One of the nation's most active historic preservation organizations sponsors cultural festival for 72nd year in San Antonio, TX

San Antonio, Texas, May 25, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- "A Night In Old San Antonio® (NIOSA) will be back in June 2021—better than ever with smaller crowds.

Originally scheduled for April 2021 during Fiesta San Antonio®, the four-night festival will now run Tuesday to Friday, June 22-25, 2021 from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. nightly. NIOSA brings the city's heritage alive in its 14 cultural areas through the magic of 155+ food, drink and atmosphere booths and entertainment stages; continuous live musical acts; decorations; souvenirs; and many dedicated volunteers.
This is the 72nd presentation of NIOSA, solely produced by and benefitting The Conservation Society of San Antonio (one of the nation's oldest and most active historic preservation organizations).

SOMETHINGS NEVER CHANGE (thank goodness!); NIOSA 2021 will still:

•     occur in the heart of downtown San Antonio on the grounds of La Villita Historic Arts Village District, with its four+ acres of historic buildings, cobblestoned streets, walls and fountains.    
•     feature booths run by volunteers making food or beverages; many volunteers are second or third generations of a family.
•     serve the foods NIOSA has created or perfected, prepared and served including these favorites: Mr. Chicken, Maria's Tortillas, Anticuchos, its signature German sausage, Bongo-K-Bobs, Shypoke Eggs, Beignets, Fried Mushrooms, Yak-i-Tori, Steer on a Stick, Eggrolls, Gorditas and Fajitas de Pollo. Click HERE for map of grounds and list of foods
•     feature NIOSA's favorite entertainers who will be back every night of NIOSA
•     sell its popular NIOSA souvenirs HERE on its website and on the NIOSA grounds, including the 2020 NIOSA medal
•     sell beer in its signature collectible cups
•     be put on by an army of volunteers, led by the Society's Fourth Vice President/NIOSA Chairman (Terry Schoenert this year) who is ultimately responsible for everything from decorations to cascarones and security. She is assisted by three NIOSA vice chairmen and a treasurer; 14 area chairmen; and booth chairmen for hundreds of food and drink booths.
•     continue as one of the top Green events during Fiesta with recycle bins in all of its 14 areas so guests can reduce, reuse and recycle. A bicycle valet is offered outside the NIOSA gate at the corner of Alamo and Nueva streets from 5:30 – 10 p.m. so bicycles (not motorcycles) can be locked up in a supervised area. Cyclists must bring their own lock/chain. VIA Metropolitan Transit may offer Park and Ride services; check http://www.viainfo.net/park-and-ride/ for complete information.    
•     First Aid stations are located in Chinatown, Frontier Town, Irish Flats, Mission Trail, South of the Border and Haymarket areas, and on porch of NIOSA headquarters at corner of Nueva and Presa Streets.

SOME THINGS WILL CHANGE (for the better!):

•     A limited number of tickets for each night of NIOSA will be sold in advance HERE on the NIOSA website. This will lessen crowds and allow for more distancing.

o    Entrance e-tickets are available now, ONLY on NIOSA website.
o    Guests must present e-Ticket purchase code by cell phone (or print-out of ticket code) at the entrance gates, where it will then be scanned.
o    No paper entrance tickets will be sold at locations around San Antonio, as in past years.

•     All NIOSA guests must purchase BlastPass—a cashless, touchless wristband that all guests must use to purchase everything onsite at NIOSA (food, beverages and mementos).

o    BlastPass stores credits on the wristband for an easy payment process that is a convenient, cleaner way to pay for items, with no need for paper coupons that can easily get lost.
o    Guests can no longer purchase paper coupons on the NIOSA grounds.
o    BlastPass can be purchased HERE on the NIOSA website OR on the NIOSA grounds at the many convenient BlastPass stations, marked well with bright blue signs. Those stations will also allow guests to load more money on their wristbands.
o    Don't worry: There will be many manned BlastPass stations on the NIOSA grounds to help people buy and load their wristband with more money via credit card or mobile phone.
o    More details on BlastPass FAQ on NIOSA website.

•     A few areas and some booths will be in new locations in La Villita this year. Click HERE to see map and list of foods in each area.
•     Children 12 and under are still free when accompanied by an adult. However, there will not be children's games nor face-painting.
•     Covid policies and protocols will be constantly updated HERE on NIOSA website.

o    NIOSA will not require a mask for guests and volunteers who have been vaccinated; they ask that unvaccinated guests please wear a mask. NIOSA will not require proof of vaccination status.
o    Additional trash receptacles, recycle bins and hand sanitizer/hand wash stations will be provided.
o    New food serving procedures for all booths will minimize contact.

TICKETS: Entrance tickets are $20 for adults; children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. This year, ONLY e-Tickets will be accepted at NIOSA this year and can only be purchased online. Guests must present e-Ticket purchase code by cell phone or print-out of ticket code at an entrance gate, where it will then be scanned. (No advance paper tickets will be sold at locations around San Antonio, as in past years.) A limited number of tickets for each night of NIOSA will be sold in advance on the NIOSA website. This will lessen crowds and allow for more distancing.

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

Media Contact

Jeanne Albrecht, NIOSA, 2103929047, [email protected]

SOURCE NIOSA