By Edmond Ortiz
Expected city budget moves are prompting the organizer behind one of the biggest Fiesta San Antonio events to consider some major changes going into the 2027 festival and beyond.
What is happening
The Conservation Society of San Antonio, the organization responsible for A Night In Old San Antonio (NIOSA), announced Aug. 19 that it is restructuring the popular four-day Fiesta activity – a move that would include a staff reduction.
Betty Bueché, Conservation Society president, emailed organization supporters following a meeting of CSSA board members that a “reenvisioning” of NIOSA is in the works.
The society has been presenting NIOSA for more than 70 years. Typically held during the latter half of Fiesta, NIOSA takes place at La Villita where different spaces are activated with music and food that celebrate the various cultures that have contributed to San Antonio’s heritage and evolution. Event proceeds go toward the preservation and adaptive reuse of historic structures citywide.
However, organizers of some of Fiesta’s biggest festivities, such as NIOSA, the major parades and Taste of New Orleans are wary of the possibility that City Council may force them to cover half of city police and support expenses.
The potential move is part of city staff’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget, which currently entails a range of spending cuts, the defunding of three senior nutrition centers, and multiple nonprofits and delegate agencies, the elimination of 100-plus civilian positions, the consolidation of city departments and offices, increased fees, among other measures.
According to city officials, if approved, requiring major Fiesta event organizers to cover half of police and support costs could yield $710,800 annually over two years.
What they are saying
Bueché said, with this potential expenditure in mind, the Conservation Society is taking “some time to review and reimagine NIOSA.”
“To support this strategic redesign and retooling of our major fundraising event, we are streamlining our administrative operations and adjusting our staffing levels to focus entirely on building the best experience for our community,” Bueché said in a statement.
Bueché said this restructuring “means saying goodbye to some of our valued team members through a staff reduction.”
“We are immensely grateful to those who have helped sustain this event, and appreciate the thousands of volunteers like you who are committed to making A Night In Old San Antonio even better,” she added.
The Conservation Society’s announcement was greeted on social media with mostly respondents encouraging the organization to consider fewer food booths, and more physical passage space for visitors.
