Rockwall, TX (March 22, 2025) – Celebrate Rockwall’s 171st birthday as the city commemorates Founders Day on Saturday, May 17. The free festival takes place both in downtown Rockwall and at Harry Myers Park, with a robust lineup of family programming that begins at 8 a.m. downtown and culminates that evening with high-energy performances by Will Jones, William Beckmann and headliner Josh Turner in the park. A trolley will shuttle festivalgoers between downtown and Harry Myers Park from 12:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Festivities begin with the Rockwall Farmers Market, which takes place on the downtown square from 8 a.m. to noon. The farmers market has become a popular destination for locals to purchase fresh produce and specialty foods such as grass-fed meats, fresh-baked artisan pastries, seafood, honey, jams, pasta and tamales – plus, there’s live music!
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., join Rockwall Art League for a Founders Day pop-up exhibit and sale downtown in San Jacinto Plaza. The pop-up will feature fresh new works from 15 local artists in a variety of media, plus plein air demonstrations and hands-on art activities for all ages.
From noon to 4 p.m., a wine walk will take place Downtown Rockwall, sponsored by Downtown Rockwall Association. Guests will purchase wine glasses at San Jacinto Plaza, then go from shop to shop across downtown sipping samples from each merchant. Proceeds will benefit the Downtown Rockwall Association.
Founders Day continues at Harry Myers Park starting at 1 p.m. with fun for the whole family. Expect bounce houses, a rock-climbing wall, a ninja course and a food court featuring local food trucks. A vendor market will keep shoppers entertained till 5 p.m. Throughout the event, live animal shows will introduce exciting creatures to festivalgoers. A DJ will spin tunes all day, keeping the festival energy going.
Starting at 5:30 p.m., guests will see why Rockwall is widely recognized as one of the greatest live music cities in Texas. The city has been named the “Free Live Music Capital of North Texas” by the Texas House of Representatives.
Two up-and-coming country acts will open the stage at Harry Myers Park to warm up the crowd. Kicking off things at 5:30 p.m. is Will Jones, whose sound is rooted in the country and bluegrass music that he grew up listening to in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Jones draws inspiration from greats including Keith Whitley and Tony Rice. At 6:30 p.m., William Beckmann takes over. Hailing from Del Rio, Texas, a small border town, the singer-songwriter is influenced by classic country and the mariachi and Norteño sounds of northern Mexico.
Headliner Josh Turner takes the stage at 8 p.m. Known for songs like “Long Black Train” and “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Turner’s global reach includes nearly 6 billion streams. Turner’s five No. 1 singles also include “Your Man,” for which the official music video has 226 million views. Turner released his first “Greatest Hits” album in 2023, which features 11 of his biggest songs from seven studio albums.
“We’re one of the fastest-growing cities in North Texas, but we love to celebrate Rockwall’s origins that stretch back to the 1850s,” Mayor Trace Johannesen said. “The array of activities – ranging from the farmers market, art pop-up and family fun to great music from Josh Turner and other up-and-coming country artists – will allow everyone in Rockwall and its surrounding areas to have a great Founders Day experience.”
For more information on Founders Day, including tips on where to park, visit rockwall.com/event_FoundersDay.asp.
Submitted event, edited for publication in Blue Ribbon News. Courtesy photo.
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