Diez y Seis Celebrations

On Sept. 16, 1810 Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a man known as the Father of Mexico’s Independence, initiated Mexico’s fight for freedom from Spain. The anniversary of this major event beginning in 1825, is celebrated as Mexican Independence Day, or Diez y Seis.

Nearly two centuries later, Texans are still celebrating the holiday because of the states’ rich and intertwined history with Mexico. This weekend, San Marcos has a slew of local Diez y Seis celebrations.

This weekend’s Diez y Seis celebrations kick off today at Dunbar Park followed by a full day of festivities on Saturday on the downtown square. 

Doors open at 7 p.m. for Friday’s kickoff party at 801 MLK Dr., where a dance will begin at 8 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. Tickets go for $10. Music will be performed DJ Jimmy Z, and menudo and beer will be available. 

Saturday’s festivities begin at 10 a.m. with a parade that 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.

The celebration continues after the parade at the Courthouse Square until 7 p.m. Together For A Cause Inc. has partnered with the San Marcos Art League’s Art Squared Arts Market 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 celebrate Hispanic culture. Multiple acts are scheduled: Poor J Brown, Roadhouse Conjunto, David Y Recuerdos, DJ Paul, DJ Jimmy Z and Oscar Zamora y Don Chema.

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, who was originally scheduled to speak at 4 p.m, will now speak around 12-12:30 p.m. 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.”

Together for a Cause Inc., which helps organize the official annual Diez y Seis bash, said this weekend’s events help further its philanthropic causes. 

“The most important thing that I want everybody to know is that Together for a Cause, we're a nonprofit organization and what our mission is we help the underserved, impoverished community,” Saucedo said. “What we do is we work with local agencies like Southside (Community Center), Community Action, Salvation Army, United Way, St. Vincent de Paul (Society), Any time that one of those agencies have to turn away somebody, they refer them to us.

“What we do is, Together for a Cause, we fill in that gap,” Saucedo said. “We donate to the food bank during the holiday season for them to help them with their food baskets and all that they provide for the impoverished community.”

The Art Squared Arts Market will be on the courthouse lawn from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and will feature a wide selection of handcrafted works by 40-50 artists, including ceramics, glass, metalwork, photography, jewelry, sculpture, painting and mixed media. 

September's Featured Artist is Sara Mendoza of Simply Charming. Mendoza is a young artist who works primarily in polymer clay to create her intricately detailed charms. She is a longtime Art Squared vendor who has created a real following of customers who seek out her artwork. 

A painting thatwill be featured in the “Art with HeArt,” special pop-up art show at the Price Center. Submitted photo

The Price Center’s San Mercado Market will also be celebrating Diez y Seis Saturday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. with an eclectic mix of local vendors, gallery shows, a new pop-up art show and a selfie photo booth celebrating the occasion.

In addition to a variety of vendors and the current gallery show, which features nearly 100 works inspired by San Marcos and the river, “Art with HeArt,” a special pop-up art show, will take place in the Price Center’s 1893 Room from 9 a.m. – noon. Artists with traumatic brain injuries, mental health diagnoses, intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and dementia will be showcasing watercolors, acrylics, oils, textile art, pen and inks, and photography. Many of the works will be available for purchase. 

The public is invited to join in the fun by taking and posting selfies from a Diez y Seis- inspired photo-booth featuring lots of fun props and visuals.

Admission to San Mercado is free and open to all. The monthly market is made possible in part through grant funds from the San Marcos Arts Commission. Proceeds from booth rentals benefit the Price Center, which is operated by the Greater San Marcos Area Seniors Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit.