While it might still feel like summer in San Antonio, the fall festival season is here to remind us that there are plenty of reasons to venture back outdoors to immerse ourselves in the city’s many cultural offerings.
Seven notable events are back for new installments: Jazz’SAlive, the Mehregan Persian Autumn Festival, Tasting Texas Wine + Food Festival, Luminaria, Día de los Muertos, Diwali SA, and the Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival.
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Jazz’SAlive
Jazz’SAlive is celebrating its 40th anniversary and making a permanent move to the brand-new Civic Park in Hemisfair right in time for the park’s grand opening on Sept. 29.
The two-day festival’s main stage boasts an incredible lineup including 12-time Grammy nominee Kirk Whalum, blues virtuoso Jackie Venson and New Orleans sensation Big Sam’s Funky Nation. World-renowned jazz pianist Yuko Mabuchi will also be performing with her trio for the first time in San Antonio.
Mabuchi, whose mother was a classical piano teacher, said she got her start learning from her mother and eventually competing in classical music competitions. “It was in junior high when my interest in classical music slowed and was replaced with a new interest in American music, largely influenced by my father’s collection,” she said.
In 2010, Mabuchi migrated from Fukui, Japan to Los Angeles in order to study her ever-growing passion for the genre. Since then, she has traveled around the world spreading her love for jazz and inspiring people with her talent.
When asked about what makes performing jazz so special, Mabuchi said, “Jazz allows you to express yourself in a way that’s unique to any other genre. It is truly the most exciting music to me in the world.”
Jazz’SAlive kicks off with a grand opening ceremony on Friday at 4:30 p.m., followed by live music starting at 5 p.m. On Saturday, the festivities are from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
While admission is free, you can elevate your experience with multiple tiered packages that come with increasing perks. For more information and to purchase tickets visit the San Antonio Parks Foundation website.
Mehregan Persian Autumn Festival
On Saturday, Sept. 30, the San Antonio Persian Cultural Society, also known as the Mehr Foundation, welcomes us to La Villita and Arneson Theater for the Mehregan Persian Autumn Festival.
The festival is a traditional celebration dating all the way back to the 4th century BCE honoring Persian history and culture.
“We want to emphasize just how diverse the Persian community is and give everyone a voice,” said Mojgan JJ Panah, co-founder of the nonprofit behind the event. “The Mehregan Festival allows us to foster strong bonds between us.”
This year’s theme, Poetry In Persian, will highlight the history of Persian literature and poets like Rumi, Hafez, Khayyam and Ferdowsi. Festivalgoers can also expect a fantastic vendor market, amazing Persian cuisine, mesmerizing art exhibits and live performances by actor and activist Ardavan Mofid, and local artists Sarmad Mahmood, Parissa Naini and Layali Entertainment Group.
“Our hope is that people gain an appreciation for how rich and welcoming Persian culture is,” said Panah. “And most of all, we just want people to enjoy a day dedicated to having fun.”
You can find out more information about this year’s Mehregan Persian Autumn Festival on the Mehr Foundation’s Facebook page.
Tasting Texas Wine + Food Festival
From Oct. 26 to 29, Culinaria’s Tasting Texas Wine + Food Festival returns for four days of mouth-watering Texas wine and cuisine. In partnership with the James Beard Foundation, the event will dedicate $250,000 of proceeds to helping support culinary students in Texas.
Attendees can expect an epic food tour featuring renowned chefs from the Lone Star State and San Antonio, as well as some national culinary legends who will be dishing out their finest creations. The “big-as-Texas” Culinary Market features over 100 award-winning chefs.
With multiple ticket options to choose from, there’s something for every type of foodie. Check out the Culinaria website for the full schedule and ticket information.
Luminaria
The Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival celebrates its 15th anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 6 p.m. to midnight, once again transforming the newly renovated Hemisfair grounds and the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center into the ultimate destination for San Antonians to experience contemporary art. Over 40 artists from around the world will showcase their talents in music, large-scale art installations, film, dance, fine art and poetry.
Luminaria gives local artists a platform to shine and connect their work with the San Antonio community. “We also want to give local artists access to quality sound equipment and a platform where they can be seen by thousands of people,” said Yadhira Lozano, executive director of Luminaria. “Our goal is to make art welcoming and accessible experience for both the performers and the people of San Antonio.”
The free annual event is a celebration of San Antonio’s cultural diversity. Artists from Austin, Houston, New York City, Mexico City, and Gwangju, South Korea, will join the local talent, making it a truly global artistic experience.
For more event details, visit the Luminaria website.
Día de los Muertos
Día de los Muertos is one of San Antonio’s most important days of commemoration, and this year there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate.
On Wednesday, Oct. 25, Garcia Street Urban Farm in partnership with San Antonio College hosts a Día de los Muertos celebration featuring food demonstrations, an altar workshop and the launch of Xelena Gonzalez’s and Adriana Garcia’s children’s book, Remembering.
Stop by La Villita Oct. 27-29 from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. for the city’s Day of the Dead celebration including altar workshops, an artisan market, and a giant alebrije exhibit. And don’t miss the city’s Day of the Dead River Parade starting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 27.
Muertos Fest takes over Hemisfair Oct. 28-29 with live music, artistic performances, live poetry, a puppet procession and the largest open altar exhibition in San Antonio.
Diwali SA
Diwali SA is also celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Also known as the “Festival of Lights,” this iconic cultural event is hosted by the nonprofit Anuja SA and is centered around the idea of “triumph of good over evil, light over dark, and knowledge over ignorance.” It’s a celebration of the vibrant traditions and culture of India right here in San Antonio.
The history of the festival goes back to 2009 when San Antonio and Chennai, India, became Sister Cities. Now Diwali SA is one of the largest Indian festivals in the country, drawing thousands of attendees each year.
This year the festival takes place at Hemisfair on Nov. 4 from 4:30 p.m. to midnight. Expect traditional Indian dance, some of the most exquisite Indian dishes you’ve ever experienced, merchant booths representing various parts of India, plenty of stunning traditional attire, a ceremonial lighting of candles that gracefully float down the San Antonio River and a brilliant fireworks display to end the night.
You can find out more about Diwali SA here, or by visiting Anaju SA’s website.
Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival
Named after the Indigenous Payaya people who called the San Antonio River “Yanaguana,” the Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival celebrates Native American culture with food, artist demonstrations and crafts at the Briscoe Western Art Museum on Sunday, Nov. 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The full schedule of activities includes drum and dance performances, art and storytelling workshops, and a contemporary Native flute performance.
Whether you’re looking to become more educated on Native traditions or simply experience an important cultural immersion, the Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival is an excellent way to honor Native American heritage in San Antonio. Find out more about the Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival by visiting the event page on the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s website.
