Light Up Arlington – The Biggest Day in Downtown Arlington

When it comes to Independence Day, no one does it quite as big as Downtown Arlington. Almost every major street in the area is shut down as people flood to all corners of the district for the city’s biggest block party of the year. In recent years, Light Up Arlington has quickly become a tradition for thousands of families across the DFW metroplex and beyond to surrounding states such as Louisiana and Arkansas.

People clock out from work, grab their lawn chairs and sunglasses, and camp out around Downtown as they prepare for the beautiful light show in the sky. This year’s event was no different as over 55,000 people visited Downtown Arlington for the food trucks, games, live music, and fireworks.

In addition to bringing together citizens from all around North Texas, Light Up Arlington also bolstered the community of Downtown with many businesses working together to enhance the experience for visitors. It was truly a spectacle to behold. If you couldn’t find time to visit or if you were too busy having fun to witness the entire scope of the event, don’t worry! Here’s your recap of the biggest day in Downtown Arlington.

Games Galore

The festivities began with a field of games for parents, children, friends, and extended family to compete in friendly competitions of cornhole, Connect 4, ladder toss, or giant tumbling towers. It wouldn’t have been a true 4^th of July field day if there wasn’t smack talk and cheating accusations over a simple game of Connect 4. There’s no competition fiercer than the ones that take place over a family holiday. But the chaos is what makes these days so special, right?

Dinner is Ready!

Light Up Arlington welcomed over 20 food trucks featuring a variety of foods and desserts, from Kona Ice to Golden Chick to East Coast Flavors to Spears Grill to Connie’s Louisiana Chicken. We had something for everybody! Visitors also had the chance to snack from familiar favorites such as Rita’s Italian Ice and Cartel Taco Bar, both of which operated their home locations in addition to a food truck presence. Other bars and restaurants in and around the area remained open all day, with some extending their hours to serve the influx of visitors in Downtown. Fan favorites, such as Hurtado Barbecue and J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill, reported record numbers all weekend long leading into the big event.

Boomtown Pops Off

The “Boomtown” stage, located on the corner of Front and Mesquite Street included the musical talents of rising folk rock artist Phil Hollie and the iconic crowd-pleaser Legacy4. Hollie is a Fort Worth based singer and songwriter whose 60’s-inspired rhythm and sound guarantees to sway listeners to tap their feet and vibe to the sound of his harmonica. The gentlemen with Legacy4 brought it home that night, singing classic Motown and R&B hits. The crowd was on their feet all day long dancing and jamming out to quality performances.

Mitchell Ferguson Opens at the Levitt, Brad Thompson Headlines

The Levitt Pavilion ended its Spring season with a bang. Literally! After a season full of top tier talent and renowned artists, the Levitt drew things to a close with a special Light Up Arlington concert featuring Mitchell Ferguson and Brad Thompson. People from all over the metroplex brought out their lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and takeout from their favorite downtown restaurants, and enjoyed the fun and energetic performances of the night.

Young Stars and Guitars Take the Stage

The Municipal Office Tower stage hosted young rising stars as they tried their hand at performing in front of hundreds of people throughout the day. This was the perfect opportunity for artists to build their portfolio while visitors had the privilege of discovering fresh talent.

Downtown Businesses Join the Party

What makes Downtown so unique is our ability to gather all our businesses to make our signature events even bigger. You’ll often find that businesses extend their hours, offer special discounts, or craft miniature events to coincide with the synergy. Kung Fu Tea hosted several vendors in their lobby along with games and free standard toppings for all drinks. Ann’s Natural Grocery sold sunscreen, cold drinks, and grab & go snacks and invited customers to bring their water bottles and refill for free.

Commodities, usually closed on Mondays, opened their doors just for Light Up Arlington and allowed visitors to come through and shop while listening to the live performances from the Municipal Tower Stage. Other bars and restaurants such as J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill, Division Brewing, and Grease Monkey brought in extra seating for people to come out and get front row seats to the firework show.