San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
HOW TO ENJOY RODEO FUN, FOOD IN S.A.
From food to entertainment, here’s how get your rodeo fix in and around S.A.
It’s time to rodeo, San Antonio. Creatively.
The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, which runs through Feb. 28, is “not really open to the public,” as Cody Davenport, the event’s executive director and CEO, told the Express-News in December.
Because of the ongoing pandemic, attendance has been limited to about 120,000 for the February spectacle, which normally draws more than 1 million people.
Organizers canceled the carnival and fairgrounds attractions, and moved the rodeo and concerts from the AT&T Center to the smaller Freeman Coliseum. Season ticket holders reportedly bought out the Freeman, which will seat only 3,800 people per rodeo performance to comply with state safety rules.
Another 3,000 per day will be allowed into the livestock barns for a series of junior livestock shows.
But fear not, pardner. There are other ways to enjoy the rodeo experience, from scooting your boots and scarfing corn dogs.
Here’s a roundup of rodeo-like experiences that can be had in and around San Antonio, from arena action and amusement rides to food and fashion.
Rodeo
Season ticket holders snapped up the seats to the rodeo competitions at the Freeman. The good news is you can still get your fix of either the white-knuckle courage of pro bull riders or the rodeo skills and pageantry of charros and escaramuzas.
For the former, you’ll have to pack up the gang and drive to the 2021 Professional Bull Riding Del Rio Invitational, the first-ever Professional Bull Riders event in Del Rio. Today, Val Verde County Fairgrounds, 2006 N. Main St., Del Rio. Adults $50 and up, $15 for children 5-12, free for ages 5 and younger, 800-732-1727, pbrtix.com
As for charros and escaramuzas, Charreada San Antonio is still on the calendar for the last day of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, but check in advance to be sure. 2 p.m. Feb. 28, Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston St., $20 and $50, sarodeo.com.
Rides
This year’s rodeo won’t have the usual Wade Shows carnival rides and games. But San Antonio theme parks still offer plenty of coasters, carousels and other fairground amusements.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas is home to more than 60 rides and attractions, including real thrillers like the 17-story Joker Carnival of Chaos pendulum ride. All Fiesta Texas visits must be scheduled. Opens 10:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, plus Monday (Presidents Day), 17000 W. Interstate 10. $29.99 and up, 210-697-5050, sixflags.com/
fiestatexas
SeaWorld San Antonio has most of its coasters up and running, including the Texas Stingray, the tallest, fastest and longest wooden coaster in Texas. Opens 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays plus Monday (Presidents Day), 10500 Sea World Drive. $39.99 and up, 210-520-4732, seaworld. com/san-antonio
Like your rides more laid back? Take it easy at Kiddie Park next to the San Antonio Zoo. The storied amusement park still has its century-old carousel and other favorites. Opens 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays plus Monday (Presidents Day), 3903 N. St. Mary’s St. $3 per ride, $12 unlimited rides, $1 admission for nonriders, 210-8244351, sazoo.org/kiddiepark
Country music
The big stars, classic rockers and hot newcomers who make the rodeo a must for music fans every year are absent this year as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sideline national touring acts. In their place is a lineup of Texas country acts such as Asleep at the Wheel and Kevin Fowler, classicrock cover bands and some names familiar from years past, such as Lorrie Morgan and Johnny Lee.
While attendance is limited to season ticket holders, a smattering of resale tickets to most shows are available at sarodeo.com.
Country music fans have options, though, since area dance halls have been operating at limited capacity, with safety measures in effect, for months. That means toe-tapping instead of two-stepping because patrons will have to stay seated.
Gruene Hall welcomes singersongwriter Jamie Lin Wilson with Courtney Patton and Kaitlin Butts on Saturday and guit-steel master Junior Brown on Feb. 28. Texas Music star William Clark Green is at John T. Floore Country Store on Saturday, followed by Oklahoma country singer Jon Wolfe on Feb. 26.
Out in Luckenbach, Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis play a Valentine’s show at the dance hall today. Gruene, 1281 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, gruenehall.com; Floore’s, 14492 Old Bandera Road, Helotes, liveatfloores.com; Luckenbach, 412 Luckenbach Town Loop, Fredericksburg, luckenbachtexas.com.
