SAN MARCOS, Texas — Since 1987, a Central Texas nonprofit has been bringing holiday festivities to the San Marcos community.
Each year, the Sights & Sounds of Christmas has hosted its two-week-long celebration, featuring a carnival, Santa's Gift Shop, reindeer games and more.
“It’s more than a Christmas festival,” Elva Medellin, board president, said. “It’s a tradition for many, many people.”
But recently, the organization's Board of Directors announced its decision to pause planning for the festival because of "extensive challenges affecting the operations and financial viability."
“It wasn’t going to be something that we could produce in the superior quality that our city is looking forward to,” Medellin said.
The annual 2024 Jingle Bell Run 5K and the Kid-K race will continue as usual, but the festival itself is currently at a halt. The board outlined five primary reasons for the change, including partnerships, safety requirements, leadership, finances and current fundraising statuses.
Medellin said the festival is organized entirely by a group of volunteers who serve on the board and committee. She said this year, they only had 12 people, which is not enough manpower to get the job done.
Medellin also said that new safety rules and policies have caused an increase in cost. Logistics, like security, take up well over half of their budget. She said overall costs have also increased, while sponsors and funds have decreased, and it's been disappointing.
“If we don't have the fencing, if we don't have the Porta Potties, if we don't have the basic logistics in place, then we can't do the event as we know it,” Medellin said.
Adam Mammel, who moved back to the San Marcos area four years ago, said he grew up going to the festival. He said now he brings his wife, Alexis Davis, and their kids.
“We try and come every year unless we have some sort of thing that stops us from coming,” Davis said. “We’re sad that that’s not going to be a part of our holiday tradition this year.”
Despite these setbacks, the Sights & Sounds of Christmas is searching for new ways to bring holiday excitement to San Marcos residents.
“We want this opportunity to kind of gather our thoughts, refresh, re-energize, reorganize and get some volunteer guidance to come in and work with us,” Medellin said.
She said they still hope to host some parts of the festival at a smaller scale, which people like Mammel said they don’t mind.
“I don't think you need all the production to really bring the community together and still have it be something that's valuable,” Mammel said. "Christmas is not canceled. Christmas is just changed a bit."
Madellin said they are looking for more volunteers to join their board and committee. You can reach out to them on their website.