mix a little more, in environments they have never been to through fear or insecurity or lack of education," Nakpodia said. "A Jewish religious celebration, a Scottish dance, a Nigerian restaurant … during DreamWeek, these places are safe to try. The more people we have out there, willing to engage with those they may disagree with, the more likely there will be a spark that will germinate and change all our lives."
Joy in Sisterhood
Opening Ceremony
DreamWeek Awards luncheon
Each year's DreamWeek has a different overall theme that is carefully chosen by the DreamVoice team. "We typically sit down and talk about what we learned from the past year, and think about the energy that we want the theme to bring into this year's summit," Nakpodia said.
Last year, the theme was Neighbors. "We knew in 2025 we would be coming out of a situation with the elections, where whatever happened, one half of the nation would be in some pain. We wanted to remind people that we don't have to wear politics on our sleeves — that life goes on, and there are all these ways where we still engage with one another — that we are all still neighbors."
The theme for DreamWeek 2026 is Revelations!, meant to encourage a deeper understanding of issues that affect our community and to reveal positive acts and initiatives that are often overlooked. This year, Nakpodia said the program will also reveal some historical landmarks that have been generally ignored, and explore buildings and the environment to give people a new perspective on what it is to live in San Antonio.
This year's events are organized around 12 sub-themes:
The urban cityscape, sports, holistic living, the environment, education, technology and the arts. Also, the spirit of acceptance, civil and human rights, business and lessons from the next generation. And there's the ever-popular theme of cuisine — sharing world culture through food.
Those themes will be expressed in the DreamHour Speaker Series, DreamPanel discussions, concerts, ethnic markets, fashion shows, garden tours, museum visits, sports events and meals. "If you break bread with someone, or share the same dish, it is much harder to hate,” Nakpodia said. The schedule includes much breaking of bread together, from the kickoff breakfast at the Briscoe Museum of Western Art and an Awards Luncheon at the Witte Museum to the gala Dream Ball.
A Neighborhood Film Series was inaugurated last year, when San Antonians were invited to submit 3-to-6-minute films about their neighborhoods. The top 10 were screened at the Carver Cultural Center, and the top three won cash prizes. The event was such a success that it will be repeated this year.
A brand-new event, DreamStage: Showtime at the Carver!, offers people the opportunity to present 3-to-5-minute performances onstage at the historic theater. The top three will be invited to perform at the Dream Ball.
With so many diverse events, DreamWeek's schedule may seem daunting at first glance. But the subjects are simple: untapped resources, unsung heroes, untold stories and their potential impact on a future yet unknown.
“We live in a very rapidly changing environment,” Nakpodia said. “Rapid change requires new voices, new prophets, new priests. I think that with Revelations! we hope to reveal what is happening in our city today that can lead to more enlightened ways of living.”
Iran-born singer Gola Memar Ardestani
Styling on the fashion runway
DreamWeek “Pitch Party” staging
HONORING THE GRUNTS:
Vietnam Army Grunt Museum
For more than four decades, Michael Lynd Sr., principal of Lynd — a San Antonio-based multi-family management company — has carried a vision rooted in service and remembrance.
As a former Infantry Officer in Vietnam during 1968–1969, Lynd served in Operation Fayette Canyon in Quang Nam Province with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, American Division. His wartime experience, later involvement with America’s Veterans Foundation and seeing firsthand the efforts of his friends at Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library, resulted in a lifelong commitment to honoring the soldiers who fought on the front lines — the Army Grunts. In 2019, he committed to creating the Vietnam Army Grunt Museum – the Army Grunts Story.
Located in the Lynd headquarters on Loop 1604 in San Antonio, the museum offers visitors an immersive glimpse into combat conditions and emotional realities faced by these troops. The museum is free to the public and run almost entirely by volunteers. Lynd has personally curated a vast collection of artifacts, including uniforms, field gear, rifles and radios. He actively encourages Vietnam veterans and their families to donate memorabilia and share personal stories, ensuring their legacy is preserved for future generations.
