NIOSA World Wide Eating Experience: A San Antonio Fiesta Event

For 4 nights during the San Antonio Fiesta events, people have the chance to sample the great variety of ethnic foods representing many of the cultures of people in San Antonio. That event is Nights In Old San Antonio or NIOSA, asit's commonly known.The food and party celebration takes place at La Villita. La Villita is the18th Century Spanish neighborhood right on San Antonio's famed Riverwalk.

For this event La Villita is gated off and with the price of an entry ticket and food, you can eat and drink from 5:30pm to 10:30pm. Tickets are $12 for adults, $2 for children over 6 and children under 6 are free.

Organized by the Conservation Society NIOSA is staffed by 15,000+ volunteers who cook, serve, pour and party on the banks of the San Antonio River on the Riverwalk.

NIOSA proceeds benefit the historic preservation programs, including education, grants, and museum of the Conservation Society. The Conservation society provides funding and grants for restoring and rehabbing historic city-owned properties in HemisFair Park and La Villita Historic District.

Let's take a stroll to see what foods are here. Chinatown offers vegetable tempura, yak-i-tori, lemon chicken, wontons, and egg rolls. The oriental mystique begins with traditional Chinese cuisine. To wash it all down you can choose Kirin beer.

Then it's off toFrench Quarter for a few escargot, and shrimp Po' Boys. Don't forget to save room for Crepes Suzette and Peach Melba.

My husband never misses Froggy Bottom where African-American foods are served. He generally starts with Mama's bread pudding with sauce, and then finishes with some walk around food like Bongo k Bobs and Mr. Chicken. Now most people start with the meal and then go to dessert, but my husband is a real bread pudding fan.

My neighbor Jim swears by the corned beef sandwiches over in Irish flats, "Best thing outside of Southie." While Jim is munching his sandwich his wife is in line for one of Maria's Tortillas. It's a hand made corn tortilla filled with cheddar and salsa. Over the four days of NIOSA there'll be almost 10,000 of Maria's tortillas sold. They're a real crowd favorite.

And if those foods don't appeal you have still more choices to sample, http://www.niosa.org/niosafoods.htm eat and enjoy. We generally get a group of friends together to enjoy an evening of NIOSA. Then we'll share and sample, that is except for the corned beef and bread pudding. You won't get a taste from either Jim or my husband.

Now NIOSA isn't just about food. It's about entertainment stretched over a several block area. You can sway to jazz in the French Quarter, listen to Tejano over in Haymarket, or how Irish folk music over in Irish Flats, polka in Sauerkraut Bend or shout "Ye Haw" in Country Town. With the musical choices available you won't be bored.

Traveling with family? Strollers are not allowed so if you have little ones, visit one of the other San Antonio Fiesta events. If we bring the kids, we go and leave early. Some people will overdo and getting splashed with beer isn't something I want my kids to experience.

For the best first experience, come as NIOSA opens and either on Tuesday or Friday. Avoid Thursday night, as local college students tend to make up the majority of the crowd. Buy your food and drink coupons as soon as you enter. There are ticket booths throughout NIOSA but why miss a chance to sample some great foods because you ran out of tickets. All food and drink is purchased by the ticket system.

Don't forget to buy some cascarones to share with family and friends. Cascarones are egg shells decorated and then filled with confetti. When broken over a friend's head it's said to lead to good luck and fortune. You'll see many people walking by with confetti in their hair.

NIOSA is fun, crowded and noisy. You'll get the chance to do the chicken dance over at the polka hall. It's played over and over at the polka hall so drop on by and join in. NIOSA is a great place to party with friends, eat delicious food and enjoy the music. Best of all you're on the San Antonio Riverwalk celebrating San Antonio Fiesta. Viva Fiesta!