San Antonio kicks off the Stock Show & Rodeo this month; it runs for about two weeks. Plus, throughout February you’ll find events celebrating Black History Month, with several hosted by the San Antonio Public Library. For Valentine’s Day, you might want to check out the Pony Express Love Letters project at the Briscoe Art Museum.
February 1–12
Pony Express Love Letters at Briscoe Western Art Museum | FREE!
Spread the love! Visit during museum hours and create a handwritten letter, compose a sonnet on a vintage typewriter, or fill in a Valentine’s Mad Lib for a loved one. Members of the San Antonio Calligraphers’ Guild will also be on hand to address your written masterpieces on Saturday, February 2 and 9, 10:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M. Modern-day “Pony Express” riders hand-deliver the letters on Thursday, February 14 to all recipients in the downtown area. Letters outside the delivery area will be mailed courtesy of the Briscoe Museum with a special Pony Express stamp. Free admission to letter writing stations. Letter materials and delivery/postage are free.
Saturday, February 2
Western Heritage Parade & Cattle Drive, 9:00 A.M.–12:00 P.M. at Houston Street, Alamo Street, and La Villita | FREE!
Step back in time to celebrate historic Texas roots and the kick-off to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo! The parade route runs through the streets of downtown San Antonio and features participants who represent the heritage of our Lone Star State and the Old West. Fort Hood 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Sam Houston Caisson, Texas Heritage Riders, and of course, a herd of Texas Longhorns are just some of the snapshots that celebrate the legacy of this great State. At the Rodeo Wrangler Breakfast (La Villita) you can check out the fun kids’ games, family activities, and chuck wagon biscuits and gravy. See event listing for full schedule.
Kids Workshop: Heart Candy Box, 9:00 A.M.–12:00 P.M. at Home Depot stores | FREE!
Celebrate love and kindness with a personalized candy heart box. In this workshop, you and your child can build a heart-shaped box for Valentine’s Day, perfect as a gift for someone you love or to stash all your super sweet Valentine’s Day goodies and keepsakes. Once the heart is built, your child can customize it with paint and stickers. All workshop attendees must be accompanied by a parent or adult at all times. All kids get to keep their craft and will receive a free certificate of achievement, a Workshop apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last.
First Saturday: Alamo Round Up, 9:00 A.M.–4:30 P.M. at the Alamo | FREE!
Dust off your cowboy boots and join this special First Saturday at the Alamo to kick off the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo with a cowboy-themed day. Living history demonstrations will include period medicine and games, weapons of the Old West, firing demos, children’s drills, tales from the cattle trail, and more.
Wonderfully Wild, 10:00 A.M.–12:00 P.M. at Friedrich Wilderness Area | Suggested donation: $3 per person, or $6 per family
Drop-in family fun. Southern Wildlife Rehabilitation will be on site with their education ambassador animals to discuss animal adaptations and other fun facts. For more information, call (210) 207-3782 or email [email protected].
Song Fest, 4:00 P.M. at Trinity Baptist Church | FREE!
Presented by The Children’s Chorus of San Antonio. CCSA launches the inaugural festival of the female voice! Young women from across San Antonio will participate in a day of rehearsals and camaraderie in partnership with adult and professional ensembles culminating in a free performance at 4:00 P.M.
Concert(210) Series, 7:00 P.M. at St. Philip’s College | FREE!
Presented by San Antonio Symphony. Designed to bring meaningful arts experiences into the community, celebrating shared culture and providing access to our broader audience who would not otherwise have the ability to immerse themselves in the arts. Many performances are offered at no cost. Other programming depending on the venue is available for a nominal ticket fee.
Sunday, February 3
Family Day See + Do: Journey to Japan, 12:00–3:00 P.M. at San Antonio Museum of Art | FREE with museum admission
Experience the beauty of Japanese culture through family tours and art activities including samurai helmets, origami, Noh theatre masks, and sumi-e brush painting. Children 12 and under are free. [*Pro tip: Arrive before noon on Sundays and everyone gets in for FREE!]
Tuesday, February 5
Little Read Wagon, 4:00–5:30 P.M. at Harlandale Community Center | FREE!
Put on your play clothes and join us for story time and activities as we talk, sing, read, write, and play our way towards being ready to read! For children 0–5 and their adults.
Free Family Night, 5:30–7:30 P.M. at The DoSeum | FREE!
