San Antonio, TX (Dec 13-15) – Get ready for a holiday extravaganza like no other! Historic La Villita invites everyone to a FREE festival featuring a life-sized Winter Wonderland Village Display, built by St. Philips College Allied Construction Trades/Construction Technology students, as well as a Gingerbread House Making Student Competition featuring St. Philip’s Culinary Arts/Baking & Pastry Arts program students. There will also be hands-on tamale-making and tasting workshops, hands-on cookie-decorating activities for kids and families, stone-ground Oaxacan holiday hands-on hot chocolate-making workshops, candy-filled pinata-making & -breaking fun, playtime with cuddly goats, a kids’ corner with Santa Claus, food, live performances, DJ music, lots of merry food and drink, and so much more!

During the weekend of December 13-15, Historic La Villita hosts its first student-inspired winter wonderland and gingerbread house competition during this year’s big, annual La Villita Holiday in the Village. These fun free events blends history, culture, and holiday cheer. Experience the magic of San Antonio’s oldest neighborhood as you explore a festive artist market, savor traditional holiday treats, and enjoy live music and entertainment, food booths, DJ music, hands-on workshops, a real snow machine, a Texas-sized winter wonderland display, and sleigh-loads of holiday fun!

This festive weekend, sponsored by Noble Texas Builders, Chef Johnny Hernandez, and H-E-B is the culmination of a special a collaboration between the La Villita Historic Arts Village and St. Philip’s College students, instructors, administrators, and staff.

Dr. Adena Williams Loston, President of St. Philip's College is excited about the celebration which takes place right where St. Philip’s was founded in a historic La Villita building in 1898:  "This holiday event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our college’s history and the creativity of our students. We are excited to share the spirit of the season with the community at La Villita.”

Come enjoy three holly jolly holiday days of comfort and joy for the whole family:

  • A Gingerbread Student Bake-Off Competition: Witness the creativity of student bakers as they compete in a delightful gingerbread house building competition in Maverick Plaza. Student baking teams will vie for scholarships and prizes under the direction of Cynthia De La Fuente, pastry chef instructor at St. Philips College Culinary Arts Baking & Pastry Arts program.
     
  • A Winter Wonderland Village: Be transported back in time with a life-sized, historical, Alsatian-style Winter Village on display in the heart of Maverick Plaza built by St. Philips students. This Instagram-worthy wonderland, “Honoring the Past – A St. Philips College Holiday Home at La Villita,” was built by four classes of students from St. Philip's College – Southwest Campus under the direction of instructor Jesse Torres. This incredible Holiday Home and village honors the school’s first 1898s location in a single adobe structure at 306 Villita Street.
     
  • Activities for All Ages: From a cookie decorating event, to a Oaxacan, stone-ground, hot chocolate-making hands-on workshop, to a piñata-making demonstration and piñata-breaking fun for kids, a visit with Santa and even playtime with cuddly goats, there something to do and see in every street and plaza in La Villita!
     
  • Tamales Tasting: Learn how traditional tamales are made—and taste your own tamale creations—with a hands-on workshop with a chef.
     
  • Holiday Delights: Find one-of-a-kind gifts from local artists, indulge in delicious seasonal treats, and enjoy live music and enchanting holiday performances by The Cox Family Singers, as well as delicious food and beverages in Maverick Plaza and at Maverick Coffee.

Here’s what leaders and sponsors are saying about the exciting St. Philips Student-Inspired events:

Cynthia De La Fuente, C.E.P.C, pastry chef instructor at St. Philips College says: “Three teams of creative students will be participating in the gingerbread house-building competition, vying for big prizes like scholarships and more. It will be exciting for the public to watch the students working on site to add their final touches as they build their large gingerbread creations in Maverick Plaza. I can’t wait to see the creativity and skills they bring to the competition.”

Chef Johnny Hernandez of Grupo La Gloria says he could not be prouder of the student bakers: “I have been wanting to host a student baking competition for years. What better way to celebrate the holidays than with a gingerbread house student bake-off challenge. San Antonio has an amazing culinary center at St Phillips College, and I always love to bring students into the community in competition. It brings out the best in them!”

St. Philips College’s own Dr. Joseph Kulhanek, Department Chair Allied Construction Trades, and Construction Technology instructor Jesse Torres, say they are thrilled by the students' dedication to the Holiday Home building project. "The students are so enthusiastic, and we all feel honored to be a part of this. Four classes with about 15 students have been working for over a month designing and building an ancient-style Alsatian-themed Holiday Home, from its original concept to its build-out, and every aspect of the project," says Torres. "We're proud that our enchanting St. Philip’s Holiday Home will stand in the same historic neighborhood where St. Philip’s College was founded in 1898. This has been a wonderful hands-on learning experience, and the Holiday Home will be a charming cornerstone of this year’s Holiday in the Village.”

Generous sponsor Rene Capistran, President/CEO of Noble Texas Builders says, “The skills students are leaning in the Construction and Technology Classes at St. Phillips College are so inspiring. Showcasing their craft is important for their development. This year’s theme focuses on our area’s Alsatian heritage, and I cannot wait for all of San Antonio to see what they have been working on in their classroom and assembling for us all to enjoy in this historic holiday winter wonderland village at La Villita.”

Mark Your Calendars

  • On Friday, December 13, the fun begins with food vendors, DJ music, gingerbread teams at work, and the viewing of the holiday village, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
     
  • On Saturday, December 14, All the big holiday festivities will be underway from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. This is when all the fun hands-on workshops and family events and the Gingerbread Competition really rev up! The final judging of the student Gingerbread House competition begins at 4 p.m., and by 7 p.m. the winning team will be announced. Also, the dedication of the St. Philips Holiday House and village, with remarks from St. Philips’ President and Chancellor and others will take place just before dark (around 5 p.m.) at the Maverick Plaza stage.
     
  • On Sunday, December 15, the celebration with workshops music, food and more continues from 10 a.m-4 p.m.

Chef Johnny Hernandez, La Villita artists, St. Philips College students and staff, valued sponsors and more all invite locals and visitors alike to come create lasting holiday memories at La Villita!

Contact: jturk@laGloria.com 

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