The City of Carrollton is gearing up for its 15th annual Festival at the Switchyard, an event that serves both as a nod to the city's rich rail history and a celebration of community involvement and entertainment. The free festival, scheduled for November 8, promises a range of activities from live music to strolling entertainers, all taking place in Historic Downtown Carrollton.
Headlining the event is Grammy-award winning artist Rick Springfield, with notable acts like Spin Doctors, Sixpence None the Richer, and Alien Ant Farm also on the bill. According to the City of Carrollton's announcement, the music lineup spans several genres and decades, catering to a broad audience with tastes ranging from rock to Latin beats. On top of the concerts, attendees can indulge in various festival favorites at the food vendors or engage with the numerous carnival games and rides available.
The festival encourages community participation through performances by local groups, with students from Ted Polk and DeWitt Perry Middle Schools leading off the day with the National Anthem. A statement from the city's Marketing Director, Kelli Lewis, highlighted the importance of the festival's history with rail, saying, per the City of Carrollton, "Since its creation, the Festival at the Switchyard has been a celebration of how closely Carrollton’s history and continued vision is tied to rail." To make the event more accessible, festivalgoers are being offered free rides on the newly opened DART Silver Line to the Downtown Carrollton Station.
Ensuring the safety and comfort of attendees, the festival organizers have prohibited the presence of lawn chairs, skateboards, bicycles, scooters, and coolers on the festival grounds; however, seating areas are provided for convenience. While pets are not allowed unless they are service animals, the event's family-centric atmosphere is further guaranteed with activities like face painting and balloon twisting for kids, which will be available until 6 p.m. on the day of the event.