Western wear
At local retailers you can wrangle up boots, buckles and other Western wear that will have you covered from Stetson-topped head to Lucchese-booted toe.
For Western hats, you don’t get more classic than Paris Hatters, which has been covering cowboys and cowgirls of all stripes since 1917. 119 Broadway, 210-223-3453, parishatters.com
Paris Hatters and other retailers also sell Lucchese boots, though you could scoot straight to that source at San Antonio’s Lucchese flagship store. 255 E Basse Road, 210-828-9419, lucchese.com
Other Western wear stops in San Antonio include Boot Barn and Cavender’s locations, Gil’s Boots & Western Wear and Outlaws Western Wear. There’s also D&D Texas Outfitters in Seguin. Bootbarn.com; cavenders.com; Gil’s: 4803 Rigsby, 210-333-3203, gilsboots.com; Outlaws: 7055 San Pedro, 210-507-2853, outlaws westernwearsa.com; D&D: 516 E. Interstate 10, 830-379-7340, ddtexasoutfitters.com
Petting zoos
Because sometimes you just get a hankering for that barnyard smell, several area petting zoos will bring the furred and feathered critters to you. Just be ready to break out the Benjamins for the experience.
Happy Tails Entertainment offers in-person visits that cost $225 per 45 minutes, while Pony Parties by Dawn charges $250 per hour for in-person visits. Happy Trails: 210-385-4351, happytailsent.com; Pony Parties: 210-421-2386, ponypartiesby dawn.net
Looking for virtual options? Once in a Wild has in-person visits for $300 per hour or virtual visits for $100 per hour, while Zoomagination has in-person visits for $295 an hour and virtual visits for $200-$295 an hour. Once in a Wild: 210-445-5240, onceinawild.com; Zoomagination: 210-6435670, zoomagination.com
Rather go to the animals? The San Antonio Zoo hosts special giraffe feeding for $5 per person and up-close time with kangaroos for $8 per person, in addition to special private behind-the-scenes encounters with hippos, rhinos and okapis that cost $20 and $39.99 per person. Prices do not include zoo admission. Zoo opens 10 a.m. daily, 3903 N. St. Mary’s
St. $19.94 adults, $15.75 children. 210-734-7184, sazoo.org
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch lets you feed ostriches, zebras and other exotic creatures from the comfort of your own car. Just make sure you buy a $3 feed bag. Opens 9 a.m. daily, 26515 Natural Bridge Caverns Road. $25.50 adults, $23 seniors, $17.50 children ($2 less on weekdays). 830-4387400, wildliferanchtexas.com
Carnival food
It’s not a carnival without a corn dog, and they are readily accessible at Sonic Drive-In locations, as well as at any of the three Burger Boy locations. sonicdrivein.com and burgerboy sa.com
But if you want to supersize yourself, head to Benjie’s Munch, where you can get a nearly footlong version for $7, served with plenty of ketchup and mustard. 1218 W. Bitters Road, 210-556-8624, benjiesmunch.com
The Shack is the place for funnel cake fanatics. For $8.49, customers can load ’em up with an assortment of 12 toppings that range from healthy strawberries and slices of bananas to whipped cream and Oreo cookies. 7431 NW Loop 410, Suite 115, 210-375-4097, theshacksatx.com
Godai Sushi Bar and Japanese Restaurant may seem like an unlikely stop for state fair fare, but chef William “Goro” Pitchford’s North Side sushi temple offers decadent tempura-fried Oreos with chocolate syrup and a double scoop of vanilla ice cream for $4.50. 11203 West Ave., 210-3486781, godaisushi.com
And at Tejas Steakhouse & Saloon in Bulverde, the spirit of the rodeo abides year-round with its menagerie of vintage rifles, trophy mounts and Western ephemera, plus an actual rodeo every Saturday starting March 6.
Until then, get a taste of steak-on-a-stick minus the stick with KC Style steak, cut in 2-ounce chunks and finished with a proper cowboy sear for $29.29 and up. 401