TUESDAY December 3, 2024 VOLUME 114 ISSUE 16 www.UniversityStar.com
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YEAR IN REVIEW Sights & Sounds festival scales back for 2024 By Lucciana Choueiry, Jacquelyn Burrer News Editor, News Reporter The Sights & Sounds of Christmas festival, traditionally held over eight days across two weeks, will be condensed to a single day for the 2024 season. Since 1987, the Sights & Sounds of Christmas festival has drawn locals and visitors from across Central Texas with live music, carnival rides and a variety of food vendors. However, Elva Zdeb, president of the board of directors, said the carnival vendor responsible for the rides announced they would not operate this year, prompting the board to pause the festival in June. “We had a long-time relationship with that carnival and trying to find another carnival; that’s something you do two, three years in advance… we weren’t coming up with any equivalents that would work,” Zdeb said. The carnival vendor also supplied the money system to the park, called ‘Magic Money.’ That system was used to pay for the entrance fee, to go on rides and how the festival got its percentage proceeds from nonprofits. “Without that money system they provided, there’s no way to do ticket sales or all the great things we do when it comes to money,” Zdeb said. “Most events pay an additional rate to have a money system but because ours was wrapped into the carnival, we were really blessed, and we didn’t have to do that for so many years.” If Zdeb had found a new carnival and paid for a new money system, she said the cost outlay would’ve gone to the guests who would’ve had to pay a higher entrance fee. Organizing the eight-day festival was a major undertaking, Zdeb said, with responsibilities shared between the board of directors and committee members. Despite the workload, all members volunteer their time and are unpaid. Brian Olson, former president of Sights & Sounds and current ex-officio, said as a member of the board, the financial commitments have changed over the years. “For an entity of our size that’s over a half a million dollar budgeted event, we’re lucky to just pay our bills and have enough money for next year to reinvest in something small,” Olson said. “We’re not walking away with hundreds of thousands of dollars, so if…you have one bad rain day, you now can’t pay your bills because you need all six days to bring that money.”
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Decorations light up the Sights and Sounds festival, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at the San Marcos Plaza Park. MANDALYN LEWALLEN | The University Star
Community bands together, saves Tantra’s live music By Megan Weise Life and Arts Reporter Live outdoor music has been a staple of Tantra SMTX’s culture since its opening in 2005. When Tantra’s ability to continue hosting live music events was threatened, the San Marcos community came together to support. On Sept. 24, Tantra’s renewed conditional use permit for their live music restricted the
accepted decibel limit to 60 decibels. Its owners attended a city council hearing on Nov. 19 to modify its permit to a decibel limit of 85 decibels before 10 p.m. and 75 decibels after 10 p.m. “We have been fully adhering to our conditional use permit,” Jack DeCiutiis, the general manager of Tantra, said. “We had a response from law enforcement, but every single time we were within our rights.”
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The Whips perform for the crowd at Tantra, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, near downtown San Marcos. KATHERINE REA | The University Star
Kinne’s extension creates more opportunities for TXST football By Jackson Kruse Assistant Sports Editor Head Coach G.J. Kinne’s new contract could potentially attract more recruits to Texas State. Texas State President Kelly Damphousse extended Kinne with a five-year, $5 million contract extension on Dec. 21, 2023. The two-year university president recently took that one step further, announcing a brand new contract for Kinne on Nov. 21, 2024, that extends through 2031 and averages $2 million annually with potential bonuses, making him the highest payed coach in the Sun Belt. The new contract not only rewards Kinne for his success but also makes San Marcos a more attractive destination for future recruits. “My family [and I] love it here. [We love] this administration [and] this fan base,” Kinne said. “It’s just Texas State Head Coach G.J. Kinne holds the I-35 a special place [and] I know we can Showdown trophy with his son after defeating UTSA 49build something special here.” 10, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at UFCU Stadium. If a college football program extends SARAH MANNING | The University Star its head coach, it signifies that said coach has had success with the team. Also, if agreed to join the Maroon and Gold in a recruit is looking for a place to call home, February 2024. playing for a program with a successful coach Like McCloud, sophomore wide receiver staying for the long run is an enticing offer. Beau Sparks joined Texas State following This was proven after Kinne’s last extension, Kinne’s first contract extension with the when the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year, university. redshirt senior wquarterback Jordan McCloud, SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 6