Third Thursday Downtown Walkabout Celebrates One Year
By: Tayler Sawisch
SAN MARCOS – Locals strolled the downtown streets of San Marcos to celebrate the first anniversary of the Third Thursday Downtown Walkabout on Nov. 16.
The Downtown Association of San Marcos, Texas, hosted the event in partnership with the Main Street Program of Downtown San Marcos. The Main Street movement has focused on connecting, creating and celebrating cities and towns across the nation for the past 30 years. According to the City of San Marcos, “The mission of the San Marcos Main Street Program is to maintain the unique, historic nature of downtown recognizing its history and planning for its future.” The program intends to achieve their mission by using design, economic restructuring, organization and promotion, which are considered the National Main Street Center’s Four Points of Main Street.
The monthly Third Thursday Walkabout event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. the third Thursday of every month. Local businesses extend their business hours, merchants line the historic downtown streets to showcase and sell their pieces as the people of the community stroll through the creative city. The event is an evening of food, drinks, art, shopping and music.
Local merchants set up tables outside of businesses located downtown to display their hand-crafted products. Smiles are pasted upon merchants’ faces as people walk by or stop to inquire about their work.
Brieana Ladd, 23, has always been a supporter of small businesses and local merchants. “I absolutely love the hand-crafted jewelry,” Ladd said. “You can tell the jewelers put so much time, effort and love into their jewelry. If I had more money, I would buy so many more things!”
When the Third Thursday Downtown Walkabout started in Nov. 2016, only eight business participated in the event, but the event has grown and now 32 businesses partake in the monthly event. One of the first eight businesses was the Dahlia Woods Gallery. The gallery debuted their special event titled “Radiant Contours,” on Nov. 16, 2017 featuring artist Chris Lattanzio and Kelly Olsen.
People of the San Marcos community glided throughout the gallery, embracing the beautiful artwork on display. As the bright lights beamed down on the art work, everyone’s eyes were uniquely emphasized. People would stare, gaze and even tilt their head side to side to interpret each piece of work in their own way.
Ryan Kent, 22, tagged along with his girlfriend as she attended the Radiant Contours event and was surprised by how much he enjoyed the show. “I’ve never been very creative or into art shows,” Kent said. “But somehow my girlfriend dragged me to this gallery, and it was cooler than I thought it would be.”
The Dahlia Woods Gallery, owned by Dahlia Woods is located on N. LBJ street in San Marcos, Texas. Some of Woods paintings are in the Dallas Mayor’s Office, Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau offices and several private collections. Woods uses, “a brilliant color palette and highly energetic brush strokes.”
Additionally, the Kissing Alley Concert Series takes place every third Thursday of the month in downtown San Marcos on Kissing Alley. The event is hosted by San Marcos Texas Radio 104.1 FM KZSM. The long and narrow alley, Kissing Alley, is sandwiched between The Hub Bicycle Lounge and the Black Rabbit Saloon. White lights hang over the alley, in a zig-zag manner, dangling from Hub Bicycle Lounge and Black Rabbit Saloon. A small stage is centered about halfway down the alley and in front of the stage are lined wooden chairs. Ashlyn Summerbell, 20, attended her first Third Thursday Downtown Walkabout and loved hearing the music from the Kissing Alley Concert Series, too.
“I’ve been attending Texas State University for almost three years now and this is my first time at this event [Third Thursday Downtown Walkabout]” Summerbell said. “I really love the atmosphere and the vibe throughout the entire square right now, especially with the Kissing Alley music. I’m looking forward to coming to this event again in December.”
The next Third Thursday Downtown Walkabout is on Dec. 21, 2017.
By Caitlyn McCarey