HEALING THROUGH HISTORY
For Lynd and many fellow veterans, the museum is more than a historical archive, and the process of creating it has helped him personally heal in the aftermath of his time in war. Veterans gather to reconnect, remember fallen comrades, and share their stories in a space that honors their sacrifices. Lynd shared, “When groups come in, you can see the camaraderie and bonding that occurs in the military.” It is the museum’s goal to use cultural and historical documents, interactive displays and selected artifacts to expose the visitor to the realities and perspectives of that long war. There are personal photos taken by soldiers on display — some showing rare opportunities for much-deserved Stand Down’s, which are two to three days off during the war — while most are poignant reminders of the grueling conditions and devastating outcomes of the war. One exhibit Lynd holds especially dear is dedicated to wartime nurses. “Women volunteered to join,” he said. “What those ladies had to endure and live with their entire lives … There’s a connection between the medics and the wounded soldiers they are treating. I was never seriously injured, but it’s near and dear to my heart.”
BRIDGING GENERATIONS
Lynd is passionate about educating younger generations. “I’m trying to reach a younger group, and the easiest way to do that is through pictures,” he explained. “Children aged 10 to 13
By Trisha Doucette
often show the most curiosity and empathy.” School groups frequently tour the museum, and local Jr. ROTC students assist with special events.
A PERSONAL RECKONING
Reflecting on his return from Vietnam, Lynd recalled the difficult reception veterans faced. “It was an unsettling time at home. Returning veterans were considered traitors because the war was so controversial. Times have changed — there is pride in military organizations now. The attitude upon our return kept vets silent but it still sticks with you. What I did, I did because I had to,” he shared, adding he was advised, “Don’t put 'Vet' on your resume.”
CELEBRATING SERVICE
The museum regularly hosts events to honor veterans, including luncheons, reunions and special presentations, providing the opportunity to view the exhibits.
“The main reason I put the museum together is to honor the almost 58,000 kids who fought in the Vietnam War, most of which passed away as young men. They never had a chance to live. I was 24 when I was in Vietnam and feel blessed — I wasn’t a teenager like most who served.”
Through the Vietnam Army Grunt Museum, Michael Lynd Sr. has created a living legacy — one that educates, heals, and honors the brave soldiers who served in Vietnam. It stands as a testament to resilience, remembrance and the enduring power of community. For his veteran visitors, Mr. Lynd said the first thing you do is give them a hug and welcome them home.
Open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. VietnamGrunts.org
Mr. Lynd in the Vietnam Army Grunt Museum
A History of Houston Street THEN AND NOW:
In the heart of downtown San Antonio, the glow of the Majestic Theatre’s marquee lights up Houston Street, drawing a stream of theatergoers toward its ornate interior. Elsewhere on the block, diners rush in and out of restaurants, and a group of paranormal enthusiasts bravely partakes in one of several guided walking ghost tours. A couple of decades ago, this same stretch was eerily quiet — its once-grand façades dulled by time and its storefronts shuttered and forgotten. Today, the street is abuzz and aglow again.
Officially named for former president of the Republic of Texas Sam Houston in 1871, Houston Street in the 1700-1800s was once a back road named Rivas Street and Paseo Hondo; while running parallel, Commerce Street was the main commercial hub. That changed in the late 1800s when the Maverick family, with significant landholdings along the street, promoted development as an alternative to the congested
By Ana Flores
Commerce Street. Small private homes, corrals and lumber yards were replaced with some of San Antonio’s most beautiful commercial buildings defined by ornate façades highlighting classic architectural styles. Many of these buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places today. By the turn of the 20th century, Houston Street had evolved into a bustling one of the city’s primary business thoroughfares.