Wristbands will be given out at 4:00 P.M. at the entrance. Wristbands guarantee entrance to Free family Night. Once all wristbands are given out, capacity is reached. Everyone must be present to receive a wristband. Parking is limited; please plan accordingly. No outside food allowed inside. Limit stroller use or use umbrella strollers only inside the museum.
February 5–10
Anastasia, at Majestic Theater | Tickets: $40–140
Inspired by the beloved film, the romantic and adventure-filled new musical Anastasia is at home in San Antonio at last. This dazzling show will transport you from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out on a journey to discover the mystery of her past.
Thursday, February 7
Teen Takeover: LOL, 6:30–8:30 P.M. at McNay Art Museum | FREE!
Teens light up LOL: The Art of Comedy on Stage with short, comedic performances to make you LOL IRL. Improv comedy sketches, hilarious scenes from student-directed plays, and comical solo or duet skits are all performed by local high school students. Teen Takeovers are programs by teens for teens.
Friday, February 8
Family Flashlight Night, 6:00–8:30 P.M. at San Antonio Botanical Garden | Free with general admission ($9–12)
Get your flashlights and headlamps ready! Discover the nocturnal side of the Garden. Navigate your way through the light maze. Member admission at 5:30 P.M. Tickets available in advance.
Akeelah and the Bee, 8:00 P.M. at Tobin Center for the Performing Arts | FREE!
An uplifting tale of an inner-city girl (Keke Palmer) striving to become a spelling champ. Akeelah, an 11-year-old girl living in South Los Angeles, discovers she has a talent for spelling, which she hopes will take her to the National Spelling Bee. Despite her mother’s objections, Akeelah doesn’t give up on her goal. She finds help in the form of a mysterious teacher, and along with overwhelming support from her community, Akeelah might just have what it takes to make her dream come true. Movies starts at 8:00 P.M. Plaza opens at 7:00 P.M. No outside food or drinks; concessions are available for purchase (includes full bar). Chairs are provided, but attendees are also encouraged to bring their own blankets and portable chairs. No pets allowed on the Plaza.
Saturday, February 9
Nature Discovery Series: Discover What’s Flying, 10:00–11:00 A.M. at Crescent Bend Nature Park (Schertz) | FREE!
Learn clues for looking at birds. Get your little ones outdoors to discover the exciting nature right in our own backyard. Kids are encouraged to explore, discover, and ask questions to help grow their knowledge of nature. This free program is designed for families with elementary-aged children, but older and younger siblings are also welcome. Texas Master Naturalist volunteers will lead the themed programs. Pre-registration is required. Contact the Schertz Parks & Recreation Office at (210) 619-1850 to secure your spot.
Vermicomposting for Beginners, 10:00 A.M.–12:00 P.M. at Friedrich Wilderness Park | Suggested donation $6 per family
Recommended for ages 6 and up. Learn how you can recycle your kitchen scraps into excellent soil for your plants. Mother Nature’s perfect recycling plan! Create a bucket worm bin system for indoor use and train your red wiggler worms to do the work. Fee covers all supplies, including red wiggler worms and small storage. One set of materials per family. For more information, call (210) 207-3782 or email [email protected].
Asian Festival, 10:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M. at Institute of Texan Cultures | Tickets: $5 child, $10 adult (in advance)
Enjoy authentic food, music, dance, martial arts, shopping, games, and entertainment—from China to the Indian subcontinent to the island nations of the Pacific. Entertainment includes two stages featuring traditional Asian dance and performances, henna painting and palm readings, martial arts demos, a children’s craft area, anime activities, bonsai and ikebana displays, a mahjong table, and libation station. Avoid the lines; purchase tickets online for $10 ($12 at the gate).
Black History for Children Book Festival and Stories, 11:00 A.M.–1:00 P.M. at Carver Branch Library | FREE!
Open to all ages. Contact [email protected] or call (210) 207-9180 for more information.
Father/Son Nerf Gun War, 1:00–4:00 P.M.at Torrey Park (New Braunfels) | $5 per person
Bring your favorite Nerf gun, and elite-style ammo will be supplied. Power snacks provided. Each participant must be registered; all children must be accompanied by an adult. 1st Battle recommended for younger children. Battles at 1:00 P.M. at 3:00 P.M. To register online visit nbtexas.org/signup and click on ticket search.
