The Texas Longhorns and the Texas State Bobcats are set to kick off their 2026 football seasons in a highly anticipated matchup at DKR Stadium, Austin. In San Marcos, however, a lively block party is taking place in the town square around the historic courthouse, providing an alternative celebration for fans.
The block party, organized by local business owner and Texas State alumnus Omar Dawoud, is a first-of-its-kind large-scale community event aimed at bringing locals and university supporters together. “San Marcos deserves something like this—a large-scale, community-driven celebration,” Dawoud remarked. “While various events have occurred in town over the years, nothing of this magnitude has ever been attempted, and it’s time for the community and university to experience it.”
The festivities kicked off on Friday afternoon with tailgaters and vendors setting up around the 40-acre area. Tickets for the game day party are available for $75 through the event’s website and feature an array of live music, food and art vendors, and a big screen TV for watching the game. As night falls, the courthouse will be illuminated as part of a special light show.
This event is particularly significant for local businesses, which usually experience a lull during road game weekends. David Goff, manager at Jax Burgers, shared his expectations for increased foot traffic, stating, “Whenever we have large events downtown, we see about a 20% boost in business. We’re already popular, so we anticipate this weekend will be one of our busiest of the year.”
The festivities will not conclude after Saturday’s game. A pre-game celebration is planned for next week as Texas State prepares for its first home game, with details to be held just off campus.
