Second Saturday in Downtown

Downtown will be in full swing Saturday with Art Squared Arts Market, art demos, the San Mercado Market and the third annual Bubble Fest.

Art Squared

The Art Squared Arts Market will on the Hays County Courthouse lawn from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. 

The featured artist this month is BFFs Woodworks. BFFs Woodworks is a mother and daughter team, Brianne and Deanna Whiteman, who work together to transform salvaged wood into functional, one of a kind pieces of art. They hand paint and carve all items, making each one unique. 

Brianne and Deanna Whiteman are self-taught artists, who decided about three years ago to form their business and share their art with the world. 

“We make art because it is a passion and a bonding time that both my mother and I share,” Brianne Whiteman said. “Our inspiration comes a lot from nature. Sometimes the wood just speaks to you and an image appears, the  same way as you would look at a cloud and see an image.”

BFFs Woodworks are made to be used as indoor/outdoor furniture or decorative pieces for the home. They also have smaller items such as canvas art, candle holders, pencil holders and succulent planters. 

The featured nonprofit of August is the Mermaid Society SMTX. The Mermaid Society is a community-minded organization that takes its inspiration from the pristine San Marcos River and its endangered flora and fauna. They hold the annual SMTX Mermaid SPLASH festival, a city-wide, multi-event festival, celebrating the city’s arts, culture, heritage and the city’s most precious resource, the San Marcos River. They highlight the San Marcos River by using their platform to leverage engagement for education and protection of the river through various events and activities organized by community organizations, schools, businesses and the like. For more information on Mermaid Society SMTX , go to their website.

A piece by Brianne and Deanna Whiteman of BFFs Woodworks, the featured artists of the month at Art Squared. Submitted photo

Art Demo

The San Marcos Art League will host a demonstration with local artist Timothy Butts of Mister Whiskers Workshop who will be showcasing how to create screen prints using an interactive print station from 2–5 p.m. on Saturday at Cardinal Frame & Art. Guests will be able to see how Butts' prints are created and then will get to take home a limited edition print of their very own. The demonstration is free and no supplies are required. 

San Mercado Market

The Price Center’s San Mercado returns Saturday with an exciting array of new vendors, new art, and a special, free interactive Drumtastic session.

San Mercado activities take place in the Price Center garden and throughout the various indoor venues at the center from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fresh art shows, an ever-evolving variety of vendors, entertainment, and kid-friendly activities provide a great, culturally diverse time for all.

Xander Saunders, a certified Drumtastic instructor, will offer a free 45-minute interactive Drumtastic session in the air-conditioned comfort of the 1910 Room at 12 p.m. The session is open to all and will use a variety of drums, buckets and rhythm balls. Drumtastic offers a unique group experience combining the benefits of traditional physical fitness with the added brain-fitness benefits of music and rhythm. The experience offers a fun and healthy balance of physical, emotional, and social engagement in a safe and creative environment.

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. The Price Center is located at 222 W. San Antonio St.

Bubble Fest

Join The San Marcos Main Street Program on the courthouse lawn on Saturday at the third annual Bubble Fest, featuring bubble fun for the whole family. There will be a ball pit and a bubble dance floor, and plenty of other bubble-related activities.