Rock ‘N Lights drive-thru holiday celebration coming to Round Rock

The holiday display will feature more than 2 million lights set along a 1 1/2-mile driving path through Old Settlers Park. The tour will conclude at a holiday village set up at The Dell Diamond parking lot complete with rides, displays, performers, food and vendors. Rock ‘N Lights is being planned and developed by the Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department.

“[Rock ‘N Lights] is definitely the start of a new holiday tradition,” said Roger Heaney, Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department communications director. “This is definitely something we think could grow and grow.”

The motivation for Rock ‘N Lights came from the interest Round Rock residents have shown for holiday celebrations, Heaney said.

“Our Christmas Family Night we do in downtown gets about 20,000 people—for just one night,” Heaney said. “So we really see that our Round Rock families really want more festivities to attend.”

Heaney said Round Rock’s Rock ‘N Lights is following a model developed by the City of Grand Prairie, a Dallas suburb. This year will mark the eighth consecutive year of Grand Prairie’s Prairie Lights event, said Kelly Eddlemon, Grand Prairie Parks and Recreation Department communications director.

“[Prairie Lights] has just grown more and more,” Eddlemon said. “It’s become a family tradition for the people of Grand Prairie. It’s a really affordable option for families to come and enjoy the holidays.”

Eddlemon said last year’s Prairie Lights event—which runs from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve—attracted more than 20,000 cars and 140,000 people.

“On some of our busiest nights, we can have lines of cars a couple of miles long,” Eddlemon said.

Heaney said Round Rock’s Parks and Recreation Department is estimating a first year turnout for Rock ‘N Lights of approximately 10,000 vehicles.

Rock ‘N Lights is scheduled to begin Dec. 2 with Round Rock’s annual 5K Reindeer Run. The proceeds from the race go toward funding the Play for All Abilities Park in Round Rock for children with physical or cognitive disabilities. The race will also be the only chance for people to see the lights display on foot.

Rock ‘N Lights,Old Settlers Park, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock

• Dec. 2, Reindeer Run, 5:30–8 p.m.
• Dec. 3–31, Sun.–Thu. 6–9 p.m.; Fri., Sat., holidays 6–10 p.m.

Cost: Family vehicles $15, limousines $50, shuttle buses (nine–30 passengers) $45, commuter buses (more than 30 passengers) $75