Free events in San Marcos, TX

PurpleStar Tarot offers tarot readings at the Free Range Farmer's Market at Wake the Dead Coffee House in San Marcos. The setup also includes herbal tea blends, pre-rolls, burnables, art, and stickers.

Cool Kids Party Co. is hosting a Back to School Drive to help families get ready for a successful school year. This free community event offers 200 backpacks filled with school supplies while they last, complimentary haircuts, free food, and bounce houses for kids. The focus is on bringing neighbors together so every child can start the year feeling prepared and confident. Presented in partnership with Change Through Faith Foundation and Bounce With Joy Rentals. Changing lives, restoring hope, and building futures.

A free workshop series led by Dr. Pat Erhard, BCBA-D, offers practical guidance for caregivers and parents of neurodivergent youth. Each session explores everyday topics such as building communication skills, supporting behavior, and smoothing daily routines, with strategies you can put into practice right away. Every workshop concludes with open Q&A, giving attendees the chance to ask questions and receive tailored guidance from Dr. Erhard. Children are welcome to participate alongside their caregivers, removing the need for separate childcare and creating a family friendly environment in a setting intended to be comfortable for everyone. The series is open to the community, all caregivers are welcome, and no diagnosis or membership is needed. Hosted at We Rock the Spectrum North Austin.

Catch live music by Mel Garsek at Gruene Hall. It’s a free event with performances scheduled during the afternoon, so come by for a laid-back day of music.

Children, families, and neighbors from Austin’s Rundberg community and nearby areas are invited to a free back to school skate gathering at Pins & Wheels, formerly Playland. Enjoy roller skating, music, and family activities along with complimentary food and drinks, plus raffles and giveaways. Every student can receive a free backpack filled with school supplies while supplies last. Admission is free, and organizers ask families to register so they can plan accordingly. The event is presented by Upbring’s Child Wellbeing Zone program in partnership with JPMorganChase, The PFaith House, and the Bertha Carson Heart Foundation. Upbring has supported children and families for more than 150 years through foster care, education, residential treatment, community services, and prevention, including Child Wellbeing Zones in Austin’s Rundberg neighborhood and Dallas’s Oak Cliff community.

Author S.A. MacLean appears for a conversation celebrating Sunsplitter, the finale of her spicy monster romance duology, with moderator Aparna Verma. The story follows Fi, a cross dimensional smuggler trying to turn over a new leaf, and her immortal partner Antal as they work to rebuild a city into a refuge without blood sacrifice. When Antal is called home by his father, a member of the governing council, the past collides with the present, including a final argument that left a lover dead. At the same time a creature feared even by the daeyari is burning through the Planes, pushing Fi and Antal to join forces with immortals who might turn on them and to face pressures that could strain their fragile love. MacLean is the bestselling fantasy author of The Phoenix Keeper and Voidwalker and holds a PhD in environmental science, after years of fieldwork and teaching. Verma was born in Rajasthan and grew up in the United States, graduated from Stanford with Honors in the Arts and a B.A. in English, self published The Boy with Fire in 2021 which went viral on TikTok, and saw it republished by Orbit as The Phoenix King in 2023. She enjoys lifting weights, dancing to Bollywood music, and finding cozy cafes to read myths from ancient worlds. This event is free and open to the public. Purchasing books through BookPeople supports a local independent bookstore and signals to publishers to keep sending authors there.

Try a free beginner acro yoga orientation at Austin Gymnastics Club, offered as part of a weekly Friday open practice. Acroyoga blends partner acrobatics with elements of yoga, gymnastics, dance, cheer, and healing traditions such as Thai massage. Through playful exercises and calibration drills, newcomers learn key body mechanics, foundational poses, and smooth transitions between them. The session is led by experienced volunteer community members with an emphasis on safety, connection, and fun. No partner or prior experience is required, and participants may attend solo or with friends. After the lesson, there is time to keep practicing during the jam and explore new skills with others. Because the practice involves close contact, good hygiene is appreciated, including deodorant, trimmed nails, and fresh breath. This orientation is free, with optional pay-what-you-can donations that help sustain local jams. The event is organized by Austin Acro Advocates, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting a safe, sustainable, and growing acro scene in the greater Austin area. The focus rotates throughout the month, with L-basing on the first, third, and fifth Fridays, acro therapeutics on the second Fridays, and standing acro on the fourth Fridays.

An annual back-to-school celebration at The R.O.C.K. offers complimentary backpacks and school supplies while stocks last, along with laptop giveaways. Attendees can connect with community vendors sharing local resources, enjoy inflatables and games, tour a fire truck, and visit food trucks. Door prizes and music round out the activities. The event centers on preparing students for success and celebrating the new school year.

Unparalleled Preparatory Academy, in partnership with LeadHer to Purpose, hosts a free Community Resource Fair that connects Austin-area families with educational, health, and community support ahead of the new school year. Families can meet local organizations and service providers, take tours of UPA's new campus, enjoy free snacks, and participate in activities for all ages. Registered families may pick up backpacks and school supplies. Guests can also explore school information, community programs, and other helpful local services. The fair is free and open to the entire community.

Enjoy live music with Oscar Ornelas at Gruene Hall. The show is free to attend, and it runs for an afternoon set.

Catch the Adam Johnson Band live at Gruene Hall for an evening of music. The show is free to attend.

JESKA brings a relaxed summer residency to Gruene Hall, joined by Joshua Younke and Shane Keenan. This installment shines a Harmony Sister spotlight on Patti Dixon. The evening opens with an easygoing, extended set steeped in rootsy, soulful Americana and candid storytelling, creating a warm vibe that suits a summer night at this iconic Texas venue. Admission is free, and tips are appreciated. Each show also welcomes one Harmony Sister to share a 15 to 20 minute set during the break.

Happening each Monday, this casual gathering has no entry fee, features music performed live, and includes chances to win prizes. Everyone who participates also receives a complimentary beer courtesy of Shiner.

This welcoming line dance class for absolute beginners is held at the Price Center. It is free and open to everyone, with seniors and young adults especially encouraged. If you can walk, you can learn the steps, and the emphasis is on simple moves in a friendly, upbeat setting.

Allan Hendrickson is performing live music at Gruene Hall. The show runs for an hour in the evening, and admission is free. Call ahead to confirm ticket prices and any additional show details.

See Briana Adams live at Gruene Hall. The show runs in the evening and it is listed as free to attend.