FREE Wild West Wildlife Festival Returns to San Antonio January 24th       Take a walk on the wild side at The Briscoe’s FREE Wild West Wildlife Festival Sat., January 24th. The Briscoe Western Art Museum invites families and nature lovers of all ages to celebrate the wildlife and animals of the American West during the Wild West Wildlife Festival, a free community day on Saturday, Jan. 24. The event transforms the Briscoe’s River Walk campus into a hub of “wild” creativity, discovery and learning, all centered on Western wildlife with a special focus on Texas habitats and native species.       Held rain or shine, the festival offers free admission to the museum, engaging art-making activities, interactive learning stations and opportunities to connect with local wildlife experts and conservation organizations. Activities take place throughout the day across the museum campus, including the Jack Guenther Pavilion, McNutt Sculpture Garden and surrounding outdoor spaces. The event is 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and everyone can register for free admission.     Wild, Creative Fun for All Ages Hands-on, animal-themed crafts and activities will be available throughout the day, encouraging visitors to explore the beauty of Western wildlife through art, stories and play, including: Meet Live Animals: Interact with wildlife up close and discover more about their unique roles in the ecosystem.     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, cactus handprints, bison masks, pressed flower bookmarks, bear fork paintings and turtle weaving. 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 beastly hungry, a food truck will be on hand to feed your herd.     Young Artists Bring Wildlife and the West to Life Everyone can also enjoy the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo’s Student Western Art Competition Exhibition. Featuring 40 works from the 2026 San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo’s Western Art Competition including the 13 winning entries, 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. The exhibition will be on view Jan. 8 – Mar. 1.     Head West from the Heart of San Antonio 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. ...read more read less