Guayabera Fest steps into NIOSA's longtime venue
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A Fiesta-goer shows off her party hat during at La Villita in 2024. Photo: Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News via Getty Images
Guayabera Fest will take over La Villita during Fiesta 2027, expanding to a four-day event in the longtime home of A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA).
Why it matters: The announcement comes after the Conservation Society of San Antonio canceled NIOSA for 2027, citing declining attendance and financial losses, and ended its contract at the historic venue.
The latest: Centro San Antonio, the downtown nonprofit behind Guayabera Fest, announced the move Friday. Centro President and CEO Trish DeBerry said the group wanted to ensure La Villita remained a gathering place during Fiesta.
- A portion of festival revenue will go toward supporting La Villita, according to the San Antonio Report. Organizers have not specified how much.
The vibe: The expanded festival will offer a more interactive experience, with guayaberas being made on-site and vendors and artisans showcasing styles for men, women, children and even pets.
- Previous festivals have featured live music and food vendors, though organizers did not announce specifics for 2027.
Flashback: Guayabera Fest began in 2021 as a small gathering at Peacock Alley, spearheaded by Javier Treviño, founder of Divide and Conquer Denim & Leather.
- It eventually grew into a one-day festival at Travis Park, held as an official pre-Fiesta celebration co-hosted by Centro and Divide and Conquer.
What they're saying: Treviño said during a news conference that he started the festival to honor the generations of Texans who have worn guayaberas to family celebrations, from weddings to quinceañeras.
- "It's important that we keep that tradition going. This guayabera has become more of a symbol for our culture, and not just the Latin culture, but the Texas culture," he said.
- "The Guayabera Fest was created for that reason, to keep the culture going, to remember our history, and to remember this iconic shirt and what it represents. It's a flag for Texas, and every time we wear it, we think about our families."
What's next: Guayabera Fest will take place April 20-23. Organizers have not yet announced ticket information.