Vintage photography courtesy of UTSA Special Collections
circa 1948
For over 100 years, Houston Street has mirrored San Antonio’s own cycles of prosperity, neglect and reinvention. Once one of the city’s most fashionable districts — a place to shop, dine, see and be seen — the corridor fell into decline as downtown emptied due to urban flight. With historic theatres restored and thriving once again, new restaurants popping up, cultural institutions planning their futures here and events drawing visitors back to its sidewalks, Houston Street is reclaiming its role as the heartbeat of downtown city life while still holding on to the stories of its past. Piece by piece, building by building, block by block, it’s finding its way back.
A STREET BUILT FOR SPECTACLE
For decades, Houston Street was the place to be. In the early 20th century, the stretch between the Alamo and Main Plaza formed the cultural and social core of downtown.
At the center of the action was the Theatre District. The Majestic Theatre opened in 1929 as a palace of escapism (it was the first in Texas to be fully air conditioned), with its starry ceiling and Mediterranean courtyard décor transporting audiences far beyond San Antonio. Next door, the Empire Theatre, dating to 1914, was built on the site of the Rische’s Opera House, and designed in the style of a European palazzo. It first offered vaudeville acts, then silent movies. Across the street from the Majestic, the Texas Theatre opened in 1926. Designed in Spanish Revival style, the grand movie palace could seat 3,000 moviegoers. Around the corner, the Aztec
circa 1885
Fourth of July Parade, 1898
circa 1900
Floodwaters, October 1, 1913
The Kress Building, circa 1948
Wolff and Marx Fashion Show, 1961
Holiday season, circa late 1950s
Audie Murphy banner (during the world premiere of To Hell and Back), August 1955
Military Parade, 1948
The Gunter Hotel, 1929
circa 1920s
Theatre completed the Fab Four, also opening in 1926 in Mesoamerican Revival style and adapting to the evolution of cinema. The venues made Houston Street a destination for entertainment and nightlife.
And it wasn’t just about theatre. From the early 1900s through the postwar boom, shoppers flocked to department stores like Wolff and Marx and the iconic Frost Bros., who opened its doors in 1917. Lunch counters filled with downtown workers, friends met for lunch and elegant hotels lined the street. At its best, it was the fashionable center of the city.
A SHADOW FALLS
By the late 1960s and 1970s, though, Houston Street’s fortunes had shifted. Like many American downtowns, San Antonio experienced a shift as commercial and social life migrated to the suburbs. Shopping malls sprouted on the city’s outskirts, taking department stores and diners with them. Vacancy crept in, theatres struggled and foot traffic slowed to a trickle.
Occasional efforts to revive the district surfaced over the years, but progress was slow, with several redevelopment plans fizzling before having a chance to get off the ground. Others brought minor improvements, but not the sweeping change many hoped for.
SIGNS OF LIFE
The first real signs of Houston Street’s turnaround began with the theatres themselves. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, significant restoration and fundraising efforts by the nonprofit Las Casas Foundation brought the Majestic and Empire back to their former glory. Broadway tours, concerts and special events returned — and with them, crowds. Today, the Majestic regularly hosts some of the biggest touring productions in the country, and its sister theatre, the Empire, brings in comedians, local bands and community events.
The Aztec Theatre’s revival came in the late ‘90s, thanks to the San Antonio Conservation Society. The Texas Theatre met a less fortunate end. Although the Conservation Society fought to preserve it, the building was demolished in the ‘80s to make way for a bank. Still, their efforts succeeded in salvaging the original ornamental façade, which remains as a tribute to its historic legacy. Farther down Houston Street, the Alameda Theater, which opened in 1949 as a Mexican-American entertainment venue, is currently undergoing restoration to reopen as a performing arts facility.
On show nights, sidewalks hum with energy as patrons line up for cocktails, snap photos beneath the glowing marquees and linger in nearby restaurants before and after the curtain falls. Theatregoers often describe their experience as stepping back into a different era, but one that’s alive and thriving again.