Symphony at SAPL, 2:00 P.M. at Central, McCreless, and Tobin Library | FREE!
Each library will host a performance. Join a lively afternoon with one of the San Antonio Symphony’s musicians as they share their love of music and professional experiences with children of all ages. Come and find out how special classical music can be!
Sunday, February 10
Picture Your World, 1:00–4:30 P.M. at Urban Ecology Center at Hardberger Park West (NW Military Hwy) | $20 per student
Hosted by Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas. Open to youth ages 8–18, this weekend workshop teaches photographic composition and technique through hands-on demonstration and constructive critique. Participants will produce a visual memory of their day and begin a creative portfolio while experiencing the wonders of the natural environment. Each workshop is led by the program manager, Carra Garza, along with a professional photographer and a master naturalist. Participants may bring their own digital camera or will be provided one. Fees may be waived for students demonstrating financial need. Please register online to ensure your space is reserved.
Exploring Mars, 4:00–6:00 P.M. at Tobin Center for the Performing Arts | Tickets: $20–45
As a dynamic young engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Kobie Boykins is on the front line of Mars exploration. Boykins designed the solar arrays that power the Mars exploration rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Landing on Mars on January 25, 2004, Opportunity was designed to survive a mission lasting approximately 90 days. Remarkably, the rover continues to traverse the surface of Mars to this day, sending back valuable scientific data. In 2002, Boykins joined a team of young scientists for a public education tour—dubbed “Marsapalooza”—to raise awareness of the Mars Exploration Project.
Monday, February 11
Little Sprouts: Mammals, 10:00–11:30 A.M. at San Antonio Botanical Garden | $10 per adult, $5 per child
Explore what makes mammals different from other creatures. For ages 3–5 years. Each Little Sprout Monday includes storytelling, kids’ crafts, and hands-on explorations at your child’s pace. Children must be accompanied by an adult. All children and adults must be registered to attend.
Wednesday, February 13
Elementary: Nature’s Recyclers, 9:30–11:30 A.M. at Hardberger Park East (Blanco Rd.) | Suggested donation $3 per person/$5 per family
Students will understand and describe the process of decomposition. Students will also investigate and identify decomposers in compost and then look for them in the field. This class is part of the Elementary Winter series of classes for students 7 to 10 years old. Class size is limited and registration through the park website is required. For registration assistance, call (210) 492-7472.
Thursday, February 14—Valentine’s Day
Art Crawl: Wiggly Squiggly, Red, and Blue, 10:00–10:45 A.M. at San Antonio Museum of Art | Free with museum admission
Bring your babies into the galleries. Art selections enhance parent-child interactions. Tour includes group play and social time. Free for museum members.
Friday, February 15
Starting Out Wild: Living in a Tree, 10:00–11:00 A.M. at Friedrich Wilderness Park | Suggested donation $3 per person, or $6 per family
For ages 1–3 years. Discover the many animals that make trees their home! While some build nests, others live in holes or even in a tree’s trunk! Most classes take place outdoors and indoors. RSVP required. For more information, call (210) 207-3782 or email [email protected].
Saturday, February 16
Snowfest 2019, 3:00–9:00 P.M. at Universal City Park | Tickets: $10 per child, $5 per adult
The Snowfest & Carnival will be on ball fields at Universal City Park. All afternoon and evening long, your ticket allows you unlimited access to the snow areas and slides, carnival rides, climbing walls, and inflatables! Some rides may have height restrictions, but there is something so everyone. Tickets will be sold online starting February 1st or buy at the gate.
Monday, February 18
McNay Fun Day: Larger Than Life Sculpture & Teresita Fernandez, 9:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M. at McNay Art Museum | Registration $100/$80 for McNay members
Young artists engage in a full-day, deep dive workshop during Monday school holidays. Workshops combine creative play and imaginative problem-solving in a hands-on studio environment. K–5 students get up close to Teresita Fernández’s installation Fire (United States of the Americas) 2 in the AT&T Lobby and other large-scale works on view. Open to students in Kindergarten through fifth grade. Drop-off begins at 9:00 A.M., and students must be picked up by 4:30 P.M. Students bring their own lunches. Snack provided.
Tuesday, February 19
Science Time with Robots, 4:00–5:00 P.M. at Schaefer Library | FREE!
