Welcome to San Antonio y’all! Maybe you’ve been here for a while, or maybe the last time you were here was boot camp. Its May, so it’s the perfect Texas month. The humidity has settled in, but it’s not yet unbearable. And you’re in that perfectly mild month before the Texas summer really kicks in. You’ve arrived in the seventh most populous state in the United States and the first chartered settlement in present-day Texas.
It’s also a huge military location with several installations including Fort Sam Houston, Randolph AFB, Camp Bullis, and Camp Stanley. You’re a day trip or weekend trip from Austin and Houston, two amazing and fun Texas cities. There is plenty to keep you busy within the city, and a wonderful community awaiting you, and summer is the perfect time to dive right in!
Special Events
Mission Marquee Plaza Summer Outdoor Film Series {Saturdays – May through November)
The venue opens at 7pm, and movies start 15min after sunset. Make an evening of it with food trucks and entertainment. Bring chairs, blankets, and snacks! The venue is also pet-friendly and has on-site parking. Most of the movies look family friendly, just make sure to check the event calendar!
Texas Folk Life Festival June 7-9
The Texas Folk Life Festival is an annual event hosted by the University of Texas. Over Two hundred and fifty organizations come out to help you learn Texas culture. Learn from over 60 cultural groups, hear musicians, and taste local foods. It’s a great opportunity to try new things, like learning to Hula dance, split shingles, or listen to some real bluegrass music. If you really want to learn what being a Texan means this is the place to do it!
San Antonio Taste Mega Festival – June 15th
The Taste Mega Festival is a unique event that highlights community, showcasing local restaurants, music, and artists while supporting a good cause as well as focusing on the health and wellness of the community.
Fiesta Noche del Rio – June 21 – August 10
Come down to the famed San Antonio River Walk to experience Fiesta Noche del Rio. For over 60 years performers have gathered to perform cultural dances for a purpose, to support the Alamo Kiwanis Club’s efforts is supporting disadvantaged children in the San Antonio area. In these 60 years over 2million dollars has been raised! It is a two-act showcase of song and dance with over dozen dancers, flamenco guitars and mariachi performers. It is a great San Antonio tradition to experience.
Summer Restaurant Week (August 10-24th)
Keep your eyes open for Summer Restaurant Week, currently scheduled for August in 2019.
For Kids
Looking for activities and camps to keep kids occupied and plugged in over the summer time? Then the Parks and Rec department is a great resource for military families that aren’t accessing events and groups on base. Here are a few places to get started.
- San Antonio Parks and Rec – Summer Youth Program and Teen Connection
- YMCA Summer Camps
- Vacation Bible School 2019
You can also check out MySummerCamps for information about summer camps available in the Greater San Antonio area.
Amusement Parks & Water Parks
Whether you have kids or not, amusement parks and waterparks are great fun and break up the long summer months. Texas has lots of options when it comes to a little wild fun, and San Antonio has several of them. Make sure to visit your local MWR to check for military rates and season passes.
- Aquatica San Antonio is part of the Sea World Family, with giant slides, lazy rivers and fun for all ages.
- Six Flax Fiesta
- Splashdown – a local (and smaller!) water park for families and guests of all ages.
Morgan’s Inspiration Island is an incredible and unique place for families to visit in San Antonio. From the outside it might look like a regular waterpark; but upon entering you will learn that Morgan’s Island is, in fact, a super-accessible Funland, with over 25 wheel-chair accessible attractions and easy to access play areas.
Education & Learning
As the first settlement in Texas, you can imagine that there is a lot of history in San Antonio. So if you’re looking for a little education and history as part of your summer we’ve got a great list to get you started.
Visiting some of these attractions and events is the perfect way to get to know your new community, or revisit one that you haven’t seen in a while. San Antonio is rich in culture and history, with good food and good people it’s a great temporary or long-term duty station to really embrace and enjoy. Remember, everything is bigger in Texas, so go big or go home!
Written by: Rheanna Bernard
