Free Round Rock Summer Arts Fest Brings 100 Artists, Live Music and Family Activities Downtown Aug. 6-9
Downtown Round Rock will turn into a walkable arts district from Aug. 6-9 as painters, sculptors, musicians, dancers, food vendors and families gather for the inaugural Round Rock Summer Arts Fest.
Hosted by the City of Round Rock Arts and Culture, the new signature festival is designed to bring art out of traditional gallery spaces and into the heart of the community. Admission to the festival, concerts, exhibitions and interactive activities is free, giving Central Texas families an affordable way to experience local and regional creativity together.
For Round Rock residents, the weekend also offers an opportunity to see familiar downtown streets in a different light. Main Street, Liberty Street, Prete Plaza, the Downtown Paseo and Sheppard Street will become connected spaces for live performances, artist demonstrations, food trucks and public art experiences.
Round Rock Summer Arts Fest Dates and Hours
The celebration begins Thursday, Aug. 6, with two Festival Eve events.
A come-and-go exhibit reception will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. inside the City Arts Center. The reception will feature Dale Chihuly’s “Ruby Sunstone Pineapple” sculpture, a selection of additional Chihuly works and artwork by Ziesook You. Live jazz will be provided by the Mark Scott III Trio and the Luke Allen Band.
Dysfunkshun Junkshun will then bring funk, soul, R&B, disco and dance favorites to the Sheppard Street Stage for a free street dance from 8 to 10 p.m.
The main festival hours are:
- Friday, Aug. 7: Noon to 9 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 8: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 9: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All scheduled events are free and open to all ages.
100 Artists Will Fill the Streets of Downtown Round Rock
Visual art will be at the center of the weekend, with 100 artist exhibitors displaying fine art, handcrafted pieces and other original work along downtown streets.
Visitors will be able to meet the artists behind the pieces, ask questions about their process and watch creative work take shape. That personal connection is part of what sets an arts festival apart from a typical shopping trip: Every booth has a person, a process and often a local story behind it.
Inside the City Arts Center, guests can view the Chihuly exhibit and artwork by Ziesook You. Additional exhibitions by the Central Texas Pastel Society and Amie Gonser will be housed in the Griffith Building.
The festival will also feature the Texas Society of Sculptors’ Sculpture Village, Ghost Pepper Glass glassblowing demonstrations, a print artist area and opportunities to create art with Round Rock Community Clay.
Families searching for free things to do in Round Rock will find several hands-on options, including the Picasso STEAM Makers Area, workshops in the Studio at the City Arts Center, face painting and balloon art. The weekend will also include Jungle Movement aerialists, a Round Rock Shaolin Kung Fu demonstration, Ryan Shehan’s race car and a self-guided public art stroll.
Three Downtown Stages Will Feature Live Music and Dance
More than 30 bands and dance performances are planned across the Sheppard Street Stage, Prete Plaza Stage and Paseo Stage.
Friday’s Sheppard Street lineup includes Tim Bond Fusion, FJ2 Forjados and the Jacob Gonzales Band. Saturday will bring Round Rock Ballet Folklorico, Bajo Azul, Alex Hartley and Gritty Sunset, followed Sunday by Marshall G & The Delta Tease and the 80H Project.
At Prete Plaza, performers will include Spice Over Ice ATX, the Matthew Robinson Band, George Mercado Band, Pierre & The Nightcats, Hollie Holloway, Raphina Austin, Rodeo and Juliette, Line 3 Jazz and Mach 5. Guests attending concerts at Prete Plaza are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets.
The Paseo Stage will feature a mix of musical and cultural performances, including Zach Webb, Natural Blend, Nick Diaz, Los Guayaberos, Koa’e Nani Kai Polynesian Dance, The Siekers, Soul Shine Rhythm Experience, the Central Texas Musical Arts Woodwind Ensemble, Jose Pasco, Curt & Hannah, Tom Breton and Tasmin & Tim.
With performances spread throughout the downtown district, families can build their own schedules rather than staying in one place all day. A visitor might begin with a dance performance, stop for lunch, browse artist booths and finish the evening with a concert.
Food Trucks, Local Beer and Downtown Restaurants
Food and drinks will be available from a collection of Central Texas vendors, including The Original Taste of the Caribbean, Alsies Austin Central Ice Cream, Rod Squad ATX, Tacolibre, OJ’s RED HOT BBQ, Tejano Cookers BBQ, Taconmaye Mexican, Yayas Southern Comfort Cuisine, Pizza PieRos LLC, Kandi’s Kettle Corn LLC, Porch Swing Iced Tea and Kona Ice of Greater Austin.
Bluebonnet Beer Company will operate a beer garden near the Sheppard Street Stage.
Festival organizers are also encouraging visitors to explore downtown Round Rock restaurants and locally owned businesses during the weekend. For those merchants, the event represents more than a celebration of art; it is also a chance to welcome residents and visitors who may discover a new favorite restaurant, shop or gathering place.
Free Parking and How to Navigate the Festival
Free parking will be available throughout Downtown Round Rock, including the City Hall Garage and Round Rock Public Library Garage. Street-level parking will also be available, and all city parking garages are accessible.
Because portions of Liberty Street, Main Street and Sheppard Street will be closed within the festival area, visitors may want to review the event map before arriving or consider ridesharing and Round Rock Rides.
The festival map identifies the performance stages, artist booth numbers, food vendor areas, restrooms, accessible routes and parking locations. Lost-and-found items will be handled at the City Arts Center.
Festival staff can be reached during the event at 512-341-3113, while general questions may be directed to artsfest@roundrocktexas.gov.
A New Downtown Tradition Takes Shape
The Round Rock Summer Arts Fest arrives as more than a collection of exhibits and concerts. It is an invitation for neighbors to spend time together in the center of the city, introduce children to new forms of creativity and support the artists, performers, restaurants and small businesses that help shape Round Rock’s identity.
With free admission and programming for different ages and interests, residents can stop by for a single performance or make an entire weekend of it. Either way, the festival gives the community a new reason to gather downtown and see how art can connect people across generations.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for additional Round Rock events, road closure information and community updates.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.