Free Wildlife Festival at the Briscoe on Saturday the 25th

WILD WEST WILDLIFE FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THE BRISCOE

Saturday, January 25, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Celebrate the untamed spirit of the American West at the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s Wild West Wildlife Festival on Saturday, Jan. 25. This free community event offers a day of animal fun, educational experiences, storytelling and creative activities for all ages, with live animals making an appearance for guests to meet and learn about. The free community event unfolds at the museum’s campus along the River Walk and includes free admission to the museum and its exhibitions. The festival will be held rain or shine in the museum’s Jack Guenther Pavilion, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and everyone can register for free admission.

The festival showcases the vibrant wildlife and natural beauty that define the American West, focusing on Texas habitats and the fascinating creatures that call them home. Held at the Briscoe’s scenic campus along the River Walk the free event will feature:

• Meet Live Animals: Interact with wildlife up close and discover more about their unique roles in the ecosystem.
• Enjoy Animal Stories: Hear wild and wooly tales from Miss Anastasia, the beloved former elementary teacher who makes books come to life.
• Hands-on Owl Pellet Exploration: Learn about owl diets by dissecting owl pellets to uncover bones and more.
• Animal Tracks and Pollinator Plants with Mitchell Lake Audubon Center: Match animals to their tracks, create a take-home print and plant a nectar plant to support pollinators.
• Texas Wildlife Exploration with Hill Country State Area: Get hands-on with animal skins, skull replicas, and insights into Texas’ wildlife and human-nature interactions.
• Ride a Butterfly: Take a whimsical ride on fantastically decorated bikes from the Bike Zoo.
• Get Batty with Bat Conservation International: Learn about bats, how they act as pollinators and their important role in protecting our crops
• Wild Crafts: Make your own screen print, bison masks, pressed flower bookmarks, bear fork paintings and turtle weaving.
• Meet Artists: See wildlife art come to life with demonstrations from scratchboard artist Sally Maxwell and wildlife artist Brian Grimm, then meet an aspiring artist from the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Western Art Competition.
• Understand Water: Learn how the watershed works with the San Antonio River Authority and see how pollution can impact creeks, rivers, lakes and the ocean.
• Help Birds: Learn about the wonderful birds of South Central Texas from the Bexar Audubon Society and see how you can help them in your own backyard.
• Festive Fun: Enjoy free facepainting to make your day wildly memorable.

And if you get wildly hungry, a food truck will be on hand to feed your inner beast.

MORE TO SEE

 Storytellers:  Narrative Art and the West

Free admission to the museum includes Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West, the Briscoe’s special exhibition closing Jan. 19. The exhibition explores how Native American and Western artists use narrative art to convey history, culture and identity. It features works that tell powerful stories of the American Southwest, blending traditional Native American art forms with contemporary perspectives.

Don’t Miss – The Art of the Rodeo:  Student Western Art Competition Exhibit

Everyone can also enjoy the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s Student Western Art Competition Exhibition. Featuring the 13 winning entries in the 2025 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s Western Art Competition as well as 12 entries selected for museum exhibition, the pop-up exhibition showcases the best work from the annual contest that includes 183 South Texas school districts or those attending private school or homeschooling across 54 counties.

HEAD TO THE BRISCOE

An oasis of Western beauty just off the River Walk, the McNutt Sculpture Garden and the museum grounds feature 35 sculptures portraying various aspects of Western life. Inside the museum’s beautifully restored historic home inside the former San Antonio Public Library building, the Briscoe’s collection spans 14 galleries, with special exhibitions, events and a fantastic museum shop, providing art, culture, history and entertainment.

The Briscoe is located on the south end of the River Walk, near the Arneson River Theatre and La Villita, with convenient parking at the Riverbend Garage directly adjacent to the museum or one of many downtown surface lots. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online.

Photos courtesy Briscoe Western Art Museum.