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Free Trees, Zoo Perks & Holiday Feasts: What San Antonio Doesn't Want You to Miss!
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Free Trees, Zoo Perks & Holiday Feasts: What San Antonio Doesn't Want You to Miss!
🦃 Food drives, dairy fun, free trees & zoo deals for military—your community is GIVING this season!
Martin Flores

Martin Flores

Trivia Question❓

How many missions along the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park trail — including the Alamo — make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 2015?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

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San Antonio residents can support a Thanksgiving food drive and receive free entry to two participating facilities throughout November.

 

From November 1 through November 30, visitors who bring two nonperishable food items can enter Atanacio Garcia Natatorium or Barrera Fitness Center at no charge during normal operating hours.

 

The West Side locations are Atanacio Garcia Natatorium, 1430 W Durango, and Barrera Fitness Center, 5800 Historic Old Hwy 90.

 

Donations should be unopened, shelf-stable and in good condition.

 

For residents balancing holiday expenses, the drive offers a manageable way to help neighbors while visiting a familiar community space.

 

Before making a special trip, call the natatorium at 210-207-3299 or the fitness center at 210-207-3047 to check operating hours.


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Denise Morales · 1 day ago

Wish they did this at more locations around the city. Not everyone is near the West Side.

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2026 Dairy Days brings a free morning of hands-on fun and local history to San Antonio families on Saturday, November 7.

 

The annual event runs from 9 a.m. to noon at Phil Hardberger Park’s Voelcker Homestead Trailhead, 1021 Voelcker Lane.

 

Children can visit a petting zoo, make crafts and enjoy storytelling, while visitors of all ages can hear live music and learn about wildlife and nature.

 

Agriculture demonstrations and exhibits about the former Voelcker Farm connect the activities to the land’s history.

 

Visitors can also pick up a plant while supplies last.

 

Admission is free, no advance registration is required, and all ages are welcome.

 

With activities ending at noon, families hoping to enjoy this once-a-year gathering should plan for a morning visit.


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SylviaP_78 · 1 day ago

My daughter does not care about farm history but she will absolutely stand next to a goat for 45 minutes so this works for us.

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Joke Of The Day

A tourist in San Antonio asked a local, "How do you handle the heat here in summer?"

The local shrugged. "We don't handle it — we just marinate in it and hope someone eventually serves us with chips."

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San Antonio residents can pick up a free tree at two November events at Mission Marquee Plaza on the South Side.

 

The San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department will host the first giveaway during Día del Árbol, a Texas Arbor Day celebration, on Saturday, November 14, from 10 AM to 1 PM.

 

A second giveaway will take place during the Farmers and Artisans Holiday Market on Saturday, November 21, from 9 AM to 1 PM.

 

Both events are at 3100 Roosevelt Avenue and will offer shade and ornamental trees, though specific species and availability have not been announced.

 

The cooler months offer a good time to plant, but a young tree still needs water and enough space to grow.

 

Residents can plan ahead by choosing a spot that suits their yard and the care they can provide.


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Margo S. · 1 day ago

My neighbor got a free tree from a city event a few years back and that thing is already giving serious shade. Worth the trip for sure.

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Interesting Facts

San Antonio holds more surprises than its famous River Walk suggests. Here are some lesser-known facts worth knowing:

  • A city older than the U.S. itself: San Antonio was founded in 1718 — nearly six decades before American independence — making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited municipalities in what is now the United States.
  • The nation's largest urban bat colony: The Bracken Cave just outside San Antonio shelters an estimated 15 to 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats, the largest bat colony on Earth by number of mammals in a single location.
  • Military city extraordinaire: San Antonio hosts five major military installations simultaneously — Fort Sam Houston, Lackland, Randolph, Kelly, and Camp Bullis — making it one of the highest concentrations of military bases in any single American city.
  • A Spanish acequia still flows: The city preserves a functioning section of its 18th-century Spanish acequia irrigation system, one of the oldest operational water infrastructure networks remaining in North America.
  • Birthplace of the frozen margarita machine: Restaurateur Mariano Martinez invented the first commercially used frozen margarita machine in Dallas in 1971, but the recipe and culture driving its demand grew directly out of San Antonio's deep Tex-Mex culinary tradition — and that original machine now sits in the Smithsonian.
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San Antonio Zoo is offering free admission to eligible service members through November as part of its returning Zoo Salutes program.

 

The offer includes active-duty personnel, retirees, veterans, and National Guard and Reserve members.

 

Up to four immediate family members can get half-price tickets when they visit with an eligible service member.

 

Tickets must be purchased online before the visit, and service members must show a valid military ID at the entrance.

 

Family tickets must be used that same day, and the offer cannot be combined with other discounts.

 

Families visiting on or after November 14 can also enjoy Zoo Lights, with colorful displays, glowing tunnels and seasonal music included with zoo admission.

 

In Military City, the offer gives families a more affordable way to spend a day together.


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Carla Fuentes · 1 day ago

Half price for up to four family members is actually a solid deal. With four kids that adds up fast so this helps a lot.

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💡 Answer to Trivia Question:
5
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