At an online meeting on Friday, the San Antonio Conservation Society addressed members’ concerns after abruptly suspending its beloved Night In Old San Antonio (NIOSA) fiesta for 2027. Nearly 200 members logged on, and about 173 watched the live presentation.
Financial picture drives decision
Task‑force chair Deborah Sibley presented a three‑year financial snapshot. The 2024 event lost just over $50,000, the loss ballooned to nearly $660,000 in 2025, and fell back to $140,957 in 2026 – a total loss of $851,730 for the period. Attendance followed a similar pattern, dropping from roughly 92,000 guests in 2004 to about half that number by 2024.
“After weighing that declining attendance and past financial performance against the future projections provided by the NIOSA committee, there was no evidence of a positive financial trajectory,” Sibley said, emphasizing the society’s fiduciary responsibility.
Venue costs and city lease
Society President Betty Bueché explained that the longstanding lease at the city‑owned La Villita Historic Arts Village imposed fixed costs the organization could not control. Security must be provided by San Antonio Police Department officers under a collective‑bargaining agreement, and other overhead items are set by the city.
“There are certain things that we didn’t have any choice about by remaining at La Villita,” Bueché noted, adding that the city recently agreed to terminate the ten‑year lease early, with nine years remaining.
Exploring alternatives
The board has already begun scouting other locations that could accommodate 20,000 guests per night, offer better parking, overnight lodging and public‑transport access, and reduce overhead. Bueché said the task force is “committed to doing the very best job we can to identify how we can bring A Night In Old San Antonio back” while also developing new fundraising activities to sustain the society’s mission.
Member reactions
Petition organizer Abbi Power expressed frustration with technical glitches during the meeting and said many members felt the board was not representing the majority. Long‑time member Frederica Kushner called the suspension “very, very upsetting,” while Centro San Antonio CEO Trish DeBerry warned that a year without NIOSA could allow competing events to fill the void.
Questions from the audience focused on accounting expertise, expense categories, beer‑sales reconciliation, potential sponsorships and price adjustments. The society promised to post the slide deck on its website by Friday afternoon.
Looking ahead
While the 2027 NIOSA celebration is unlikely to occur as originally planned, the Conservation Society’s leadership is actively pursuing a more sustainable model. By relocating the event and tightening costs, the organization hopes to preserve a cherished San Antonio tradition for future generations.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
