The Edge of Pop Culture: Why San Antonio’s Themed Raves are About to Break the Internet
recurring anchors for younger crowds shaped by internet humor and shared cultural memory
San Antonio enters 2026 with two themed raves that reflect a broader shift happening across nightlife nationwide. Both founded by Cool Is Dead, the Big Bubble Rave and Shrek Rave proove that nostalgia-driven events are becoming established cornerstones in club culture—no longer one-off gimmicks, but recurring anchors for younger crowds shaped by internet humor and shared cultural memory.
Big Bubble Rave 🎥 Mark Facet
Industry coverage has noted how childhood properties have moved into adult nightlife with surprising permanence, reshaping attendance patterns and prompting venues to rethink their programming calendars (source). San Antonio has been part of that rise, with past Shrek-themed events pulling unusually strong turnouts locally (source).
Cool Is Dead’s approach fits the trajectory. Their work centers on taking online culture and translating it into tangible, repeatable, in-person communities—a philosophy the company outlines directly in its public background materials (source).
Now those ideas arrive again at The Rock Box.
Big Bubble Rave — Saturday, January 31, 2026
A concept-forward foam rave positioned as a reset for the year. With Mark Facet and DJ Pastiche operating as its core pairing, the night leans into playful chaos without relying on nostalgia for its identity.
Shrek Rave — Saturday, March 14, 2026
Returning after high turnout in previous seasons, the Shrek installment expands on a format that has already proven its appeal in San Antonio. The same team—Mark Facet and DJ Pastiche—anchors the experience, keeping continuity in a city that responds strongly to recognizable, hosted nightlife.
These events sit within a broader ecosystem of promoters who helped build San Antonio into a dependable stop for alternative nightlife. That infrastructure allows concept-driven raves to scale beyond novelty and operate as part of the city’s regular cultural rhythm.
LINEUP
Big Bubble Rave / Shrek Rave
- Mark Facet
- DJ Pastiche
VENUE
The Rock Box
1223 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX