SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER
Bounce houses, games and a dunking booth will fill the grounds at the Southside Community Center later this month, but behind the fun and laughter, the Spring Fair serves a much bigger purpose.
The fair will be held March 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is designed to bring the San Marcos community together for a day of fun while raising funds to support the center’s services for individuals in need.
This year’s event will have carnival-style food, game booths, bounce houses, as well as music and dancing throughout the day.
Attendees can also take part in interactive attractions such as “Dunk a Doctor” and “Pie a Politician.” Southside Board President Todd Salmi, San Marcos CISD Superintendent Michael Cardona and Texas State University professor Dr. Green will take turns in the dunk tank, while Hays County Judge Maggie Moreno, State Representative Erin Zwiener and Hays County Commissioner Precinct 2 candidate Johnny Flores are scheduled for the pie-throwing booth.
Tickets cost $20 in advance for ages 11 and older, $5 for children ages 6 to 10 and are free for children 5 and under. Admission will be $30 at the gate. A single ticket provides access to food and activities throughout the event. Despite being a fundraiser, organizers emphasized that the event is meant to be accessible to everyone in the community, even those who may not be able to afford the cost of admission.
“It is open to the community,” Claude Churchwell, treasurer for Southside Community Center, said. “We’re not going to turn anybody away.”
While the atmosphere is meant to be lighthearted, the need behind the fundraiser is constant.
“Currently we feed seven days a week to the unhoused, both breakfast and an evening meal,” Churchwell said. “We’re currently feeding about 50 unhoused people a day, seven days a week.”
Southside is the only organization in San Marcos that provides daily meals year-round to unhoused residents, according to Churchwell. The center also operates a temporary shelter program, allowing individuals to stay up to 30 days while working to regain stability.
Beyond meals and shelter, Southside provides emergency assistance such as hotel vouchers, and operates warming centers during freezing temperatures and cooling centers during extreme heat.
“We’re the only place in town that is currently feeding,” Churchwell said. “We’re the only place in town that opens our shelter as a warming center or cooling center.”
The fair also offers residents a chance to connect with the organization’s mission more personally. Churchwell said this is critical to sustaining long-term support.
“We’re taking care of a segment in the community that needs support the most,” he said.
As Southside approaches its 100th anniversary in 2027, the Spring Fair reflects both the organization’s history and its ongoing role in San Marcos.
From its early days serving immigrant families to its current work addressing homelessness and housing instability, the center has continued to adapt to the community’s needs while maintaining its core mission of providing food, shelter and support.
Organizers say the March 28 event is one way for the broader community to take part in that work, whether by attending, volunteering or sponsoring.
“This is to get the community involved,” Churchwell said.
The event will take place at Southside Community Center, 518 S. Guadalupe St. Tickets and additional information are available at southsidecommunitycenter. org.
