Volunteers keep tradition, fun humming at NIOSA
Volunteerism is alive and well in San Antonio.
A Night In Old San Antonio, known as NIOSA, continues to buck a national trend of a decline in volunteering. Our volunteer numbers dipped the two years immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are back to our PRE-COVID numbers of nearly 10,000 volunteers in preparation for this year’s Fiesta event, which runs April 23-26 in La Villita Historic Arts Village in the heart of downtown.
NIOSA solely benefits the Conservation Society of San Antonio and has raised roughly $1 million for the organization.
After more than 10 years of serving with other volunteers and now, as the chairman of NIOSA, I know why San Antonio
is different.
Legacy: Many of our booths have been run by the same fami- lies for decades, some as long as 65 years. Many are now run by the second and third generations of relatives and in-laws.
Friendship: When you walk down the lanes of NIOSA right before it opens, you’ll see booth workers hugging. Volunteers who come to La Villita every year to “work” at NIOSA often say it’s like a big family reunion. They’ll start right where they left off a year before, showing off photos of children and grandchildren and laughing about memories from years past.
Passion: There is a love for San Antonio and its historic culture. Volunteers know by giving a little of their time, all the money raised during NIOSA goes right back to the Conservation Society of San Antonio so it can continue its 100-year tradition of preserving all that makes San Antonio truly unique.
Fun: Watch the volunteers working the booths at NIOSA: They are laughing and joking with each other, having fun with the guests who come to their booths, dancing to the music from nearby bands and enjoying their favorite delicacies from NIOSA’S 114 food booths.
It’s not too late to help NIOSA this year. We still need more volunteers and we are happy to train. We welcome individuals or groups of volunteers from corporations, companies and nonprofits, and those needing service hours.
Contact the NIOSA office at 210-226-5188 or niosa@niosa.org for more information, or visit the website at niosa.org.
I’m thankful to the San Antonio community that continues to support A Night In Old San Antonio by volunteering or visiting our fabulous festival.
Viva NIOSA!
Lisa Pierce is fourth vice president/ chairman for the Conservation Society of San Antonio’s 2024 NIOSA.