The San Antonio Conservation Society confirmed it will suspend the beloved A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) festival for 2027. After a decade of declining attendance and mounting deficits, the nonprofit decided the event could no longer sustain its historic role of funding preservation programs.
Attendance and revenue plunge
Attendance has fallen 48% since the pandemic, according to society officials. Prior to 2020, the organization collected between $3 million and $4 million from the event after expenses. From 2022 through 2025, that figure dropped to less than $500,000 – a reduction of more than six‑fold.
Ticket prices rose from $15 to $25 after the pandemic, and many longtime patrons said the higher cost, combined with inflation pressures on household budgets, made the event unaffordable. Other respondents mentioned crowd fatigue, safety concerns after a 2023 shooting at Market Square, and fear of being approached by immigration officials.
Operating shortfalls
Society records show the festival has not broken even for the past two years. Operating costs—including $600,000 for La Villita venue fees and security—have outpaced revenue, creating budget shortfalls that have forced the nonprofit to dip into its reserves.
Public filings reveal the Conservation Society lost money in both 2023 and 2025. In 2022 the organization would also have posted a loss if not for the sale of a $4 million property.
Leadership response
President Betty Bueché acknowledged the financial strain and said the society could have acted sooner. “Having lost money for the last four years, it probably would have been wise to do some after‑action evaluations and come up with ideas like that,” Bueché said. She added that the nonprofit is not cutting any of its other programs and is exploring alternative fundraising avenues, including sponsorships.
Impact on community programs
NIOSA revenue has traditionally supported the society’s broader mission of preserving San Antonio’s historic sites and funding educational grants. While the festival’s suspension creates a funding gap, the organization emphasized that its core programs will continue uninterrupted.
The society plans to reassess the event’s future and has not ruled out a possible return in 2028. KSAT obtained the last ten years of public financial filings for this story and will update the report when additional documents become available.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