Other pieces of the puzzle have fallen into place. Local restaurants and bars have opened their doors, often frequented by a regular stream of theatergoers and downtown visitors. Upscale restaurants such as Bohanan’s and The Palm, along with other chef-led venues, offer a diverse array of culinary experiences. You’ll even catch the scent of whiskey in the air — thanks to Devils River Distillery, which brings small-batch spirit-making right to the heart of Houston Street. Public art installations, street lighting improvements and pedestrianfriendly enhancements, like Centro San Antonio’s Shade the Sidewalk project that lined Houston Street and other parts of the city with trees, have made the street more welcoming.
Texas Theatre, 1960
Rische's Opera House, 1890s, where The Empire Theatre was built
HISTORIC HOUSTON STREET WALKING TOUR
Seasonal events like Holidays on Houston Street, returning in 2025, now transform the area, filling the blocks with festive lights, décor, vendors and holiday cheer, reminding residents that this historic street is once again worth the visit. In 2024 alone, the festivities saw over half a million visitors.
Centro San Antonio, the placemaking organization leading the charge behind Holidays on Houston Street and other downtown activations, works daily to create a more beautiful, playful, welcoming and prosperous city center while staying true to San Antonio’s spirit.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
In 2024, the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM) announced it would move from its current spot in La Villita to the long-empty Kress-Grant buildings. The move will allow SAAACAM to expand its exhibition and archival capacity, while showcasing more immersive storytelling, community programming and partnerships. Its presence also promises to draw new audiences downtown, cementing Houston Street’s identity as a destination for entertainment and a center for culture and conversation.
THE STREET THAT TELLS THE CITY’S STORY
The renewed energy is palpable. Surrounding buildings are drawing new interest from developers, more restaurant and retail tenants are considering the area, and cultural programming, whether it’s pop-up art shows or block-wide festivals, is increasing foot traffic in ways Houston Street hasn’t seen in many years.
Houston Street’s development reflects the overall narrative of San Antonio: a city rich in history, filled with interesting and complex stories and shaped by how it remembers and reinvents its past for the future. It’s clear that Houston Street is once again where San Antonians come together.
Strolling Houston Street between Alamo Plaza and Santa Rosa Avenue, you’ll come across eight cleverly repurposed public telephone stands — now transformed into engaging informational kiosks. Each kiosk features double-sided panels that spotlight the rich history and architectural significance of nearby landmarks. These markers serve as gateways to the past, inviting you to pause, explore, and appreciate the legacy woven into every block of this storied downtown corridor.
The Majestic Theatre
The Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
The Aztec Theatre
HOLIDAYS ON HOUSTON STREET
Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 14
Photography courtesy of Centro San Antonio
Now in its third year, Holidays on Houston Street is once again transforming San Antonio’s most historic and charming downtown corridor into a dazzling winter wonderland. From Broadway to Legacy Park, five blocks will come alive with twinkling lights, festive décor and joyful energy as the City of San Antonio, Centro San Antonio and Visit San Antonio team up to deliver a spectacular seasonal showcase.
From December 5-14, visitors can wander beneath glowing canopies, take part in holiday-themed activities, and soak up the spirit of the season at every turn. This year’s celebration promises an even more immersive experience, with a full week of events building up to the beloved Holiday Market Weekend, running December 12–14.
Whether you're shopping, dining, sipping cocoa, or simply soaking in the sights, Houston Street is the place to be this December.
SATX 5K PRESENTED BY HOLIDAYS ON HOUSTON STREET 2025
Friday, December 5
A fresh addition to the holiday festivities, the San Antonio Marathon is set to energize runners and fans alike as it kicks off marathon weekend in style. This year, the Holidays on Houston Street 5K and Fun Run evolves into the SATX 5K Presented by Holidays on Houston Street — bringing a new name and an even more spirited experience to the heart of downtown.
A TASTE OF HOLIDAYS ON HOUSTON STREET
Saturday, December 6
Back for its third dazzling year, this beloved dining event invites you to gather with fellow food lovers along Houston Street — from Navarro to North St. Mary’s — for an unforgettable culinary celebration. Set beneath the shimmering glow of enhanced holiday lighting, this magical evening brings a festive feast for the senses, welcoming locals and visitors alike to savor the season in style.
