“A Night In Old San Antonio” brings the heritage of San Antonio alive in 15 cultural areas through 200-plus food, drink and atmosphere booths and 14 musical acts

"A Night In Old San Antonio" (NIOSA) is a four-night festival in the heart of downtown San Antonio that celebrates the city's diverse cultural legacy for more than 85,000 revelers annually.

Sponsored by and benefiting the San Antonio Conservation Society, the 71sth presentation of NIOSA will be held April 23-26, 2019, during the city's Fiesta San Antonio celebration. NIOSA is the top fundraiser for historic preservation in the nation and truly lives up to its motto as a "Celebration for Preservation."

Through the magic of more than 200 food, drink and atmosphere booths, 14 live musical acts, children's games, decorations, costumed volunteers and souvenirs, NIOSA brings the city's diverse cultural legacy alive in its 15 cultural areas: Mission Trail (early years of the San Antonio Missions); Arneson Theatre (amphitheater built in 1941 into the natural curve of the city's river bank); China Town; Clown Alley; French Quarter; Froggy Bottom (cultural contributions of African-Americans); Frontier Town; Haymarket (produce and livestock markets near San Fernando Cathedral during the city's Spanish Colonial period); International Walkway (showcases different ethnic groups that developed San Antonio's unique heritage); Irish Flats; Main Street USA; Mexican Market; Sauerkraut Bend; South of the Border (Northern Mexico influences); and Villa España (Spanish and Canary Islanders heritage). Check NIOSA's digital media kit at https://www.niosa.org/p/other/online-media-kit for a complete list and interactive map of all food, entertainment and drinks in these 15 areas.

WHEN: Tuesday through Friday, April 23-26, 2019, from 5:30 to 10:30 p.M. Gates close and alcohol sales stop at 10 p.m.; food sales and entertainment continue until 10:30 p.m.

WHERE: Grounds of the La Villita National Historic District-the 18th century Spanish neighborhood, bounded by the San Antonio River and Alamo, Nueva and Presa streets (approximately five acres).
WHO: NIOSA is sponsored solely by the San Antonio Conservation Society. Founded in 1924, the Conservation Society is one of the oldest and most active community preservation groups in the U.S. Beginning with efforts to prevent historic structures from being razed and to preserve such unique sites as the city's Spanish Colonial missions, the Society has been responsible for saving most of the historic attractions that now make San Antonio one of the top tourist destinations in the country. The Society was integral in the Missions' nomination as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, initiating the nomination process in 2006 and supporting the nomination until they were awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2015. The Society's support of the Missions includes a substantial donation to operation of Mission San Juan Spanish Colonial Farm.
PROCEEDS: NIOSA is the top fundraiser for historic preservation in the nation and truly lives up to its motto as a "Celebration for Preservation." The NIOSA committee is able to present the San Antonio Conservation Society with an average of more than $1.6 million annually in NIOSA profits to fund the Society's preservation of historic properties and parks throughout the city and neighboring counties, as well as education and advocacy programs such as the Heritage Education tours for more than 2,500 fourth grade students annually; over $1.6 million (yes, $1.6 million) in renovations and improvements to La Villita since 2000; $2.5 million (yes $2.5 million) in building grants available to all San Antonians in the last 20 years-and that is just a few examples.

NIOSA invests approximately $1 million back into the community by using local entertainers and suppliers. In addition, approximately $500,000 is paid to the City of San Antonio for health, fire and electrical permits; SAPD security; and to lease La Villita.

NIOSA chairman Margie Arnold, elected by the Conservation Society in July 2017 and 2018 as its Fourth Vice President/NIOSA Chairman, volunteers her time all year to plan and coordinate the event, and is assisted by four NIOSA vice chairmen and NIOSA treasurer-also all volunteers. They oversee the 10,000 volunteers who contribute more than 150,000 volunteer hours to make NIOSA happen.

What makes NIOSA unique from festivals around the world?

• Food items are created, perfected, and prepared by NIOSA volunteers on-site and truly reflect the areas where they can be found. Many dishes can only be enjoyed at NIOSA.
• All booths are run by Conservation Society volunteers; many are second or third generations of a family. Volunteers come from all over the country to work at NIOSA.
• On the average, NIOSA revelers annually consume over 17,000 lbs. of beef; 11,000 lbs. of chicken; 5,000 lbs. of sausage; 3,000 turkey legs; 25,000 buns, rolls and bolillos; 30,000 tortillas; 2,000 lbs. of masa; 6,000 tamales; 15,000 lbs. of fruits and vegetables; and 1,000 lbs. of guacamole.
• All musical acts play all night, every night, of NIOSA

TICKETS: Gate tickets are $15 for adults; children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.
Discount advance tickets are available starting March 1 for $12 at http://www.niosa.org and locations around the city. Discount e-tickets for smart phone or tablet (or can be printed) are sold on NIOSA website.

INFO: Visit http://www.niosa.org, contact (210) 226-5188 or niosa@niosa.org or follow NIOSA on Facebook at http://www.facebook/niosa.niosa. NIOSA's website includes an interactive map, lists of all foods, beverages, entertainment and more.

