Every year, San Marcos Sights & Sounds Christmas festival brings the holiday spirit to San Marcos. Locals and visitors from all over Texas come to enjoy this family-friendly festival with kid’s activities, great food, live entertainment, a 5k, reindeer games, and more. There is an amazing food court, great shopping opportunities, and a chance to celebrate Christmas downtown with the whole community.
This year’s festival begins on Dec 1st – 3rd, and 8th- 10th from 5:30 to 11:00 PM each night. Tickets are $5 per night or $15 for an all-festival pass (6 nights). Kids 12 & under are free! Here’s a closer look at what kind of holiday fun you and the family can expect:
Christmas Activities for Kids
Petting Zoo
The McCoy’s petting zoo is free for all Sights & Sounds attendees! Kids can get up close and personal with a variety of animals, including llamas, lambs, goats, bunnies, and more.
Carnival
The Carnival at Sights & Sounds is open nightly Thursday–Saturday during the event. Rides range in price from $1–$10. Classic carnival games are also available.
Reindeer Games
Kids and adults can both enjoy a game of life-size Jenga, Giant Connect 4, Tic-Tac-Toe, and more at the Reindeer Games station.
Town of Bethlehem
Explore ancient traditions of old Bethlehem with the kiddos! This feature has live music, candle making, and an opportunity to learn more about the history of Bethlehem.
Christmas Fun For Adults
5k
Start the holiday season with a run! Sign up for the annual Santa’s Jingle Bell Run 5K! There is also a Kid’s K race that is a great option to do something as a family. The race is on December 10, 2022, and you can sign up here. Here’s a basic schedule for the event:
- 7:30 AM—Packet Pickup and Walk Up Registration opens
- 8:50 AM—Online Registration closes
- 9:00 AM—5K Starts
- 10:05 AM—1K Starts (as soon as 5K is finished)
- 10:30 AM—Awards Ceremony (as soon as 1K is finished)
Happy racing!
Christmas Spirits
The new grown-ups-only lounge, ‘Christmas Spirits’ is a welcome addition to the festival. You can find comfortable lounge seating with Adirondack chairs and a riverfront patio for some great views of the Christmas lights. There’s a full bar, specialty cocktails, and sampling from event sponsors.
Celebrate in San Marcos
This year’s celebration is shaping up to be the best yet. Since 1987, local non-profits, stakeholders, and citizens have arranged the Sights & Sounds of the Christmas Festival. It’s transformed from an inspired idea into a festival that attracts visitors from far and wide (and contributes big time to the local economy at the end of the year).
San Marcos’ people take time to celebrate Christmas, the heritage, and the collective success as a growing city. It’s important to highlight the people, places, and events that make our city a great place to live. By keeping our traditions alive in this way, we help preserve a high quality of life.
San Marcos’ population has increased a lot recently due to its great location near San Antonio and Austin, its healthy economy, job opportunities, and the overall family-friendly atmosphere.
If you’re considering buying a new home near San Antonio or Austin, take a look at TRACE in San Marcos. Our master-planned community provides top-tier amenities, schools, and wonderful homes surrounded by Texas’ natural beauty. Although the hustle and bustle of the city is right down the street, coming home to TRACE is an escape to peaceful surroundings, every day.
But peace and quiet doesn’t mean you’re isolated… quite the opposite. Everything is close by when you need it, and Austin and San Antonio are a short trip away. There isn’t an easier way to live a balanced life than living, growing, and playing at TRACE in San Marcos.
Contact us to see how we can make your house-hunting journey in Central Texas better than you could have ever imagined.
