Special by Lindsay Hajek, assistant director of Main Street
and Destination Seguin
(Seguin) — A year is measured not just by the dates on a calendar, but by the work accomplished and the memories created. 2025 proved to be a remarkable year for the Main Street Department and all of Downtown Seguin.
This year, downtown was active with celebrations, hosting more than 50 events in Central Park and over 250 events throughout the district. The Main Street Department produced several events, including Moonlight & Roses, Earth Day Trade Days, Summer Concert Series, Biggest Small-Town 4th of July Parade, Pecan Fest, Art and Wine Walk, and Holiday Stroll, some of which saw record-breaking attendance and continue to grow in size and offerings each year.
This year, we received approval to temporarily close Austin Street for two community events, the Fall Festival and Holiday Stroll Sip ‘N Stroll, marking a milestone that required coordination between the city, county, and TxDOT and had never been done before for a Central Park event. 2025 also marked the 20th anniversary of Pecan Fest, a beloved community event celebrating Seguin’s history, heritage, and agricultural roots.
Several new businesses opened or expanded around downtown including Central Park Café, Nikko’s Teahouse, Seguin Cabinetry, Sotelo & Company Salon and Spa, Southern Traditions, The Wayside, and Varsity Vault and others continue to strengthen downtown as a place to shop, dine, and gather.
Supporting local businesses and encouraging residents to shop locally was a priority this year. In partnership with the Seguin Economic Development Corporation, the Main Street Department launched the Open Rewards Program to incentivize shopping local. The program makes it easy and rewarding for residents to earn cash rewards simply by supporting local businesses.
Downtown Seguin continues to be a place where people live, work, and invest. In 2025, public investment exceeded more than $400,000, supporting projects like new public restrooms in Central Park, downtown beautification, and grant programs. The façade grant program supported property owners in making visible improvements to historic downtown buildings, encouraging private reinvestment and preserving the character of Main Street.
Planning for the future was also a major focus this year. The Tourism Master Plan is nearing completion for early 2026. Installation of the citywide wayfinding system is underway, and downtown period light poles and metal trash cans were repainted. Work also continues with developers on plans for a new downtown development at the former Wells Fargo property on Nolte Street, an important step for business travel, events, sports tourism, and meetings.
Arts and culture thrived as well. The Seguin Squirrel Trail continued to grow with the unveiling of 10 new squirrel statues, bringing the current display to 28, while a total of 45 sponsored squirrels are planned for the trail as it continues to expand. The Seguin Commission on the Arts took active steps toward applying for a Cultural District Designation from the Texas Commission on the Arts, a strategic move that will support local artists, attract visitors, and open doors to future funding and marketing opportunities.
Looking back, this year was about momentum, building on our history, investing in our future, and celebrating everything that makes Seguin “Real”.