HOLIDAYS ON HOUSTON STREET: MARKET WEEKEND
Friday, December 12 through Sunday, December 14
This is the city’s take on a European holiday market. Wander through a vibrant showcase of over 50 handpicked vendors offering everything from artisan crafts and locally designed apparel to fragrant candles, indulgent treats and unforgettable gifts you won’t find anywhere else. It’s the perfect place for sipping, shopping, photo-opping and soaking up the spirit of the season.
Zocca Cuisine D’Italia in The Westin Riverwalk
Zocca Cuisine D’Italia, located on the river level of The Westin Riverwalk, offers chef-driven dishes, regional wines, draft beers, and clinkworthy cocktails. An indoor-outdoor bar and patio along the river, live music on select days, Zocca-hosted river cruises, river parades, and culture-centric events offer engaging experiences like no other.
Main dishes include Gnocchi, Seafood Risotto, Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca, Braised Mushroom Ravioli, craft pizzas, fresh salads, and shareables, while cocktails include the Zocca Spritz, !Ay Caramba!, and San Antonio Fashion.
Special Event and Semi-Private Dining with specialized menu choices are also available.
LIGHTING THE ALAMO CITY:
Celebrating San Antonio’s Twinkling Traditions
By Drew Henry
Every city has its holiday traditions, but San Antonio does them in true Texas fashion — which here means bigger and brighter! From late November through early January, San Antonio’s holiday lights scene offers a magical experience for locals and visitors alike. Millions of lights illuminate its most iconic landmarks and festive attractions, so, bundle up and explore the city lit up for the holidays.
RIVER WALK HOLIDAY LIGHTS
November 28 through January 7
By the flip of a ceremonial switch on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the San Antonio River Walk bursts into a wonderland of sparkling lights. Thousands of visitors each year come to marvel at the spectacle. Couples stroll hand in hand under the glittering treetops. And families sip hot chocolate (or cocktails) as river barges float by, leaving wakes shimmering with reflections of red and green. The River Walk at Christmas is more than a pretty sight. It’s one of the city’s most beloved holiday traditions.
San Antonio River Walk | Visit San Antonio
Photo courtesy of Visit San Antonio
But few people realize just how this twinkling tradition came to life.
The very first holiday lights on the River Walk were installed as early as the ‘70s. The idea was the brainchild of William “Bill” McCormick, then-president of Joske’s of Texas. At the time, Downtown San Antonio needed a little spark. Looking to bring shoppers back to the heart of the city, McCormick proposed wrapping the cypress trees lining the river with holiday lights. It was a simple idea, but one that transformed the River Walk into something magical. That year, families gathered along the water’s edge, marveling at the glow cast across the river. Just like that, a new holiday tradition was born.
In the decades since that first flip of the switch, the River Walk lights have grown into one of the largest free holiday spectacles in the world. Today, more than 100,000 bulbs drape over 180 towering trees, their strands shimmering like falling stars over the river.
It takes months of preparation to make the display happen. After Labor Day, while the rest of the city is still sweating through late summer, crews begin bundling and testing the lights, replacing worn bulbs, and rolling massive spools into place. Each tree has its own detailed plan, with strand counts meticulously recorded to ensure every branch glows just right.
Once the prep work is complete, contractors climb into the decades-old cypress trees, carefully weaving the strands high into their branches. The process stretches into November, building toward the grand reveal. It all comes to life the day after Thanksgiving. After the festive Ford Holiday River Parade, the ceremonial switch is turned on to officially welcome the holiday season.
Of course, the magic doesn’t last forever. Every strand comes down again in January, not just to reset for the next year but also to outwit the River Walk’s most mischievous residents: the dozens of squirrels who can’t resist chewing
through the wires. The annual removal and re-hanging have become a ritual in itself — a labor of love that keeps the display fresh year after year.
