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San Marcos’ Diez y Seis celebration will take place downtown this year.
After holding the annual festivities on Hunter Road near VFW Post 3413, the celebration will begin Saturday, Sept. 14 with a parade at 10 a.m. The route starts at the Hays County Veterans Memorial on Hopkins Street goes down to LBJ Drive back up South Guadalupe Street and will end at the historic downtown courthouse, organizer Roland Saucedo said.
“Now we’re having a downtown just to make it more accessible for citizens,” Saucedo said. “And, and not only that, but for any visitors that are coming into town. Hey, you know what, they’re going to drive to downtown and they’ll see this all this going on. Not only that, but then they’ll be able to, since they’re already out, that’ll give them opportunity to start by kind of shopping downtown, promoting downtown. So we tried to take everything into consideration as we decided to go ahead and let’s, let’s try it and have it in downtown”
The festivities continue until 7 p.m. Together For A Cause Inc., which puts on the event, has partnered with the San Marcos Art League to bring various types of art — painted and handcrafted items. There will be various performers — folklorico dancers, mariachi performers, Danza de los Viejitos — all to promote Hispanic culture. Multiple acts are scheduled: Poor J Brown, Roadhouse Conjunto and several others.
Food vendors will also be present. Saucedo said no vendor will serve the same food items. There will also be non-food vendors as well as kid-friendly events.
Additionally, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett will speak at the event, and attendees will have an opportunity to test out Hays County’s new voting equipment inside the rotunda of the historic courthouse.
“We’ve just garnered a lot more support, sponsorship than we have in the past,” Saucedo said. “ The Martindale Fourth of July Parade participants are all wanting to participate in our parade as well. So, that’s what that’s what’s making us even that much larger.”
Saturday’s event is free for the public. The festivities will get started with a Kick Off party on Friday, Sept. 13 at Dunbar Rec Hall.
