LOCAL EVENTS
The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University will host the 12th annual Earth Day San Marcos Festival on Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Spring Lake, the headwaters of the San Marcos River.
The festival is free and open to the public. It will feature a full day of entertainment with hands-on educational activities for all ages, outdoor recreation demonstrations and live performances. More than 50 eco-friendly exhibitors and vendors will also be on hand to highlight a variety of environmental and sustainability- related topics.
“Earth Day San Marcos is an event where entertainment meets education, all in the spirit of preserving our planet,” said Miranda Wait, deputy director of Spring Lake Education. “We invite everyone to join us at Spring Lake for a day of engaging activities and insightful learning about how we can all contribute to a sustainable future.”
This year’s event is made possible with the support of the presenting sponsor, H-E-B’s Our Texas, Our Future, which is committed to supporting the preservation of the state’s natural resources and inspiring environmental stewardship through awareness and education. Thanks to H-E-B’s generous support, festivalgoers can enjoy complimentary glass-bottom boat rides from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Indigenous Cultures Institute will open the festival with a blessing at the San Marcos Springs at 10 a.m. to commemorate Indigenous Peoples Day and to ask for healing for all people on Mother Earth.
Beginning at 10:30 a.m., the Ozarka Spring Water stage will feature a curated set from house DJ Chief and the Doomsday Device and live music from several local artists, including Molly Hayes, Tiger Alley and Loose Screw & Rusty Hearts. Springtown Roasters and AJ’s Ranch Road Grill will provide food and refreshments.
Throughout the day, attendees can visit various local vendors and non-profit booths to explore topics such as sustainable living, river preservation and environmental conservation through hands-on experiences and educational materials. There will also be opportunities to learn how to get involved in local community stewardship initiatives related to natural areas, wildlife and the night sky.
New to the festival are Eco Sessions, a series of conservation-focused panels and discussions held in the Spring Lake Hall conference room from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The lineup includes: Celebrating Andrew Sansom’s Conservation Legacy (10:30 to 11:30 a.m.): Meadows Center Executive Director Robert Mace, Ph.D., will moderate a panel featuring Andrew Sansom, Ph.D., and author Laura Raun. The session will discuss the new book, Andrew Sansom: A Life in Conservation, highlighting Sansom’s role in founding The Meadows Center and the impact of his conservation efforts on Texas’ natural resources.
Birds! What it means to be a Bird City (12 to 1 p.m.): Join the Hays County Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program for an exciting session on what makes San Marcos a Bird City. Discover how smartphones can become the ultimate tool for observing nature. Learn to identify local bird species, as well as plants, mammals, pollinators and other wildlife. The discussion will also explore how Citizen Science apps can help you contribute to conservation efforts and support local wildlife populations in the community.
Human and Nature Eco Philosophy Walk and Talk (1:30 to 2:30 p.m.): The Texas State Philosophy Department, in collaboration with the Sacred Springs Biocultural Conservation Program, will lead a guided walk around the Meadows Center grounds and the sacred San Marcos Springs. The walk will integrate mindfulness techniques to help participants reconnect with nature and conclude with a discussion of the philosophical implications of human and natural cohabitation, led by Rob Dussler, Ph.D., Justin Williams, Ph.D., and Vince Lopes, Ph.D., as part of the larger Philosophy Dialogue Series hosted by the Philosophy Department.
For more information and to view the full schedule of activities, visit Earth-Day.MeadowsWater.org. Those interested in volunteering can apply online at https://bit.ly/41Pufho.
The festival’s stage sponsors are Ozarka Spring Water and its parent company, Primo Brands. Supporting sponsors and partners include the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, Keep San Marcos Beautiful, Green Guys Recycling, the San Marcos Discovery Center, the TXST Department of Philosophy, the TXST Office of Sustainability, the TXST College of Education and the TXST Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
