The department for Downtown San Marcos, the Main Street Program, holds free fall events throughout October for residents. 
Volunteer, Evan Hernandez, says “this is my first year as a Texas State student and I want to be more involved and help out where I can for the community.” 
The Main Street Program provides free San Marcos swag for all residents. 
Pictured left to right, Emily, Brooke, and Emma Smith enjoying movie night on the square with their family playing Barbies! 
Bet you’re use to movies inside, this event was held outside, at the Hays County Historic Courthouse! 
Josie Falletta, the Downtown Coordinator hands out free popcorn to residents. Young sweetheart donates money to the program to show his support! 
Fun poster promoting Movies on the Square. 
Mother, Jennifer Munoź, with her son, Thomas spending time with some cornhole and the enjoying the incredible sunset. 
Residents of San Marcos packing into the Courthouse lawn to get eyes on the movie. 
Newlywed couple, Corey and Indica Naredo sharing a moment with their 1-year-old son, Tyson.
On a crisp October evening, as the sun sets behind the hill country, the heart of San Marcos, once again, comes alive. The historic Square, known for its charm and as the pulse of the local community, transforms into a family-fun epic Movie Night. Annually, the City of San Marcos’ “department of downtown” puts on a series of events, triggered by Halloween, for the upcoming holiday season for people of all ages.
This year, the feature film was an overwhelming crowd-pleaser: Hocus Pocus. An inflatable movie screen was set up in front of the courthouse lawn, blankets and lawn chairs crowded the area, filling up with families and children playing. The smell of buttery popcorn filled the streets as people, locals and more, came to join. Josie Faletta, The City of San Marcos’ Downtown Coordinator, has been planning holiday events for more than 3 years for Hays County. “It’s exciting, watching the kids and families interact with our events and create life-long memories with us,” said Faletta.
The event wasn’t just about the movie. Local businesses were open to shop and city volunteers set up tent a offering popcorn, candy, and San Marcos swag. A group of Texas State students helped work the event to get more connected to their community. Evan Kohlus, a Communications major at Texas State, shared how he is still navigating the college lifestyle, “I moved here from Lubbock, I don’t know a soul but so far San Marcos has been nothing but friendly to me. I want to give back to my new community and get as involved as I can, I also love meeting new people and volunteering at these events helps me make new friends.” Kohlus isn’t the only one who is finding their place at Texas State, lots of students showed out for Movie Night on The Square.
The community of San Marcos has plenty of kid friendly events that are hosted throughout the winter season. Recently, the city hosted a Thankful Turkey run Saturday, November 17th for the Thanksgiving season, in which participants could run or walk a two-mile loop on a private scenic path in the surrounding hill country. This allowed hundreds of participants to become familiar with and take advantage of the beautiful natural surroundings San Marcos is immersed in. Turkey costumes of all shapes and sizes added to the festive atmosphere
Not only are these events good for the heart, but people also dealing with mental health issues can find a sense of belonging here. These events provide opportunities for social interaction, which is essential for mental health. Jermery Gonzalez, Downtown Grounds Specialist of San Marcos, goes out of his way to ensure people at these events have fun. “Striking up a conversation with a stranger and having more in common than I thought is easily the best feeling. All it takes is one conversation to change the trajectory of someone’s day,” says Gonzalez.
Participating in these events, whether by volunteering or simply attending, helps people engage and make social connections and give a sense of purpose and self-satisfaction. These type of community events help aid in an otherwise stressful holiday season, especially for those struggling with stress and anxiety. People in San Marcos look forward for the upcoming events the holiday season has to offer. In an age where people often feel disconnected, these events offer a moment to reconnect with those around them, united by a love for simple joys and shared traditions. For the younger generation, these events plant seeds of fond memories. For the older crowd, it was a reminder of the power of small-town togetherness. For everyone, it was a chance to slow down, breathe in the crisp fall air, and
This is a chart of the popuation by age in San Marcos. The median age is 25, but the largest population are people between 20-29 years old.
This is a population pyramid of the population in San Marcos. There are about 4K children under the age of 10.
This graph shows housing across San Marcos residents, we can see in Hays County most people live alone and there are more people married with no children than there are couples with children.