In recent years, the lights have been updated to energysaving LEDs, but the sense of wonder they create remains timeless. Visitors find themselves immersed in a scene taken straight from a snow globe, whether they float down the river on a barge or admire the sparkle over dinner along the banks.
Speaking of barges, if you think caroling is charming on your doorstep, try it on a boat. On select days, December 12-23, the Ford Holiday Boat Caroling fills the River Walk with the sound of holiday songs drifting from river barges. Choirs, community groups and festive revelers take to the water to spread cheer. Visitors can book a seat on a singing boat or simply enjoy the serenade from a riverside restaurant. Some carolers even decorate their GO RIO Cruise boats to showcase their San Antonio holiday style. It’s a living tradition, glowing with the spirit of San Antonio.
MUSEUM REACH RIVER OF LIGHTS
November 29 through January 13
Just upriver from downtown, the quieter stretch of the Museum Reach of the River Walk takes on a special glow. The San Antonio River Authority strings lights along this peaceful path, creating scenes of illuminated trees. It’s a perfect stroll for those who want a calmer holiday moment away from the crowds.
For one more burst of spectacle, head to the Lock and Dam between downtown and the Historic Pearl District. The River of Lights Festival on December 13 from 4:00 to 8:00pm brings lots of family-friendly activities, like Santa photos, snow slides for all ages, music, food and shopping. It’s also here that the Pixel Tree comes to life every half hour, every evening, as its lights dance in sync with holiday tunes. It’s a little modern, a little kitschy, and a whole lot of fun.
GO RIO River Cruises
More Can’t-Miss Light Displays in the downtown area: While the River Walk may be the star atop the Christmas tree, the Alamo City doesn’t stop there. All around downtown, light traditions offer their own sparkle and charm.
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD: LIGHT THE WAY
November 22 through January 6
On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, one of San Antonio’s busiest corners transforms into a glowing wonderland. The University of the Incarnate Word’s 39th Annual Light the Way Holiday Festival kicks off with brilliant lighting spread across the Broadway campus. Families gather for music, food truck fare and holiday shopping from market vendors. It’s a free event that invites you to explore a university campus turned winter fairytale, and lights remain up for spectacular viewing through January 6.
SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN: ILLUMINATE
November 21 through January 11
For art and nature lovers, Illuminate at the San Antonio Botanical Garden is pure enchantment. Running from late November into January, the exhibition pairs handcrafted lanterns and glowing trails with the natural beauty of the gardens. Larger-than-life sculptures rise from the pathways, blending culture and nature in an immersive holiday experience. It’s part art exhibit, part light show and entirely magical. It’s perfect for families, holiday date nights or anyone who wants to wander through wonder.
SAN ANTONIO ZOO: ZOO LIGHTS POWERED BY CPS ENERGY
November 16 through December 31
Holiday lights take a walk on the wild side at the San Antonio Zoo. Zoo Lights transforms the grounds into themed worlds like Water Wonderland and Starry Safari, complete with whimsical displays and sweet treats. Families can ride the Holiday Express train or snap photos with glowing animal lanterns. It’s festive fun that blends holiday cheer with a love of animals.
Courtesy of San Antonio Botanical Garden X Tianyu, Arts & Culture
San Antonio Zoo: Zoo Lights
The University of the Incarnate Word: Light the Way
HOLIDAY ARTISAN MARKETS:
A Season of Art, Culture and Community Cheer
This holiday season, San Antonio celebrates creativity, heritage and festive spirit. From the long-standing traditions to the lively family-friendly events, each market offers a unique blend of handcrafted gifts, local artistry and joyful experiences.
Zonarte Market
Friday, November 21 | 6:00 to 9:00pm
Saturday, November 22 | 10:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday, November 23 | 10:00am to 6:00pm
Centro Cultural Atzlan
For 29 years, featured artists and artisans have been bringing their handmade gifts, original prints, paintings, sculptures, furniture, jewelry, textiles and artesania.
36th Annual Mercado de Paz/Peace Market
Friday & Saturday, November 28-29 | 10:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday, November 30 | Noon to 6:00pm
Esperanza Peace & Justice Center
For three days, Peace Market provides a direct interaction with artists and artesanos. There's music, food and, of course, a lot of shopping!
Holidays on Jones: Family Day & Holiday Market
Saturday, November 29 | 10:00am to 5:00pm San Antonio Museum of Art
Shop for gifts from more than 50 local artists and makers and, in Family Day tradition, admission to the Museum is free for all! Enjoy artmaking, live performances, storytelling and workshops and demonstrations by community partners.
Holiday Art Market
November 29 | 10:00am to 5:00pm
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
Bring the family to enjoy live holiday music, a reindeer exhibit, games and shopping! Over 50 vendors are offering unique hand-crafted items, including home decor, gourmet food, accessories, gifts and much more.
The Gathered Market
Sunday, December 7 | 9:00am to 3:00pm
Witte Museum
Shopping from local makers and adopting dogs that need a forever home is what this market is about. A portion of ticket sales goes to support area nonprofits, with Orphan Grain Train, who donates gently used clothing internationally, and Charming Pet Rescue, a pet adoption agency, being the recipients this year.
Hecho A Mano
Sunday, December 7 | 10:00 to 4:00pm
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Latino Bookstore
This beloved holiday artisan market will bring local artists and makers for artwork, gifts and handmade goods.
Pearl Holiday Markets
Wednesdays, December 3, 10 & 17 | 5:00 to 9:00pm
Historic Pearl District
Holiday Night Markets feature festive music, unique local vendors and holiday activities.
Holiday in the Village at La Villita Friday, December 12 | 3:00 to 10:00pm Saturday, December 13 | Noon to 10:00pm Sunday, December 14 | Noon to 7:00pm
La Villita Historic Arts Village-Maverick Plaza
There’s fun for all ages with tamale and chocolate making demonstrations by Chef Johnny Hernandez, cookie decorating, photos with Santa, a gingerbread building competition, an enchanting Alsatian-style village setting and more.
Holiday Gift Market in Civic Park at Hemisfair
Holiday in the Garden in Yanaguana Garden Saturday, December 20 | 10:00am to 4:00pm Hemisfair
A delightful mix of vendors offers unique treasures for everyone, and for the kids, Yanaguana Garden brings photos with Santa, reindeer, bubble snow and kid’s crafts.
Photo courtesy of the Historic Pearl District
ALAMODOME
www.alamodome.com
UIL STATE MARCHING BAND CONTEST
November 3-12
BANDS OF AMERICASAN ANTONIO SUPER REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
November 7-8
MEXICO VS. PARAGUAYMEXTOUR 2025
November 18
UTSA VS. EAST CAROLINA
November 22
UTSA VS. ARMY
November 28
MONSTER JAM
January 24-25
COCA
COLA CLASSIC CHRISTMAS AT TOYOTA FIELD
www.classicchristmas.com
CLASSIC CHRISTMAS
November 28 - December 28
PAWS & CLAUSE
December 3, 17
FAMILY PHOTO NIGHT OUT
December 7
NIGHT OF HONOR
December 10
