For 10 days in April, the world of San Antonio revolves around Fiesta. Even so, those seeking outside-the-cascarones festivities have plenty of options.
Jaime’s Place kicks off its annual Pachanga en el Barrio on the West Side on April 18, offering a drag alternative to Fiesta’s opening night and continuing through all 10 days of the official festival.
The San Antonio Dance Festival alights upon the stage of the Carver Community Cultural Center on April 19-20, mixing the local dance community with troupes from afar.
Paper Tiger hosts a freestyle rap battle en español on April 20, with rappers from all over the country competing to win a spot in the Red Bull Batalla international final.
Music, dance and food are on the menu from Lowcountry, a downtown bar holding its own annual Fiesta-themed music festival on April 27.
Further west, the annual Alsatian Festival comes to Koenig Park in Castroville on April 27, with dancers visiting from Alsace and traditional foods and wine from the region of eastern France.
Pachanga en el Barrio
Jaime’s Place owner Jaime Macias said, like many San Antonians, he grew up “reveling in the revelry” of Fiesta with his family.
Today, Macias celebrates his historic Westside neighborhood with the same enthusiasm, offering a smaller-scale counterculture alternative to the citywide celebration.
“I am drawn to the misfits, because I myself, I’m a misfit,” said Macias of the spirit of the Pachange event. “The musicians, the artists, the poets, the activists, the community leaders, they deserve all the credit that there is.”
Pachanga en el Barrio kicks off Thursday evening with Pachangay, featuring drag king troupe Los MENtirosos joined by Zombie Bazaar, Panza Fusion, DJ Alyson Alonzo and local vendors.
The celebration continues Friday with Darkwave 1980s music night. Saturday’s Show Us Your Stacys Pachanga offers what Macias called a Westside twist on the “show us your shoes” Fiesta parade tradition, with participants proudly displaying their Stacy Adams-brand leather shoes. Psychedelic Chicano band Vision Echoes plays Sunday night.
Check the Jaime’s Place Instagram page for full schedule and updates.
San Antonio Dance Festival
Violeta De Leon Davita, director of San Antonio Dance, describes the nonprofit organization’s sixth annual San Antonio Dance Festival as “a celebration of movement, culture, and artistic innovation.”
The two-day event at the Carver Community Cultural Center features local dancers Felicia McBride, Crysta Caulkins, and Krysteen Villarreal; dance company SumRset Movement with Tanesha Payne; and members of Ballet San Antonio — as well as a piece of original choreography by De Leon Davita.
Dancers from Austin, Cincinnati and Monterrey, Mexico will also join the festivities.
A Friday youth matinee performance starts at 11 a.m., free with reservations, followed by an evening showcase at 7 p.m. The Saturday Grand Performance starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the evening shows are available through the Carver Center website.
Red Bull Batalla
Billed as the world’s largest Spanish-language freestyle rap competition, the Red Bull Batalla returns to Paper Tiger on Saturday.
Sixteen Latino freestyle rappers from all over the United States — including San Antonio’s own Magimbri — will compete for a chance to advance to the November 2024 international final in Madrid, Spain.
Mexican rapper/singer Tornillo and Houston hip hop star Bo Bundy will perform following the competition.
General admission tickets for the competition are $5 and available through Eventbrite.
Rock ‘N’ Roll Fiesta
Lowcountry’s answer to the citywide festival is to throw its own music-based party on the patio of the downtown bar tucked into a cozy spot across from Hemisfair.
This year’s lineup for the annual Rock ‘N’ Roll Fiesta on April 27 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. includes headliners Sunjammer, with Powdered Wig Machine, The Shut Ups, Gult and Plastic Future visiting from Houston.
Food will be on offer from Buddy’s Big Trouble, which specializes in smoked Texas wagyu pit beef.
Alsatian Festival
The community of Castroville celebrates its Alsatian heritage with the free Alsatian Festival, taking place this year on April 27 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. in Koenig Park.
Dancers from the city of Kuttolsheim will perform along with the Alsatian Dancers of Texas, and additional entertainment will be provided by Davy Suehs & Alsatian Cousins Band, Keith Lutz, Texas Tempo and an Alsatian sing-along.
Alsatian cuisine including parisa, flammekueche, schnitzel and crepes will be served, complemented by the region’s treasured wines: riesling, gewürztraminer, pinot blanc, pinot gris and crémant.
Topping off the day’s focus on the Alsace region’s blend of German and French influences are games and activities for kids and culture and language booths for adults.
