La Villita won't go dark for Fiesta 2027 after all. With Night in Old San Antonio cleared from the calendar, Centro San Antonio will bring a larger version of Guayabera Fest to the historic downtown space, scheduled for the same April 20-23 dates NIOSA would have claimed.

Divide & Conquer Denim & Leather owner Javier Treviño launched Guayabera Fest in downtown’s Peacock Alley as a tribute to the de facto Fiesta uniform — one he just happened to sell in his shop.

“Over the years, this symbolic shirt has been at the center of many, if not all, of our celebrations within our community,” explained Treviño in a release. “We started this festival to honor the rich history it carries and to ensure that legacy never fades.”

Since the early days, the celebration has grown larger, moving to Travis Park in 2024. By 2026, Guayabera Fest had become an official Fiesta San Antonio event, expanded to a full-day ticketed event with more than 60 vendors. The 2027 move to La Villita is an even bigger leap, featuring four nights instead of one and three stages.

In addition to live performances, Guayabera Fest will host local vendors and food trucks so locals’ chicken on a stick dreams won’t be shattered. Programming is expected to take place 5-10 pm each evening.

Organizers say they are focused on affordability and creating a “welcoming, accessible and safe environment” for attendees. They’ll get a little practice with logistics when Holidays on Houston moves its vendor market to La Villita this December.

Meanwhile, the fate of NIOSA is still up in the air. The San Antonio Conservation canceled the 2027 edition in September, citing financial losses, shrinking attendance, and a loss of usable space due to ongoing construction.

Whether Centro will run into similar challenges is yet to be seen. For now, the nonprofit is enthusiastic about growing a marquee event in the city core.

“Guayabera Fest has always held a special place within Centro, dating back to its early days in Peacock Alley,” said Trish DeBerry, President & CEO of Centro San Antonio, in a statement. “What began as a celebration of an iconic piece of clothing has grown into something much larger, bringing people together through the culture, history, and traditions that make San Antonio so special.”