National Margarita Day is Saturday, and tons of restaurants and bars in San Antonio have specials in honor of the holiday. But during the hours when you are not drinking margs, check out the last few days of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, shop at Goodwill to benefit local nonprofits, or listen to some up-and-coming comedians at the HA Comedy Festival.
Brad Paisley at the San Antonio Rodeo
It’s the last weekend of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, and the rodeo folks got country star Brad Paisley to start the 2020 rodeo’s goodbye. Paisley plays on Friday evening after the Rodeo Wildcard events, and tickets (starting at $61) include admission to the rodeo fairgrounds as well. Whiskey Myers plays Saturday afternoon, and KC and the Sunshine Band plays Saturday evening.
Friday, 7 p.m.
AT&T Center, 1 AT&T Center Parkway
$61 and up
Friday Night Celestial Lights
Every third Friday of the month, UTSA physics and astronomy staff give presentations on recent scientific developments at the Flawn Science Building, Lecture Room 2.02.02. This Friday’s topic is “Watching Neutron Stars: The NICER Instrument onboard the ISS.” After the presentation, which starts at 7:30 p.m., the observatory is open for stargazing, weather permitting. Find more information here.
Friday, 7:30-10:30 p.m.
Curtis Vaughn Jr. Observatory at UTSA, 1 UTSA Circle
Free
Royal Masquerade Gala
Play casino games, eat Cajun-style food, and dance the night away at the DoSeum for the third annual Royal Masquerade Gala. Admission includes food, drink tickets, casino chips, a souvenir photo, and Mardi Gras beads. Formal attire and masquerade masks suggested. Individual tickets cost $75, while tables start at $1,000. Tickets will be $5 more at the door – if there are any left. Find more information and tickets here.
Friday, 7:30-11:30 p.m.
The DoSeum, 2800 Broadway St.
$75 and up
On & Off Fredericksburg Road Studio Tour
The weekend-long self-guided tour of the artist studios and galleries in the adjoining neighborhoods of Monticello Park, Jefferson, Woodlawn Lake, Keystone, Los Angeles Heights, Beacon Hill, and Alta Vista kicks off on Friday with an autograph party at Bihl Haus Arts. Take in visual, musical, performing, and literary artworks during the event off Fred Road. Admission to the event is free, but attendees pay $10 for an artist catalog to access participating locations. Go to onandofffred.org for more details.
Friday 6-9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday noon-5 p.m.
Bihl Haus Arts, 2803 Fredericksburg Road
Free
Justice for Erin 5K Run/Walk
In honor of Erin Rios Castro, who died as a result of dating violence when she was 19 years old, her namesake foundation will host its first Justice for Erin 5K Run/Walk on Saturday. Registration and packet pickup starts at 7 a.m. while the race starts at 8 a.m. Entertainment and family-friendly activities continue afterward until 2 p.m. Students and children can participate for $25, while adults pay a registration fee of $35. Find more information and register here.
Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Woodlawn Lake Park, 1103 Cincinnati Ave.
$25-$35
Nature Walk: Sunrise Birdwalk
Explore the savanna at Phil Hardberger Park on Saturday morning with birders who can help identify bird species found in the area. The event is free, but you can also register for it here.
Saturday, 8-10:30 a.m.
Urban Ecology Center, 8400 N.W. Military Hwy.
Free
Children’s Spring Vegetable Garden Program
Help encourage your children’s green thumbs at the San Antonio Botanical Garden this spring. For $50, each kid – ages 7 to 16 – can have a 3.5-foot-by-28-foot garden plot to tend (if two children share a plot, the cost is $80). People from the Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension Service and Bexar County Master Gardeners will teach kids how to grow vegetable and ornamental plants. The spring session starts on Saturday and runs through June 6, with a vegetable contest on May 16. Parents and children must attend all 15 sessions to participate; register for the session here.
Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon
San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place
$50-$80
Rummage Around
The Junior League of San Antonio has hosted its annual Rummage Around Sale with Goodwill San Antonio stores since 2009. On Saturday, purchases made at 11 Goodwill stores in the city will benefit 16 local nonprofits, including the Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio, Alpha Home, and Guide Dogs of Texas Inc. Since 2009, the annual sale has generated more than $310,000 in Goodwill gift cards to be donated to nonprofits. Find more information about which stores are participating and which nonprofit organizations will benefit here.
Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Participating Goodwill San Antonio locations
Free
Walk on the River: A Black History of the Alamo City
The San Antonio Public Library will show locally produced film Walk on the River: A Black History of the Alamo City, produced by Baba Aundar Ma’at and directed by Born Logic Allah. The two will introduce their documentary, which follows black communities, churches, schools, and businesses in San Antonio from their founding. Ma’at and Allah will also answer questions after the film.
Saturday, 1-4 p.m.
Central Library, 600 Soledad St.
Free
Mardi Gras River Parade and Festival
Celebrate Mardi Gras on the river with a festival from 1 to 9 p.m. and a river parade from 4 to 6 p.m. Join partiers in costume and live music and entertainment at the Arneson River Theatre, and wave at the 11 floats gliding down the river later in the afternoon. Costumes are encouraged. Find more information about the event here.
Saturday, 1-9 p.m.
San Antonio River Walk
Free
African American Read-In at Carver
In honor of Black History Month, the Carver Library is hosting its first African American read-in, as African American-authored stories will be read aloud.
Saturday, 2-3 p.m.
Carver Branch Library, 3350 E. Commerce St.
Free
XVI Annual Love & Happiness Show
Ginuwine, Keith Sweat, and SWV are coming to the Alamodome for the 16th annual Love and Happiness Show. Revel in the sounds of 1990s R&B hits such as “Pony,” “Twisted,” and “Weak.” Find tickets here.
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Illusions Theater at the Alamodome, 100 Montana St.
$39 and up
Sauerkraut Bend 5K River Run
The annual Sauerkraut Bend 5K River Run benefits the King William Association and loops runners through the King William Parade course in the historic neighborhood. Registration to run costs $40, and registration to sleep in also costs $40. You can register online here; the deadline to do so is midnight on Friday.
Sunday, 9 a.m.-noon
King William Park and Gazebo, 131 King William
$40
Chef Chris Jara Meet-and-Greet
Fresh off his appearance on Netflix’s Sugar Rush Christmas, the South Side’s own Chef Chris Jara will visit Coffeecionado to chat with fans and offer up samples of his creative confections.
Sunday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Coffeecionado, 502 West Mitchell St.
Free
Free Movie Screening: Waiting to Exhale
The Cody Branch Library is showing the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale in honor of Black History Month. The movie follows four women living in Phoenix and stars Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon, Dennis Haysbert, and Gregory Hines. The screening is limited to adults, as the movie is R-rated.
Sunday, 1-3 p.m.
Cody Branch Library, 11441 Vance Jackson Rd.
Free
Sunday JazzFest
Listen to free jazz on the River Walk, right before Mardi Gras. BillyRay Sheppard plays at 1 p.m., the Muñoz Brothers Band plays at 2 p.m., and DVJazz plays at 4 p.m. The event will also honor the late Jim Cullum, a legendary local jazz musician who died last year. Find more information here.
Sunday, 1-6 p.m.
Arneson River Theatre, 418 Villita St.
Free
Alamo City Guitar Bazaar
The annual guitar show returns for a second year to La Villita this weekend with more than 50 vendors from around the country. Attendees can browse vintage, new, and used guitars, which are available for purchase or trade. You can also sell your guitars to vendors at the show. Admission costs $10 per day.
Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Venue Villita, 401 Villita St.
$10
Market Square Rodeo Roundup
Keep the San Antonio Rodeo festivities going at Market Square on Saturday and Sunday with live music, a petting zoo, and food vendors.
Saturday-Sunday, noon-6 p.m.
Historic Market Square, 514 W. Commerce St.
Free
HA Comedy Festival – Fresh Faces of Comedy
The annual HA Comedy Festival has a full schedule this weekend but also celebrates younger and newer additions to the comedy scene with its “Fresh Faces of Comedy” shows. Find Friday’s Fresh Faces lineup here, Saturday’s lineup here, and Sunday’s lineup here. Tickets start at $27 and can be purchased here.
Friday-Sunday
Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St.
$27 and up
