Through the Eyes of the Volunteers

Sights & Sounds of Christmas volunteers give insight on the festival from their perspective

By Kelly Kling

The Sights & Sounds of Christmas volunteers prepare for another holiday event while reminiscing on their involvement with the festival.

Sights & Sounds was started 27 years ago, according to Brian Olson, president of the festival. He said Sights & Sounds was originally created to give children fun, Christmas related activities to participate in, and to give non-profits opportunities to raise money.

Olson has been president of the festival for four years. He is also the owner of Premier Cuts, a hair salon with shops in San Marcos, Kyle, Round Rock and New Braunfels.

The year before Olson became involved with Sights & Sounds, he had an airplane chair set up for children at the festival in which they could take pictures. Children who took pictures could get free haircuts. Olson said the condition for having the chair at the festival and promoting his salon was that he helped out with the event the following year.

Photo Credit: Don Moore/Daily Record

Olson said being president is stressful. However, he is able to handle it because he owns his business and makes his own hours. Making decisions with fellow board members is a duty his job entails.

“You have to have the board agree on everything,” Olson said.

Catherine Marler, volunteer coordinator for Sights & Sounds, got involved with the festival during her junior year at Texas State University after attending the event during her first two years of school. Last year was her first year to participate as a committee member.

Marler recounted a fond memory from her involvement with the festival.

“Last year, all of the committee members got to do a helicopter ride,” Marler said. “We got to go up above the park and see it from the sky.”

Despite the stress of the job, Olson said he enjoys being president.

His favorite memories include watching the lines back up to get into the festival, and seeing the giant crowd from the stage last year.

“I put countless hours into it because I have a passion for it,” Olson said. “I want Sights & Sounds to get better.”