LOVE, SAN MARCOS: San Marcos set to host events to celebrate Valentine’s Day

Amira Van Leeuwen | Staff Reporter

SAN MARCOS — Love is in the air in San Marcos as the city works to provide fun events for residents this Valentine’s Day.

February is considered Love Downtown month in San Marcos and will be filled with opportunities to celebrate and enjoy the beauty of downtown San Marcos with your loved ones.

The Valentine’s Day mailbox is part of a placemaking initiative to create spaces where people can spend time around downtown San Marcos.

“It just seems like the perfect way to recognize our most romantic alley is to have a Valentine’s mailbox,” said Downtown Manager for the City of San Marcos Josie Falletta.

The most cards the city has received in previous years has been around 400, so far in 2022, they have received 75 cards.

Those interested in sending a letter to a loved one can do so by writing and addressing their letter along with a postage stamp and dropping it in the Love Downtown mailbox located in Kissing Alley in front of the “78666” mural.

The letters will be delivered with the “sent from Kissing Alley” hallmark.

Looking for other ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your significant other?

San Marcos is also hosting, “Seeing Movies on the Square,” date night, Monday, Feb. 14, where they will be showing “La La Land” located on the Hays County Historic Courthouse lawn. Free popcorn will be available and San Martians can also enter a raffle to win a luxury picnic setup.

“We’re just encouraging people to go out and get takeout from a local restaurant and come and sit on the courthouse lawn and enjoy a free movie with free popcorn,” Falletta said.

Kissing Alley is slated as a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) project, which means the city is planning on investing in the alleyway and making improvements to it. Although it is still in the design phase, the City had a stakeholder meeting in the alleyway in January this year. 

“We’re reviewing the design recommendations over the next couple of weeks, and then the construction phase will begin next fiscal year, which starts in October of 2022,” Falletta said.

The City has not confirmed what type of amenities will take place above ground but they will “for sure” be working on underground infrastructures like stormwater drains and other utilities.

For additional details and updates regarding Love Downtown, follow their Instagram, Twitter and Facebook (@DowntownSMTX) or visit www.downtownSMTX.com.