IN THE LOOP / EVENTS
6 Best Bets NOV. 27-DEC. 13
THE NUTCRACKER Ballet San Antonio presents this holiday classic, with choreography by Easton Smith and Haley Henderson Smith, during 12 shows at the Tobin Center. Capacity is limited so reserve tickets early. balletsanantonio.org NOV. 28 & DEC. 5
DICKENS ON MAIN
San Antonio Zoo plans for almost business as usual as it heads into 2021 BY KATHLEEN PETTY
THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO IS PROJECTING IT COULD END
the year with an up to $4 million loss, but Tim Morrow is as positive as a president and CEO can be in the throes of a pandemic. “We have a cautiously optimistic attitude,” says Morrow. “We’re planning a normal year in 2021, but we know we have to be able to pivot at a moment’s notice.” Its annual Zoo Lights event, which runs through the end of the year, is the start of normalcy. After a virtual gala and Zoo Boo event that accommodated walking and drive-thru visitors, Zoo Lights is operating like it has in years past, albeit with smaller walking crowds and the presence of face masks and hand sanitizer. Forced to close its gates to outside visitors from mid-March until after Memorial Day, San Antonio Zoo staff have spent the better part of 2020 getting creative in connecting with guests. Before reopening, they offered animal-themed Easter baskets for pickup and hosted a slew of virtual events, from zookeeper chats to yoga in front of the hippos. In April, a staff member who’d spent time driving the grounds as part of his job suggested launching a drive-through zoo experience, which was the first bit of financial salvation for the nonprofit that was still spending close to half a million dollars a day on animal care and essential staff while closed. (During its closure, 400 of its 700 employees were furloughed while salaried employees,
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like Morrow, took pay cuts for the year.) In just its first month, the drive through experience drew more than 20,000 vehicles and through fall had netted over $1 million for the zoo. It’s a concept San Antonio has shared with zoos from Phoenix to Toronto. While a success, Morrow says it’s not close to enough. In the just over five years he’s been with the zoo, the nonprofit has seen annual revenue grow by nearly $10 million to between $24 million and $26 million. “In past years we have revenue to spend on infrastructure and our mission, but some of that will have to be used to pay off debt in the years to come,” Morrow says. They were projecting $2 million in profit before COVID-19 hit that would have been invested back into the zoo. He adds that in the past, they haven’t done a good enough job explaining that they’re a nonprofit and are not city-funded like many zoos. “We are also fundraising to pay that off,” he says, of any debts. “We need the community’s help to recover from this.” There have been reasons for hope, including increased foot traffic in the late summer and fall as community spread of COVID-19 slowed in San Antonio and mask wearing and social distancing became the norm. In July, there were days where foot traffic was at 20 percent of a normal summer day. Events, Morrow says, is part of what helped them grow revenue in recent years so that’s what they’re planning for as they look to bring more visitors back in 2021. After Zoo Lights, guests can expect a full slate of spring break offerings, a Fiesta de los Animales event in April and a special exhibition over the summer. Morrow wants zoo regulars to remain safe, but he says the outdoor setting and compliance with COVID-19 protocols allows for that. “At our core, we are a walk through experience,” Morrow says, explaining the importance of being able to read signage, linger in front of animal habitats and chat with staff. “Our goal is to get back to that 100 percent.”
DEC. 5
HOLIDAY ART MARKET The Tobin Center hosts artisans and makers for this fourth annual outdoor fair. Kids can take a photo with Santa or visit the craft corner. tobincenter.org DEC. 8-20
THE MUSIC OF A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS With Jazz, TX closed for renovations, Doc Watkins and his trio are taking up residence at the Tobin Center’s Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater for intimate holiday concerts featuring tunes from the Charles Schulz classic. tobincenter.org DEC. 6
GLOBAL CELEBRATIONS At this month’s touch-free family day at the San Antonio Museum of Art, kids can pick up an art kit to make their own silver ornament or patterned cards. Selfguided gallery games will give families the chance to learn about holiday traditions around the world. samuseum.org DEC. 28-30
WONDERFUL WINTER HOLIDAY The Magik Theatre is hosting its “Play in a Day” workshop for kids on break. Children will learn how to act out, dance and sing scenes from some of their favorite shows and movies. magiktheatre.org
COURTESY SAN ANTONIO ZOO
Breeding Normalcy
Boerne has added an extra Saturday to its annual holiday event to allow for smaller crowds. Watch an ice sculpting battle, walk through holiday villages or see an outdoor theater performance. boernedickensonmain.com
DECEMBER 2020
10/30/20 1:01 PM
