Category: Festivals

Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic

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This year’s Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic is set for Wednesday July 4. Photo: Circuit of the Americas, used with permission.

Live Nation, C3 Presents and Circuit of The Americas (COTA) recently announced the performance order for the 45th edition of Willie’s 4th of July Picnic on Wednesday, July 4, 2018. This year’s 4th of July Picnic will once again feature two stages: the main Austin360 Amphitheater stage and the Honor Flight Grand Plaza Stage. The all-day event celebrating America’s birthday features performances starting at 11:30a.m. on the Honor Flight Stage. This year’s picnic is excited to announce a very special guest to present the fireworks display to commemorate the show and to celebrate America’s birthday. (Circuit of the Americas, 2018)

Honor Flight Grand Plaza Stage (listed in order of performance):
David Allan Coe, Yellow Feather, Raelyn Nelson Band, Folk Uke, Particle Kid, Gene Watson, Johnny Bush, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Billy Joe Shaver, Asleep at The Wheel

Pavilion Stage (Austin360 Amphitheater – listed in order of performance):
Jamestown Revival, The Wild Feathers, Lukas Nelson and Promise of The Real, Margo Price, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Ryan Bingham, The Head and The Heart, Sturgill Simpson, Willie Nelson & Family

The Grand Plaza will have picnic tables where fans can eat, drink, celebrate and watch their favorite artists, as well as a shopping area featuring a wide variety of Texas-based vendors.

Tickets are priced at $99.50 for the GA Pit Section and Reserved Seat Section in front of the stage. Reserved bowl tickets are $52.50–$99.50 and $42.50 for H-E-B General Admission Lawn. All tickets are available for purchase at Ticketmaster, Circuit of the Americas, or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Standard parking lots at Circuit of The Americas open at 10a.m. and gates to the Austin360 Amphitheater open at 11a.m. Standard parking is included in the price of the ticket. Premium parking, bus parking, RV parking, as well as campsites are also available to buy at the time tickets are purchased.

As the event is scheduled to run for approximately 13 hours, venue management is extending the opportunity for patrons to bring in one (1) 1-quart-sized clear plastic bag with food, per person, for Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic. Standard venue policy allows patrons to bring in one (1) 20 oz. factory-sealed water bottle, per person.

Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic will be broadcast live on Willie Nelson’s exclusive SiriusXM channel, Willie’s Roadhouse, Channel 59 on SiriusXM radios and streaming live on the new SiriusXM mobile app and SiriusXM connected devices and speakers. In addition to live sets, the broadcast will include backstage interviews hosted by Willie’s Roadhouse and Outlaw Country DJs Dallas Wayne and Willie’s daughter, Paula Nelson.

Circuit of the Americas
9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd
Austin, TX 78617

Culinary Monographs at Hotel Emma to celebrate Ole, San Antonio

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Hotel Emma is hosting Culinary Monographs this summer to honor Spain’s most beloved flavors.

Olé, San Antonio is in full swing at the Pearl and Hotel Emma is joining in the celebration by hosting Culinary Monographs. These are six delicious, immersive experiences that will honor the most beloved flavors of Spain: olive oil, jamón (Spanish ham), tinned fish, salt and spices, wine and sherry and cheese, to help celebrate San Antonio’s Tricentennial. (Hotel Emma, 2018)

These culinary monographs will take place every two weeks, beginning on Wednesday/Thursday from June through September, each offering a look into the history, craftsmanship and diversity of flavor and utility of each product.

Each monograph includes a ticketed Monograph Session facilitated by experts and makers of the individual product. Guests will enjoy, depending on theme, a deep dive into the culture, economy and trends of the product and an expertly guided tasting opportunity. There will be an open-to-the-public Casual Tasting at Larder, where the fine grocery store at Hotel Emma will support each monograph with a multi-day tasting of the highlighted product. Tapas tastings will be held at Sternewirth, the main bar at Hotel Emma, which will create a special tapas dish highlighting the product at play. There will also be a Dinner at Supper series, where Chef John Brand will create a special tasting menu highlighting the various uses, applications and flavors of the spotlighted product. Monograph Sessions and Dinner at Supper will be ticketed events, while Tapas will be a menu option for Sternewirth guests and tastings at Larder will be free and open to the public. More information on these event is available online.

