A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) kicked off its four-night run in the downtown historic arts village of La Villita on Tuesday night with a line to enter that snaked all the way to St. Mary’s Street.
As visitors entered, they passed the “rain rock,” which since the 1970s has been hung from the porch of NIOSA headquarters each year to ward off bad weather.
While rain was forecast, Vicky Brown and several of her fellow volunteers rubbed their rain rock medals Tuesday night every time they felt a drop, quietly whispering the word “no.”
Their efforts seemed to pay off. Aside from a brief shower at 6:40 p.m., the weather held.
NIOSA, which started as a one night, one street festival, today covers more than four acres at La Villita. A fundraiser for the Conservation Society of San Antonio, the event is expected to draw more than 85,000 people this year, who will have 15 distinct areas in which to party, each boasting its own cuisine and set of attractions.
In Mission Trails, which represents the active years of the San Antonio missions, Patrice Villastrigo led a group of psychic card readers. Reveler Natalie Noles chose three cards, representing her past, present and future. Her reader described a lazy student in the past, business success in the present and travel in the future.
“I just got a promotion!” said Noles, citing the accuracy of the present prediction. She also said she was “going to Vegas” soon, checking the future box off, too.
One booth over, Ryan Foerster was drawing caricatures, something he said he’s been doing since he was fifteen. He brought his talents to NIOSA eight years ago, he said.
NIOSA is powered by volunteers like Villastigo and Foerster — as many as 10,000 annually. Volunteers run the food booths. They also make the flowers, handle the staging and delicately stuff confetti into thousands of empty eggs.
Gaylyn Rockwood, center, shouts to attendees offering steak on a stick during NIOSA. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report 
Attendees of Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) partake in one of Fiesta’s most popular events that includes flavors and music from across the globe. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report 
Flower crowns are held up in the air as vendors sell the popular headwear at NIOSA. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report 
Margie Rodriguez, center, dances with her oldest brother, Beto Rodriguez, during Night in Old San Antonio’s opening day during Fiesta. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report
Many, like Rose Moran, who oversees the Haymarket area, have been volunteering for decades. Moran is currently celebrating 32 years as a volunteer.
“I love my city, I love Texas and I love NIOSA,” she said. “I’m a big believer of preservation of our history, customs and diverse cultures that builds this beautiful city of ours.”
For many, volunteering is a family affair. Second, third and even fourth-generation volunteers are not uncommon. Ginger Klaerner, for example, got involved at age 18. In 2001, she took over the role of area chair for Mission Trails from her mother, who had held the role since 1991.
Today, Klaerner’s children are volunteers, as well. Even her 11-year-old granddaughter is starting to show what she calls “NIOSA promise.”
Admission to NIOSA is $20 if purchased online through the NIOSA website, at NIOSA headquarters or at area H-E-B grocery stores, and $25 if purchased at the gate.
