While San Antonio's Fiesta may be the main event this April, locals looking to step outside the festive shell can find a variety of alternative entertainment peppered across the city. Jaime's Place, known for its offbeat cultural gatherings, is hosting its own Pachanga en el Barrio. The West Side venue has planned a 10-day drag and music extravaganza set to run parallel to the city's traditional celebrations, starting April 18, according to an interview with the San Antonio Report.

Owner Jaime Macias intends to proudly celebrate San Antonio's Westside neighborhood with an event designed to give the misfits a place to totally freely reign. "I am drawn to the misfits, because I myself, I’m a misfit," Macias explained in the San Antonio Report. The Pachanga event will feature the drag king troupe Los MENtirosos and a "Darkwave 1980s music night", among other attractions, detailed on Jaime’s Place Instagram page for those eager to catch the full schedule and updates.

The art of movement will take center stage at the San Antonio Dance Festival, running April 19-20 at the Carver Community Cultural Center. Violeta De Leon Davita, the director of San Antonio Dance, describes the festival as "a celebration of movement, culture, and artistic innovation" featuring a blend of local and visiting dancers. Free youth matinee performances and ticketed evening showcases are all part of the dance fest, per the San Antonio Report. Tickets can be snatched up through the Carver Center website.

Meanwhile, the Paper Tiger is gearing up to bring the noise with the Red Bull Batalla on April 20, promising to showcase some of the country's finest Latino freestyle rappers in what's billed as the world's largest Spanish-language freestyle rap competition. Competitors are fighting for a chance to advance to the November 2024 international final in Madrid, Spain, as detailed by the San Antonio Report. Mexican rapper/singer Tornillo and Houston hip hop star Bo Bundy are also expected to perform post-battles

San Antonio doesn't skimp when it comes to music fests, with Lowcountry hosting its annual Rock ‘N’ Roll Fiesta on April 27. Bands like Sunjammer and Powdered Wig Machine will rock the stage, while smoked Texas wagyu pit beef will cater to the foodies. On the same day, the community of Castroville celebrates its Alsatian heritage. The free Alsatian Festival includes traditional dance, music and a host of Alsatian treats—think parisa, flammekueche, and, for the adults, a selection of the region’s finest wines. Details for this cultural fusion fest were outlined in the San Antonio Report.