The complete guide to everything happening in Rowlett this year. I'll update this as dates get confirmed.
Spring 2026:
- Rowlett Farmer's Market — Opens Saturday, April 5. Runs every Saturday through October. Downtown Main Street area, 8am-12pm.
- Rowlett Spring Clean-Up — April 12. City-organized volunteer event. Meet at Community Park. Free trash bags and gloves provided. Great for court-mandated community service hours (I'm not judging).
- Arbor Day Tree Planting — April 26. Community Park. Free trees for Rowlett residents (limit 2 per household, while supplies last).
Summer 2026:
- Movies in the Park — Fridays in June, Community Park. Free. Starts at dusk (~8:30pm). Bring blankets and lawn chairs. Last year they showed Encanto and Top Gun: Maverick. 2026 lineup TBD.
- Rowlett 4th of July Celebration — July 4 at Pecan Grove Park. THE event of the year. Live music, food vendors, kids activities starting at 5pm. Fireworks over Lake Ray Hubbard at 9:30pm. The lakefront fireworks are genuinely spectacular — visible from anywhere along the lake but Pecan Grove has the best view.
- Splash Pad Season — Memorial Day through Labor Day at Community Park. Free. Open daily 10am-7pm.
Fall 2026:
- Rowlett Fall Festival — Usually mid-October (date TBD). Downtown Main Street. Pumpkin decorating, hayrides, vendor booths, live music. Family-friendly, free admission.
- Rowlett Homecoming Parade — October (date set by RISD). High school homecoming parade down Main Street. The whole town comes out.
- Trunk or Treat — October 26 (Saturday before Halloween). Multiple church parking lots and the Community Centre. Free candy, safe trick-or-treating for little kids.
Winter 2026:
- Rowlett Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting — First Saturday in December (December 6). The big one. See my separate detailed post.
- Santa at the Community Centre — Mid-December. Free photos with Santa. Line starts forming at 9am for the 10am opening. Bring snacks for the kids.
- New Year's Eve at Sapphire Bay — December 31. Sapphire Bay usually hosts a lakefront event. Details typically announced in November.
Recurring year-round:
- Rowlett Library events — Storytimes (Tues/Wed/Thu mornings), book clubs, STEM programs for kids. Check rowlett.com/library for monthly calendar.
- Sapphire Bay events — The development hosts seasonal markets, live music on the boardwalk, and holiday events. Follow Sapphire Bay social media for announcements.
- City Council meetings — 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 7:30pm at City Hall, 4000 Main St. Open to public. Livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel.
Sources:
- City of Rowlett Events Calendar (rowlett.com/events)
- Rowlett Chamber of Commerce
- Rowlett Parks & Recreation program guide
- Sapphire Bay social media accounts
City Council meetings are actually interesting if you care about what's happening in Rowlett. They livestream now so you don't even have to leave your couch.