The City of Arlington is gearing up for its 16th annual Light Up Arlington celebration, setting the stage for an Independence Day extravaganza that promises to light up not just the skies but also the smiles of residents. Slated to take place on June 29 this centennial edition of the free community event is expected to draw a massive crowd downtown, with festivities sprawling across 64 acres around City Hall and the George W. Hawkes Center Library.
Event-goers can look forward to an eclectic musical lineup with bands setting up on four stages throughout downtown, doling out tunes starting with performances at 6 p.m. outside Arlington Music Hall and Grease Monkey, followed by a 6:30 p.m. show outside City Tower at 101 S. Mesquite St., and topping off at Levitt Pavilion Arlington with a 7 p.m. concert featuring Kiara Mullins & Crash Through The Floor and the soulful Donovan Keith at 8:30 p.m., whose high-octane R&B is sure to get feet moving.
Bringing more than just music to the table, the Light Up Arlington event will be a haven for foodies with various food trucks lining up to serve a medley of cuisines, while kids can revel in the bubble bus, face painting, and even a Fourth of July activity in the library’s library rooms from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; there’s even an Independence Day-themed scavenger hunt to keep the little ones engaged.
The entrepreneurial spirit gets a nod too, with the return of the Children's Entrepreneurs Market where youngsters dabble in commerce putting their homemade products on the line, and as the night sky darkens a 20-minute fireworks display set to 95.9 The Ranch FM's soundtrack will cap the night from atop City Tower, all presented by local sponsors including Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital and Hiley Mazda & Volkswagen, according to the City of Arlington, Texas.
Only a few days later on July 4, the 59th Annual Arlington Independence Day Parade will make its way downtown, under this year's theme "Home Run for Heroes." Starting at 9 a.m., the privately run parade will continue a tradition dating back to 1965, showcasing a cavalcade of floats, cars, bands, and of course, the mascot Sparky to celebrate the nation's birth. The parade will also get its own Firecracker 5k run at 7 a.m., adding a dash of activity before the floats roll out.
As for the logistics of attending Light Up Arlington, free public parking abounds downtown, however, there will be closures around key areas such as City Hall and City Tower starting at 3 pm on the day of the event: those navigating the area should consider using the Waze app for closure updates and parking advice. It's also worth noting, that vehicles parked in City Tower after 5 pm on June 28 will be towed, and a re-entry into the lot will be off the table until after the fireworks on June 30, while parking at Pecan and Abram streets by City Hall will be closing on the day of the event at 5 pm, so if you're driving in do plan ahead.
