Downtown celebration draws hundreds, commemorates Rockwall then and now

(ROCKWALL, TX — April 16,2016) Folks lined the reconstructed walkways of the new-look Rockwall Downtown Sqaure for a historic parade, carousel rides, food trucks, live music and much more during the festivities held on Saturday, April 16, celebrating the completion of the downtown revitalization project.

A Farmer’s Market on San Jacinto kicked off the commemorative event, followed by a Rockwall Through the Decades parade on the square showcasing Rockwall’s transformation through the years from a farming town to a destination location. Vintage tractors and cars from the early, early years followed floats of some of Rockwall’s most long-lived and esteemed organizations of the 80’s, 90’s and today to the delight of the hundreds packing the sidewalks in front of Rockwall’s Old Towne Shoppes. Tours of the historic county jail, art demonstrations courtesy the artists of Uptown Downtown Art Gallery, trackless train rides and a sip-and-stroll through the many downtown shops rounded out the celebration.

The voter-approved, $8.625 million Capital Improvement Project (CIP) saw tremendous improvements to the walkways and sidewalks of downtown Rockwall, as well as the construction of the San Jacinto Music Plaza and multiple new areas for downtown parking. The three-year project also brought better lighting, landscaping, a pedestrian mall and a courthouse plaza to the Rockwall Downtown Square in a successful effort to turn Rockwall into a true destination location.

Blue Ribbon News was there to capture all of Saturday’s excitement. Check out our photos of the celebratory event below!