Upcoming Culinary Monographs:

  • June 27 – Olive Oil
  • July 11 – Spain’s Great Match
  • July 25 – Salt & Spices
  • August 8 – Tinned Fish
  • August 22 – Jamón
  • September 6 – Cheese

In honor of San Antonio’s Tricentennial, Hotel Emma is also offering a special rate now through September 16, 2018. The special ‘300 years, 300 dollars’ features rates starting at $300, plus complimentary valet parking.

Hotel Emma
136 E Grayson
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 448-8300

Monarch butterflies tagged at Pearl arrive in Mexico

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The release of Monarch butterflies at last year’s Monarch Butterfly Festival.  Photo: Matt Buikema, used with permission.

This past October, the Pearl hosted the second annual Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival called ‘Butterflies without Borders.’ A few thousand San Antonians gathered at Pearl Park to witness several hundred butterflies as they were released from a custom-made Mariposa Pyramid. The mission of the festival is to raise awareness and appreciation of the insect pollinators that make one of every three bites of the food we eat possible. (Monarch Butterfly Festival, 2018)

Pearl has historically remained one of many pit stops for Monarch butterflies on their migration path and visitors will often see them when at the campus. The Pearl is excited to lend a hand in helping the butterflies on their journey to landing safely in Mexico.

Recent updates indicate that five monarch butterflies tagged at the San Antonio property in October during the 2017 Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival have made it to Mexico safe and sound, marking a successful migration.  According to Texas Butterfly Ranch, these five tags that occurred at Pearl constitute 0.54% of the total 928 tags recovered and reported back to Monarch Watch–an exceptional number, given that an estimated 80,000 butterflies in total were tagged this season.

Taco Fest at La Villita

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Taco Fest will take place on Saturday April 14 at La Villita.  Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Coming up on Saturday April 14 from 12p.m. to 11p.m., foodie and music fans will be able to enjoy the best of both worlds at Taco Fest. Taco Fest will celebrate San Antonio’s unofficial dish with tacos from over 30 restaurants, taquerias and food trucks. Every vendor will have at least one $2 taco option to give attendees a chance to sample the different taco varieties. Vendors will compete in a variety of categories from Breakfast to Puffy and there will be three music stages with national, regional and local acts. This event is for the entire family and children under 10 get in for free. VIP tickets are sold out but there are still advance General Admission tickets still available online for $20 plus fees. Advance General Admission tickets sale ends Friday April 13 after which the price will increase to $25 on the day of the event. Taco Fest will take place rain or shine. All ticket sales are final, and no refunds will be issued.

Tacos From:
Chisme, Pete’s Tako House, Mi Taquito Arandas Jalisco, Tapatio Vegan Tacos, Davila’s BBQ, Market on Houston, Little Woodrow’s, Taco Haven, The Culinary Institute of America, Soluna, Torchy’s Tacos, El Milagrito, Viva Villa, Sancho’s, Tomatillo’s, Tommy’s Restaurant, Don Pablo’s, Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant, Los Cocos Mexican Restaurant and Fruteria, La Casa de Barbacoa, Mr. Meximum, Chela’s Tacos and more.

Music By:
La Santa Cecilia, Brown Sabbath, Santiago Jimenez, Jr., Girl in a Coma, Money Chicha, Piñata Protest, Femina-X, Eddie & the Valiants, Los #3 Dinners and El Conjunto Nueva Ola.

El Conjunto Nueva Ola is a lucha libre masked cumbia group that has blown away audiences at rock festivals and music stages across the United States. With their unique brand of Cumbia Rock, they have performed at sold out crowds at The Honda Center in Anaheim and Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie in Dallas opening for Mexican Cumbia icons Los Angeles Azules. The group continues to build a cult following with supportive fans across the country and are set to release a new music video in May 2018 and a new studio album in the Fall. (ECNO, 2018)

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El Conjunto Nueva Ola will be performing at Taco Fest on Saturday April 14. Photo: ECNO, used with permission.

La Villita Historic Arts Village
S. Presa St.
San Antonio, TX 78205

Tickets to Culinaria Wine + Food Festival now on sale

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Culinaria Wine + Food Festival is coming up in May and early bird tickets are now on sale. Photo: La Cantera Resort & Spa, used with permission.

