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Sights & Sounds ofChristmas is a holiday festi-val that has delivered themagical joy of the season toSan Marcos residents andvisitors for the past 26years.The festival attracts

approximately 50,000 peo-ple to the banks of the SanMarcos River over fournights the first weekend inDecember. Sights & Soundsof Christmas is a non-profitorganization overseen by avolunteer board of directors

which, along with hundredsof volunteers, produces thefestival.With small beginnings of

historic homes on SanAntonio Street decorated forthe holidays to a small festi-val of food and arts andcrafts booths around thedowntown square, Sights &Sounds has now become amagnificent festival at SanMarcos Plaza Park.The festival has kept the

tradition of food, arts andcrafts, lighted trees in the

50,000 expected to attendannual Sights & Sounds fest

Family-friendlyHoliday Cheer

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park, school children performing on stage and photoswith Santa, while adding many more attractions for allages to enjoy.Night in Old Bethlehem, amusement rides, special

performing acts, student art exhibits and a large screenshowing holiday videos are just some of the featuresover the past years. This year will be the 26th anniver-sary for Sights & Sounds of Christmas and there will beplenty of family activitiess urrounded by thousands oftwinkling lights hanging from the nearby trees.Sights & Sounds of Christmas 2012 will be

Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, from 5to 11 p.m. each evening at San Marcos Plaza Park locat-ed at 401 East Hopkins Street in the heart of downtownSan Marcos.The Sights & Sounds Gala kicks off Tuesday Nov.

27th at the Texas Music Theater in downtown SanMarcos. Guests are invited by invitation and tickets andtables can be purchased to accommodate any guestparty. Bring your entire company and mingle with oursponsors and supporters as we auction off great prizes.Elegant Hors d’oeuvres are provided with each ticketalong with a full open bar. Join us this year for the2012 Sights & Sounds Gala.The Seton Sights & Sounds of Christmas 5K and 1k

Kids Fun Run will be held Saturday, Dec. 1 at 9 a.m.Due to the growing popularity and size of the race, weare debuting a new course that will showcase the beau-tiful downtown and historic district of San Marcos. Therace will begin and finish at the San Marcos Plaza Park.Chip timing will be used. Every 5K entrant will receive atechnical t-shirt (technical shirts guaranteed to all pre-registrants) while the 1k participants will be given a cot-ton T-shirt and a ribbon for participating.The awards ceremony will follow the completion of the

1k race with the overall 5K male and female winners

(Photo by Don Anders)

receiving a $100 gift card to Core Running towards a pairof shoes and a unique Santa trophy to top finishers ineach five-year age group.

Gerald Hill, executive directorof Seton Hays Foundation inKyle, says he literally owes hislife to last year’s Sights &Sounds.

It was during the 5k and 1krace, sponsored by Seton Hays,that Hill realized something“just wasn’t right.”

“My wife and I participatedtogether and during the race Ihad difficulty breathing,” Hillsaid.

“I won my age bracket, butthen I was the only one in ittoo,” laughed Hill. “But I couldnot keep up with my wife dur-ing the race and that concernedme.”

Hill said a couple of weekslater he mentioned the incidentto the medical director at thehospital who in turn told Hillhe needed to have it checkedout immediately.

“First they did an EKG andsaid something showed up in itand they sent me to the cathlab,” Hill said.

Unable to resolve the prob-lem at that point, Hill was nextscheduled for surgery whichtook place the very next day. It

was a five-way bypass surgeryto clear blockage.

“Now I’m looking forward toentering the 5k race this year.That little Santa Claus trophy Iwon last year may have savedmy life because I had no priorsymptoms,” Hill said.

Seton Hays is once again thesponsor for the races.

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Sights 5k may have saved a life

Gerald Hill

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Scenes fromSights & Sounds

All varieties of freshly prepared food are available at thefestival, including homemade gorditas and menudo, andthe local Boy Scout troop’s famous funnel cakes. Thehomegrown festival remains as family friendly as ever.For more, visit www.sights-n-sounds.org. (Photos byDon Anders)

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Bringing smilesto San Marcosfor 26 years

Believe it or not, it’s a sight seen by millions over thelast 26 years.

Mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, even the townmayor brings holiday cheer. History will be made whenSights & Sounds of Christmas turns 26 years old. Theentire community will unite as the holiday cheerunfolds.

Sights & Sounds of Christmas 2012 will beWednesday through Saturday, Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, from5 to 11 p.m. each evening at San Marcos Plaza Parklocated at 401 East Hopkins Street in the heart ofdowntown San Marcos.

Many organizations and businesses rely on theSights & Sounds festival to generate income for theyear. Local clubs, churches, Scout troops, sportsteams and other non-profit groups earn money fortheir programs by hosting food and vendor booths.

Generous sponsors help make Sights & Sounds sus-tainable each year. Sponsors and partnerships areavailable and welcome to help defray the costs associ-ated with an event of this magnitude.

A view of the festivalfrom above.(Photos by Don Anders)

Residents flock to the stage to hear local choirs.

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