RECYCLING: Continuing its efforts as one of the top Green events during Fiesta, NIOSA has recycle bins in each of its 15 areas so guests can help the Society reduce, reuse and recycle. A Bike Corral 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. VIA Metropolitan Transit will again offer Park and Ride services; check http://www.viainfo.net/park-and-ride/ for complete information. In 2018, for the seventh year in a row, "A Night In Old San Antonio" (NIOSA) has again earned one of the highest certifications from the City of San Antonio based on its Green Events Ordinance sustainable policies for medium and large-scale events. In 2011, NIOSA earned the "Platinum Status" in the city's Fiesta Verde program, the first organization in the city to do so.

MORE: NIOSA brings the city's heritage alive in its 15 cultural areas; below are examples of what
guests will find at just two of NIOSA's 15 areas:

Mexican Market (original area of NIOSA)
A Mexican market is re-created with colorful papel picado banners and paper flowers in this original area of NIOSA. Celebrating the city's cultural ties to Mexico, this is where visitors find a NIOSA exclusive: Anticuchos-a marinated steak shish-k-bob with origins from Peru. First introduced in 1955, hundreds of volunteers serve more than 10,000 of these each year. New this year: Preparadas booth, serving this popular, flavored malt beverage with fresh fruit, chamoy and chili lime powder-joining the other adult beverages sold in this area. Other favorites include Chalupas, Quesadillas, Fajitas de Pollo, Bean Tacos with fresh corn tortillas made on the spot, Burritos, Tamales with Chili, Enchiladas, Elotes (corn on the cob), Fruit Kabobs, Pink Lemonade and non-alcoholic PiñaCoconada with Crema, authentic Mexican coffee, and hibiscus tea. Mexican sweets include Churros and Buñuelos (crisp fried Mexican pastry dusted with cinnamon and sugar). Workers costumed in huipiles, Oaxacan dresses, sombreros, ponchos and peasant attire enhance the flavor of Mexico, along with the musical entertainment of Karizma. In keeping with a true marketplace, a Tienda booth offers folk art from all over Mexico, including toys, apparel and accessories. The Bolsa booth originated and still resides here, selling hand-painted paper shopping bags decorated by area artists, including notecards and 8x10 mini-prints by Caroline Shelton-a longtime, beloved member of the Conservation Society and NIOSA volunteer who painted the first NIOSA poster in 1983.
Cascarones (confetti eggs) originated at NIOSA in the Mexican Market in 1959 and are now a Fiesta staple. Each year, approximately 35 dedicated Conservation Society volunteers work year-round to make more than 50,000 of the popular confetti eggs. For only $1 revelers may buy three cascarones to crack over the heads of fellow visitors showering them with confetti. The sale of cascarones at NIOSA has contributed around $700,000 for historic preservation projects since they were introduced in 1959.

Sauerkraut Bend (added in 1972)
German influence in San Antonio dates back to the early 1800s, when immigrants built their homes in the King William neighborhood along a bend in the San Antonio River. Called Sauerkraut Bend, it inspired the NIOSA version, which is set in the Villita Assembly Building. Eurofest and the Cadence Cloggers of San Antonio will provide continuous entertainment (including the popular Chicken Dance). Visitors to the cool, spacious hall enjoy Sausage on a Stick (1,200 pounds worth, made exclusively for NIOSA), Deutsche Nachtische (sweets including Black Forest Cake and gingerbread), Bretzlyn, Deutsche Ice Cream, Bavarian Kreme Horns, Bratwurst Broetchen, Potato Pancakes, a Sausage Sampler and Pigs in a Blanket. The area also offers Heineken, Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, Shiner Bock, Shiner Premium, malt beverages in orange and root beer flavors and craft beers on draft from local brewery Ranger Creek featuring San Antonio Lager, Love Struck Hefe (German-style Hefeweizen), Mission Trail Ale and OPA brewed by Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling, in the Craft Bier Haus. New this year: Cape Line Sparkling Cocktails, a new line of carbonated, cane sugar-fermented drinks.

Libations at NIOSA: Returning this year to all areas (except Clown Alley) will be Miller Lite and Coors Light. In select beer booths, guests will also find Busted Sandal, Blue Moon, George Killian's, Dos Equis, Shiner Bock and Shiner Light Blonde. Mission Trail Ale brewed by Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling is sold in Mission Trail area. NIOSARITAs in lime flavor are sold in South of the Border. The Sauerkraut Bend area will sell Heineken, Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, Shiner Bock, Shiner Light Blonde and craft beers on draft from local brewery Ranger Creek-featuring San Antonio Lager, Love Struck Hefe (German-style Hefeweizen), Mission Trail Ale and OPA (Oatmeal Pale Ale). New in Sauerkraut Bend: Cape Line Sparkling Cocktails, a new line of carbonated, cane sugar-fermented drinks. Premium Smirnoff malt beverages, wine margaritas, five varieties of wine (Chardonnay, Merlot, Moscato, White Zinfandel and Sangria) and champagne can also be found in select areas. New this year: Mexican Market area will also sell the very popular Preparadas (a flavored malt beverage with fresh fruit, chamoy and chili lime powder). Mandarin Screwdrivers are sold in China Town area. Non-alcoholic options include PiñaCoconada with Crema, Mexican coffee and hibiscus tea in Mexican Market, Mangonadas in Frontier Town, Jugos Frescas in South of the Border and Banana Smoothies in Arneson Theatre, as well as sodas, coffee and tea throughout the area.