Culinaria Wine + Food Festival is coming up in May and tickets are now available for purchase. Scheduled for Thursday May 17 through Sunday May 20, Culinaria celebrates the best of food through events featuring gourmet creations paired with elegant wines for extravagant tastings prepared by San Antonio’s best chefs, guest chefs and global and local wineries.  Culinaria was created to highlight San Antonio’s passion for food and to spotlight the city as a premiere food and wine destination. In the beginning, it was just a weekend of food and wine on the Riverwalk. Now it has expanded to include events as diverse a food competition and a barbeque extravaganza. (Culinaria, 2018)

Individual tickets start at $75. Early bird ticket purchases are 25 percent off through April 1. Ticket packages feature special amenities and include:

Rising Star: $275
Single ticket package for one to all events: Bubbles, Texas Grand Tasting, Texas Taco Showdown and Burgers, BBQ & Beer.

Weekend Warrior: $210
One ticket to the Texas Grand Tasting, Texas Taco Showdown and Burgers, BBQ & Beer.

A-Lister: $340
VIP ticket package for one to attend all events with access to VIP areas. Bubbles, Texas Grand Tasting, Texas Taco Showdown; Burgers, BBQ & Beer.

Chop It Like It’s Hot: $125
Ticket Package to include one ticket to the Texas Taco Showdown and Burgers, BBQ & Beer.

La Cantera Resort & Spa, a part of Destination Luxury collection, will host Culinaria Festival and is offering guests special rates during the event using promo code: CULINARIA18. Rates start at $249 for standard rooms, $349 for SEVEN, a 46-room “adults only” guest floor experience and $399 for The Villas.

Scheduled events include:
Bubbles – 7p.m., Thursday, May 17, Topaz at La Cantera Resort & Spa
Becker Luncheon – 11:30 a.m., Friday, May 18, Becker Vineyards
Texas Grand Tasting – 7p.m., Friday, May 18, San Antonio Ballroom at La Cantera Resort & Spa
Texas Taco Showdown – 12p.m. to 6p.m., Saturday, May 19, La Cantera Resort & Spa
Burgers, BBQ & Beer – 12p.m.to 6 p.m., Sunday, May 20, La Cantera Resort & Spa

La Cantera Resort & Spa
16641 La Cantera Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78256
(210) 558-6500

Second annual Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival

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The second annual Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival is scheduled for October 20 through October 22, 2017. Photo: Monarch Butterfly Festival, used with permission.

The second annual Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival will take place this month from Friday October 20 to Sunday October 22, 2017. This three-day event is organized by the Texas Butterfly Ranch and the theme this year is Butterflies without Borders. The goal is to raise awareness and appreciation of the insect pollinators that make food possible. This celebration takes place during peak Monarch migration week in San Antonio, which generally occurs during the last two weeks of October. Each year, millions of the migrating black-and-orange butterflies move through the “Texas Funnel” on their way to Mexico to roost for the winter. Studies suggest the eastern migrating Monarch population has dropped more than 60% in recent years and the insect has been petitioned for listing as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. A full schedule of planned events is available online. (Monarch Butterfly Festival, 2017)

With the generous support from The Pearl, The San Antonio River Authority, HEB, the Rivard Report, Trinity University and the Mexican Cultural Institute, the Festival begins on Friday October 20, with an international scientific symposium at the Pearl Stable. Scientists from Mexico, the U.S. and Canada will explore the intersections of pollinators and politics in a Butterflies without Borders panel discussion: The Monarch Migration and our Changing Climate. On Saturday, there will be various art and education events throughout town including a teacher training workshop at the San Antonio River Authority, a “bug lunch” at the Witte, a butterfly walk and talk at the San Antonio Botanical Garden and art events at Yanaguana Gardens and the Mexican Cultural Institute.

On Sunday October 22, there will be a “People for Pollinators Parade” at the Pearl and costumes are encouraged. The parade route will march down Pearl Parkway and trained docents will teach kids the citizen science of tagging Monarch butterflies. More than 20 educational booths will offer education, engagement and fun. Tagged Monarch butterflies will be released at the Pearl amphitheater at noon. There will be numerous activities including Pedaling Pollinators Butterfly Bikes, face painting, kite making, story time by the Book Fairy, food and music.