San Antonio’s annual Frida Festival is changing location and seasons for its 9th annual celebration of all things Frida Kahlo.
After hosting the two-day event during the summer for eight years, event organizers moved the festival to the fall. Over the years it’s also been held at different venues, but this year the festival will be at Maverick Plaza at La Villita Historic Arts Village.
“Chef Johnny Hernandez was very generous to offer us Maverick Plaza,” said event creator Janie Villarreal-McClinchie of Que Retro Arts. “We normally celebrate in July, but it was going to be too hot to have it outdoors. So, we decided to move it this year to November.”
The free festival — presented by Que Retro Arts and Curious Twins Tours & Events — is taking place from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, and Sunday, Nov.16.
An artisan mercado with about 50 vendors will line up the plaza. Attendees can also expect an art show, live performances, a fashion show, a community altar and its iconic Frida look-alike contest.
What started as a commemoration of artist Frida Kahlo’s birthday and artistry has transformed over the years to become a celebration of Mexican culture, legacy, and female empowerment, Villarreal-McClinchie said.
Her hope is that all attendees, especially the youngest ones, learn more about the many contributions of Frida Kahlo and other icons such as Selena Quintanilla, Gloria Anzaldúa, and Chavela Vargas.
A way to showcase these artists’ contributions is by giving space to new local artists that have been influenced by this legacy and their cultural contributions.
“We try to center all of the events around our cultura, our heritage, our upbringing,” Villarreal-McClinchie said. “More than anything, we try to focus on giving local arts and artisans a platform.”
The event has grown over the years, peaking at more than 4,000 attendees over the two days, and more than 100 vendors, she said. But this year’s location in downtown San Antonio meant having to limit the number of vendors.
Despite this change, the artisans are carefully curated, Villarreal-McClinchie said, and the hope is that this unique location, and more bearable weather will attract their regulars who have traveled from all over the U.S. and new visitors.
“It’s going to bring more opportunities for the tourism of San Antonio to really enjoy it and be part of it,” Villarreal-McClinchie said. “I want to be able to share that with the people here in San Antonio who may have never never seen a painting of Frida, or never been introduced to art itself.”
