As the fastest-growing sport in America, it only makes sense that pickleball — a unique hybrid game that combines aspects of tennis, table tennis and badminton — has found its way into San Antonio’s official Fiesta scene.
Over the last several years, the sport has boomed in the 210 — taking over city parks and replacing aging tennis courts all over town. This year, Fiesta will include two official pickleball events: Fiesta del Vaquero and Pickles y Sombreros, both of which aim to raise money for local nonprofit organizations.
Fiesta del Vaquero, while in its third year as a local fundraising event for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, is celebrating its first year as an official Fiesta event, said the rodeo’s Chief Marketing Officer Chris Derby. It is set to take place most of the day on Sunday, April 21 at Chicken N Pickle, and San Antonians of all ages and pickleball skill levels are invited to attend.
“Our whole reason for a pickleball event was — well, it’s a trending sport, sure, but we wanted to bring something up to the North Side because there’s not a lot of [official Fiesta] events near that UTSA corridor, and we knew that’s where Chicken N Pickle is so we thought we should have it there,” Derby said.
The event is free to attend but includes several pay-to-play pickleball tournaments, including a recreational level tournament and a competitive level tournament, which cost $100 to participate. Tournament winners are given an official rodeo belt buckle, Derby said.
The event will also host exclusive Surtierra Tequila drinks and a tasting, a cornhole tournament, specialty menu items that celebrate Fiesta and performances by two up-and-coming country artists: Annie Bosko and Drew Baldridge.
“We also rented out the seven outdoor courts so people can play on those for free on a first-come, first-serve, sign-up basis,” Derby added. Gates for the event open at 10 a.m., according to the event website. Funds raised from the event will go toward scholarships given out by the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, Derby said.
While Pickles y Sombreros is in its second year as an official Fiesta event, its organizers at Morgan’s Wonderland Sports expect the event to be even bigger this year.
“Last year, I think was a huge hit,” said Brooke Matula, the therapy director of Morgan’s Wonderland Sports and Recreation. “This year, we’re bringing everybody back and then adding some more.”
Pickles y Sombreros is set to take place Monday, April 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. and will feature open play at the Morgan’s Wonderland Sports complex which boasts 20 pickleball courts, as well as an assortment of food trucks, a variety of community resource vendors, music and entertainment, Matula said.
The event will cost $5 for abled attendees and will be free for disabled or handicapped individuals, Matula said. Proceeds from the event will support Morgan’s Sports, the wellness and fitness branch of the local inclusion and accessibility nonprofit Morgan’s, she added.
Launched in 2009 by philanthropist and former homebuilder Gordon Hartman, Morgan’s oversees and includes five ultra-accessible, fully-inclusive facilities such as Morgan’s Wonderland, Morgan’s Camp and Morgan’s Multi-Assistance Center that aim to give children of all abilities access to experiences.
“[The event] will also support our inclusive sports programming that is geared more toward Special Olympics-style programming for those with intellectual developmental and physical disabilities,” Matula said. “Pickles and Sombreros has an unlimited amount of tickets, so we’re hoping for as many as we can get out there.”
San Antonio resident and avid pickleball player Lucas Elmore said he plans to attend both events this year, and attended last year’s Fiesta del Vaquero, which was a lot of fun.
“Pickleball has become so popular. It’s kind of everywhere,” he said.
The Air Force veteran said he’s not surprised to see that pickleball has been adopted into Fiesta events because it’s such a fast-growing sport.
“I had a good time at the tournament last year,” he said. “You could tell it definitely has the feeling of just getting off the ground and has a ton of potential to grow. I’m expecting a better turnout this year and I think it’ll be more fun and I can’t wait.”
