SAN ANTONIO – Two hundred bands took to five stages over four days in downtown San Antonio. The bands were all surrounded by thousands of people.

"I'm from Dallas, Texas," said Olga Sandoval. "I'm a die-hard Tejano Fan."

The Tejano Music Awards Fan Fair has been a favorite of locals and visitors for nearly three decades. People from across the state and country flocking to the Alamo City to take in the sounds that some say define San Antonio.

For some, coming here has been a tradition for years.

"Tejano is what I grew up with," said Johnny Castillo, who came from Mission, Texas. "Now I come with my family. No more single life. Now it's a family kind of thing."

The event draws close to 100,000 people each day. Musicians say there's nothing else like it.

"We've been doing it for 15 years, believe it or not. I've been playing for 30 years, and it's awesome," said musician Bobby Torres from Houston. "It's awesome to see so many people not only from here but from out of state."

And with all the good music comes all the good food.

"I'm going to get me a gordita, and I'm going to get me a taco de tripas," said Sandoval.

"The tacos. Fajita tacos. And I live the turkey legs. And of course, refreshments," said Rene Campos of San Antonio.

For many this is a way to share in a culture that's passed from one generation to the next.

"The music, the food, the fun, exchanging smiles from people that you'll never see again," said Eric Gomez of San Antonio. "We have visitors from out of town and we have people from in town and everyone that absorbs that carries a little piece of that with them. Keep it going."