Dive into the world of robotics with a variety of educational tools and gadgets for kids. Learn about 3D printing, introductory coding, and more! Recommended for school-aged children. Younger children welcome when accompanied by an adult.
Wednesday, February 20
Play Dates: Friendly Faces, 10:00–10:45 A.M. at San Antonio Museum of Art | FREE! with museum admission
Free for museum members. For ages 2–4. Play Dates cultivate, nurture, and inspire creativity while developing an appreciation of art and world cultures. Toddlers experience stories, gallery activities, hands-on art, movement, and music. Space is limited to a first-come, first-served basis.
Growing Up Wild: What Lives in a Tree?, 10:00–11:30 A.M. at Friedrich Wilderness Park | Suggested donation $3 per person, or $6 per family
For ages 4–7 years old. Discover the many animals that make trees their home. Growing Up Wild builds on a child’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Activities are designed to provide an early foundation and appreciation of nature. RSVP required. For more information, call (210) 207-3782 or email [email protected].
Friday, February 22
Canciones: Laboratorio featuring Carrie Rodriguez and Eva Ybarra, 7:30–9:00 P.M. at The Historic Pearl | FREE!
Led by bilingual singer/songwriter/fiddle player Carrie Rodriguez, Laboratorio features a different guest with each performance. Rodriguez and the Laboratorio band explore and stretch the boundaries of what is considered to be Latin music in America today. San Antonio’s “Queen of the Accordian,” Eva Ybarra, will join Rodriguez and Laboratorio. Ybarra is one of a very few number of women accordionists in conjunto music, a genre of music originating at the Mexican/Texas border based on Mexican and Czech-German folk forms such as the polka, mazurka, schottische, waltz, and huapango. Canciones is a free concert series celebrating the sounds of South Texas at Pearl Park. Food and drink will be available for purchase at the Bottling Department.
Saturday, February 23
Symphony at SAPL, 2:00–3:00 P.M. at Johnston and Mission Branch libraries | FREE!
Each library will host a performance. Join a lively afternoon with one of the San Antonio Symphony’s musicians as they share their love of music and professional experiences with children of all ages. Come and find out how special classical music can be!
Wednesday, February 27
SPARK: Pull, Lift, and Lower with Pulleys, 4:30–5:30 P.M. at Pruitt Library | FREE!
Science concepts come to life as children explore through stories and exciting, hands-on experiments.
Well, MY Kid is Resilient, Right?, 6:00–8:30 P.M. at The Campus of the San Antonio Jewish Community | FREE!
Conversations and mental health resources. Empowering parents to talk about the hard stuff. Learn about the signs, stages, and resources for common mental health & behavioral health issues and how to talk to your kids about them. The event will begin with a moderated panel discussion allowing parents to understand how the different agencies in San Antonio are coming together to campaign against the stigma of mental health challenges. The second half of the event will give parents the opportunity to discuss specific challenges with a variety of local agencies and build their toolbox of resources.
February 1–March 2
Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat at Magic Theatre | Tickets: $15 ($12 for seniors and military)
Ideal for ages 3–7. The National Theatre’s adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat returns to the Magik stage. Not a word has been touched or added to Dr. Seuss’s classic, ensuring that anyone who’s read the story will find themselves transported into the world they’ve always imagined. From the moment The Cat in the Hat’s tall, red-and-white-striped hat appears around the door, Sally and her brother know that he is the funniest, most mischievous cat that they have ever met. With the trickiest of tricks and the craziest of ideas, he is certainly loads of fun. He turns a rainy afternoon into an amazing adventure, but what will mum find when she gets home?
February 7-24
San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, at AT&T Center and Freeman Coliseum | Free & Ticketed events
One of the largest single events in the city of San Antonio, with more than two million visitors entering the grounds each year. Attractions, exhibits, music, and entertainment providing something for everyone.
Dollar Days are Presidents’ Day and every Friday: Grounds admission, rides, hot dogs, popcorn, and sodas in the carnival area are only $1 each!
Family Day is the final Sunday of the rodeo (February 25): Free grounds admission with coupon available at all San Antonio and New Braunfels area Chick-fil-A locations. Grounds admission without a coupon is $5 for adults, while kids 12 and under and seniors are free. Parking will be $5 or free with a permit.
*Grounds admission discount valid 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. only. Does not include admission into the AT&T Center for Rodeo performance.
