The San Antonio Parks Foundation is proud to announce the nonprofit’s 5th Annual Chaparral Music & Heritage Festival celebrating the music, flavors, and history of South and Central Texas in downtown San Antonio!
On the first Saturday of Fiesta!, Texas country and americana music fans revel in all things Texas for the sixth year in a row, and the third year at Hemisfair, the festival’s home footprint. The San Antonio Parks Foundation is thrilled to welcome fans to Chaparral on April 22 for the sounds of western swing icon, Ray Benson & Asleep at the Wheel. Fifty years ago, Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson wrote in his journal that he wanted to form a band to bring the roots of American pop music into the present. It seemed like an ambitious goal for a 19-year-old, yet Benson has done exactly that–traversing the globe as an ambassador of Western swing music and introducing its irresistible sound to generation after generation. Although the lineup has changed countless times since its inception, Benson’s mission has never wavered.
“We’ve always said that we’re a live band,” Benson emphasizes. “We’ll make great records but it’s all about being on stage. The best promotion for a band is a great live show.”
Joining the bill is genre-bending 10-piece, LA 45, bringing the next generation of Chicano music to the stage; AND one more secret artist to be announced in late February. Rounding out the lineup is The Texases, the “greatest classic country cover band ever.” The group will close the evening with a 90-minute set of classic country covers, come ready to two-step!
Produced by the San Antonio Parks Foundation, Chaparral Music & Heritage is deeply rooted in the belief systems and practices to protect, grow, nourish, and perpetuate, an ecosystem of learning, camaraderie, celebration, and legacy that public parks provide to citizens and visitors as places to create and perpetuate their own storytelling for the now and future of San Antonio. The 5th Annual Chaparral happens to fall on Earth Day, a fitting moment in time as the San Antonio Parks Foundation works to grow the storytelling and educational arm of Chaparral through interactive children’s activities, displays and activations celebrating environmental conservation and resilience, outdoor recreation, and sustainable agriculture practices of south and central Texas.
While General Admission to the festival is free and open to the public, a limited number of VIP Culinary Experience tickets are available to 21+ patrons who wish to elevate their Chaparral experience. The menu features traditional Texas cuisines reimagined using resilient and sustainable agriculture practices and local food producers. In addition to complimentary food, VIP guests will enjoy complimentary beer, wine, and specialty cocktails, private seating and restrooms for the duration of the evening, 5 PM to 11 PM.
For the first time, the festival will also offer a Premium General Admission ticket at $25 that includes an exclusive lounge area near the stage with dedicated bar access. Tickets go on sale Friday, February 10th at 12PM CST at www.saparks.org.
General Admission access is free, all-ages, and includes access to the live music performances, local food vendors, biergarten, and artisan vendor market.