The West is Wide Open at The Briscoe and Ready for Spring Break Fun
From Buffalo Soldiers to Free Admission and Adult Spring Break Fun, the Briscoe Invites the Community In:
Go WILD on Wednesday! Free Admission and Wildlife Fun March 11
Museum Open Every Day March 5-16
History, art and hands-on fun come to life on the River Walk at the Briscoe Western Art Museum, where families, visitors and locals can enjoy extended access, free admission, hands-on activities and special programs celebrating the art, history and culture of the American West this season.
Normally closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the Briscoe will be open every day from March 5–16, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., along with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, giving everyone additional opportunities to head west during spring break. Located in the heart of the River Walk, the museum is an ideal stop for families exploring downtown and visitors enjoying St. Patrick’s Day festivities March 14–15. And get WILD on Wild West Wildlife Wednesday, March 11, as the Briscoe offers free admission and celebrates the wild side of the West with free activities and fun.
Mark your calendar and experience the West at these special programs:
Black History Month Program: Buffalo Soldiers in Texas
Saturday, Feb. 28 | 2–4 p.m. | Drop-In Program | Included with Museum Admission
Celebrate Black History Month at the Briscoe with members of the Bexar County Buffalo Soldiers. Following the Civil War, the U.S. Congress established the first peacetime, all-Black regiments in the U.S. Army in 1866. These soldiers served throughout the American West and became some of the most elite and highly decorated units in U.S. military history. Members of the Bexar County Buffalo Soldiers will share the history of Buffalo Soldiers in Texas and host an interactive artifact table for visitors to explore. This come-and-go program is suitable for all ages.
Locals Day at the Briscoe
Sunday, March 1 | Free Admission for San Antonio and Bexar County Residents
Bexar County and San Antonio residents are invited to enjoy Locals Day at the Briscoe on Sunday, March 1, with free museum admission offered throughout the day. Locals Day is a welcoming opportunity for families and neighbors to explore the Briscoe’s galleries, sculpture garden and special exhibitions, including the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s Student Western Art Competition Exhibition. Featuring works from the 2026 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s Western Art Competition, 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.
Families can also take part in a self-guided scavenger hunt that encourages young visitors to explore the museum while discovering key themes of Western art. The day also features Full STEAM Ahead, a hands-on family program inviting participants to view selected works from the Briscoe’s collection and focus on paintings featuring clouds. After exploring the galleries, families will create their own 3D cloud artwork to take home. This interactive program is 1 – 3 p.m. and is designed for all ages.
Wild West Wildlife Wednesday: Free, All-Day Wildlife Fun
March 11 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Free Admission
The highlight of the spring season is Wild West Wildlife Wednesday, a one-day, free admission celebration dedicated to the wildlife of the West. While ice and cold put the freeze on the Briscoe’s Wild West Wildlife Festival in January, Wild Wednesday invites families and visitors to explore conservation, creativity and the natural world during spring break.
Enjoy free museum admission and free activities including learning about animal tracks and pollinator plants with Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, matching animals to their tracks while you create a take-home print and plant a nectar plant to support pollinators. Then ride a butterfly on the River Walk with the Bike Zoo’s fantastically decorated bikes before you get batty with Bat Conservation International. Learn about bats, their role as pollinators and how they help protect crops and ecosystems across the West, then create cactus handprint art and enjoy turtle weaving, with supplies included. Free, online pre-registration is recommended, though everyone is welcome to drop in and get WILD while they enjoy a day on the River Walk.
Spring Break Roundup: Hands-On Fun for All Ages
March 9–13 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Included with Museum Admission
Families are invited to lasso some creative fun during the Briscoe’s annual Spring Break Roundup. A variety of crafts and supplies will be available with daily, drop-in activities inspired by the four pillars of Western art – wildlife and the land, native people of the Americas, Tejanos and Spanish heritage, cowboys and the American frontier – all themes on display at the Briscoe. Stop in and enjoy weaving, mosaics, pinata-making, tin foil art and more, including STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) activities. Families can choose and create one – or all! – of the crafts using the free supplies provided:
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- Monday, Mar. 9: Native People of the Americas Crafts
- Tuesday, Mar. 10: Cowboy and Vaqueros Crafts
- Wednesday, Mar. 11: Wildlife and the Land Crafts during Wild West Wildlife Wednesday
- Thursday, Mar. 12: Tejanos and Spanish Heritage Crafts
- Friday, Mar. 13: Full STEAM Ahead, featuring arts and crafts that tie into the pillars and highlight Science, Technology, Education, Art and Mathematics (STEAM)
Spring Break Roundup activities are included with museum admission, with no additional charge for supplies and no reservations required. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Children 12 and under always receive free admission and active duty military members always receive free admission to the Briscoe, making it a wonderful destination for family fun. Caregivers must accompany participating children for each activity.
Briscoe Highlights Tour
Thursday, March 12 | 2 p.m. | Included with Museum Admission
Discover the stories behind some of the museum’s most compelling works during the Briscoe Highlights Tour. This guided, 45-minute experience takes visitors through select galleries, offering insight into significant pieces from the Briscoe’s collection and special exhibitions. From iconic Western imagery to thought-provoking contemporary works, the Highlights Tour offers a deeper look at the art, history and culture that define the American West.
Adults-Only Painting Night: Spring Break at the Briscoe
Thursday, March 19 | 5:30 – 8 p.m. | 21+ Adults, $20 for Members, $35 for Nonmembers
Kick back and let the fun of spring break keep going with energetic and charismatic international artist DiZurita. Based in San Antonio, DiZurita tells stories through her art, an everlasting transformation of life experiences. Enjoy a relaxing evening sipping margaritas while painting Texas wildflowers. Create an acrylic painting on an 11 x 14 canvas in a hands-on session as DiZurita guides guests in painting their own wildflower work of art. Registration for this adults-only 21+ event is per person and includes museum admission, drinks, light bites and all supplies. Class size is limited and advance registration is required, so register today to secure your spot.
More to See and Do at the Briscoe
An oasis of Western beauty on the River Walk, the Briscoe’s McNutt Sculpture Garden and 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 the Hendler Family Museum Store, providing art, culture, history and entertainment.
During Spring Break, the Briscoe will be open seven days a week, March 5-16, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Thursday evenings. Admission is always free for children 12 and under and for active-duty military members. Discounted admission is available for military families and retired service members. The Briscoe is located on the south end of the River Walk, near the Arneson River Theatre and La Villita. Museum hours, nearby parking and admission details are available online.