COUNTRY CHRISTMAS
December 11
CONTEMPORARY AT BLUE STAR
www.contemporarysa.org
FIESTA SAN ANTONIO 2025
April 16-26, 2026 www.fiestasanantonio.org
FREEMAN EXHIBITION HALL
www.freemancoliseum.com
PALOMAZO NORTEñO: LA BORRACHERA PERFECTA/COLISEUM
November 1
TEXAS BRIDAL AND WEDDING EXPO/EXPO HALL
November 2
MIGUEL BOSE: IMPORTANTE TOUR/COLISEUM
November 15
MARKO TOUR/EXPO HALL
November 15
46TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SHOWCASE/EXPO HALL
November 22-23
INTOCABLE: ANTOLOGIA TOUR 2025/COLISEUM November 26
XAVI: X TOUR/COLISEUM December 6
FROST BANK CENTER
www.frostbankcenter.com
PITBULL VS. ROACH/PREMIER BOXING December 6
HEMISFAIR PARK
www.hemisfair.org
SA VETERANS DAY 5K FUN RUN November 8
SA VETERANS DAY AT HEMISFAIR November 8
YOUTH ENTREPRENEUR POPUP MARKET HOSTED BY FOR THE CULTURE HOMESCHOOL November 8
GET FIT AT HEMISFAIR: FREE COMMUNITY YOGA November 9
SUNDAY BRUNCH MARKET HOSTED BY BOX STREET ALL DAY AND THE TEXAS MARKET November 16
GET FIT AT HEMISFAIR: FREE COMMUNITY YOGA November 23
STORY TIME AT HEMISFAIR November 25
HOLIDAY GIFT MARKET December 20
SUNDAY BRUNCH MARKET HOSTED BY BOX STREET ALL DAY AND THE TEXAS MARKET December 21
HISTORIC MARKET
SQUARE
www.marketsquaresa.com
CALAVERAS DE AZÚCAR FESTIVAL
November 1
MARKET SQUARE WEEKENDS: LIVE PERFORMANCES, LOCAL EATS & ART IN ACTION November 8-9
MARKET SQUARE WEEKENDS: LIVE PERFORMANCES, LOCAL EATS & ART IN ACTION November 15-16
MARKET SQUARE WEEKENDS: LIVE PERFORMANCES, LOCAL EATS & ART IN ACTION November 22-23
CELEBRACIÓN MUSICAL EVENT November 29
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS EVENT
November 30
HOLIDAY WEEKEND PROGRAMMINGLIVE ENTERTAINMENT December 6-7
GRAN TAMALADA December 13
HOLIDAY WEEKEND PROGRAMMINGLIVE ENTERTAINMENT December 20-21
HOLIDAY WEEKEND PROGRAMMINGLIVE ENTERTAINMENT December 27-28
LA VILLITA HISTORIC ARTS VILLAGE
www.lavillitasanantonio.com
DIWALI SA/ARNESON RIVER THEATRE November 1
PAINTING IN THE PLAZA/ VILLITA ST AT COS HOUSE November 2, December 7, January 4
SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY RACE THE RIVER: DOWNTOWN RIVER WALK/ARNESON RIVER THEATRE
November 7
SANA SUNDAY TAEKWONDO SELF DEFENSE/PLAZA JUAREZ November 9
CRAFT TUESDAY November 11
F.R.I.D.A. FRIDA FEST 2025/ MAVERICK PLAZA November 15-16
MARISOL DELUNA 2025 COMMUNITY FASHION SHOW/ ARNESON RIVER THEATRE
November 15
DANCING IN THE DARK/ MAVERICK PLAZA
November 22
BLESSINGS ON THE RIVER/ ARNESON RIVER THEATRE
November 22
FORD HOLIDAY RIVER PARADE/ ARNESON RIVER THEATRE
November 28
CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT/ ARNESON RIVER THEATRE
December 7
HOLIDAY IN THE VILLAGE AT LA VILLITA
December 12 - 14
SANA SUNDAY GOAT YOGA IN LA VILLITA/PLAZA JUAREZ
December 14
BETHANY CHURCH CHRISTMAS CONCERT/ARNESON RIVER THEATRE
December 19
TUBAMEISTER CHRISTMAS/ ARNESON RIVER THEATRE
December 20
CHANUKAH ON THE RIVER/ ARNESON RIVER THEATRE
December 21
VALERO ALAMO BOWL RICO’S RIVER RALLY/ARNESON RIVER THEATRE
December 28
CELEBRATE SAN ANTONIO NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION/ LA VILLITA HISTORIC ARTS VILLAGE
