On November 2, crews start setting up the Walkway of Lights at Lakeside Park. Some of what they install has never been in Marble Falls before. By mid-October the City said the first shipment of new holiday displays had arrived, and the rest were due over the following weeks. The Walkway is planned to open Friday, November 20, at 6:00 p.m.
The tradition is 36 years old, and this is the first season the Marble Falls Parks and Recreation Department has run all of it. That change explains nearly everything new at Lakeside Park this year. The City bought the Walkway's next chapter on a repayment schedule, and the money went to the lights. The ice rink is gone, the Glory Tree is pushed to a possible 2027, and the main attraction is a set of new sculptures meant to bring in more visitors every year until the bill is paid.
Thirty-Five Years With the Chamber, Then a Handoff
For more than 35 years, the Walkway's main host was the Marble Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. In June 2026, the Chamber and the City announced that the City would take over leadership and coordination. In the City's announcement, Chamber Executive Director Kim Kankel described the move as mutually agreed:
"After many months of thoughtful discussions with the City and a shared desire to see the event continue to evolve and grow, we felt the time was right to transition leadership of the Walkway of Lights."
Chamber Chairman Cody Petty thanked the event's founders and "all the many volunteers over the last 35 years." City Manager Caleb Kraenzel said, "This event belongs to the community." The same notice said "some operational elements may evolve to support long-term sustainability and growth." Under a new operator, the hours, admission, and layout regular visitors are used to may not carry over unchanged.
The Chamber hasn't stepped away entirely. In August, Mayor Pro Tem Craig Magerkurth told DailyTrib that the City is still working out how to operate the event. "We've taken it over, but the chamber is still giving their expertise," he said. "It will be a gradual handoff."
What Changes at Lakeside Park This Year
The changes at Lakeside Park all lean the same way, toward more lights and fewer extras.
| Element | 2026 status |
|---|---|
| Existing displays | Staying. The City says the new pieces add to its current inventory and don't replace it |
| New sculptures | 12 themed areas with large sculptures and interactive photo spots from Mosca Design |
| Ice rink | Not returning this season |
| Former rink area | A new LED light feature |
| The Glory Tree | Not moving forward in 2026; a 2027 install is still possible |
| Who runs it | Marble Falls Parks and Recreation, with help from the Chamber |
Magerkurth summed it up to DailyTrib: "We are focusing on the lights this year. That area that had the rink it will have a new LED light feature."
Regular visitors will find the familiar displays in place, plus a dozen new zones. The council memo presented by Parks and Recreation Director Lacey Dingman describes the new pieces as "larger signature attractions, themed display zones, and interactive photo opportunities." Families who planned their Walkway night around skating at the park will need a different plan this year.
Why the Lights Got the Money
On August 4, the Marble Falls City Council approved a purchase agreement with Mosca Design for new holiday sculptures and display elements, for up to $450,162.23. For comparison, last season's admission was $2 a person, according to DailyTrib's 2025 holiday preview. The City is making a long-term bet on the event, and it has said so in writing.
The two public accounts of the financing don't match. DailyTrib reported that the Marble Falls Economic Development Corp. would fund the project first and that the City would repay the EDC over time to avoid taking on more debt. The council agenda memo for that meeting says the City intends to use a seven-year tax note covering the sculptures and "infrastructure improvements necessary to support the long-term operation of the Walkway of Lights." In both versions, the City pays the cost back over several years.
The memo is also specific about how the payments will be covered: "a combination of Walkway of Lights sponsorships, donations, event revenues, and General Fund support." It also states the goal plainly: "refresh the visitor experience, increase attendance, strengthen sponsorship opportunities, and position the Walkway of Lights as a premier regional holiday destination for years to come."
The memo calls the sculpture purchase "the first phase" of a revitalization effort. Seen that way, the cut ice rink and the delayed Glory Tree come from one decision. The City put its first-year money and staff time into displays it owns and can reuse every year. The Glory Tree was a separate proposal from World Icon LLC. In its October 16 notice, the City said "several key project requirements and logistical arrangements remain outstanding" and that an installation that size couldn't be finalized in time for 2026. The City added that it "remains open to exploring a potential installation in 2027," with talks expected after the first of the year.
The Details Still Being Set
With a new operator, a new budget, and a goal of drawing more regional visitors, it makes sense that a few practical details are still in motion this close to opening.
The City's most recent announcement gives an opening date and time and no other operating details. The Visit Marble Falls event page currently lists the Walkway as free, open 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. nightly, from November 29, 2026, through January 2, 2027. It also says the walkway may close when wet conditions make it unsafe and that handicap parking is in front of the entrance. That November 29 start date doesn't match the City's November 20 opening. Admission was $2 in 2025, the memo lists "event revenues" as one way the City plans to cover its payments, and the City hasn't posted a 2026 admission price or closing date. Before you load the car, check the City of Marble Falls news page for the latest operating details.
In June, the City also said it would share information on volunteer opportunities and sponsorships "in the coming months." For more than three decades, the Walkway depended on Chamber volunteers. If you've helped set up or staff it in past years, keep an eye on that announcement.
The Rest of the Season on Main Street
The City now runs both Lakeside Park and the Main Street parade, so the holiday calendar from mid-November to early December holds together better than before. These are the dates on the Visit Marble Falls 2026 calendar:
- Friday, November 13: Grinch on the Green at Harmony Park, with the movie starting around 6:30 p.m.
- Friday, November 20: Merry & Pink Christmas at 215 Main St., with downtown shopping, discounts, raffle giveaways, small bites, and drinks. It falls on the same night the Walkway is planned to open, so you can shop on Main Street and still reach Lakeside Park after 6:00 p.m.
- Friday, December 4: Light Up Christmas Parade on Main Street at 6:00 p.m. The parade is free, and Parks and Recreation is listed as the contact. The FAQ on the parade page mentions December 6, but the event is held on the first Friday of December, and the 2026 calendar lists December 4.
- Saturday, December 5: Market Day on Main, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Main Street.
For summer's version of this calendar, see our roundup of what was happening around Marble Falls this summer. More on the city itself is on our Marble Falls neighborhood page.
Installation starts at Lakeside Park on November 2, and the new sculptures are scheduled to light up at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 20.
If you're hosting family at the lake this holiday season and want suggestions for a Walkway night, from where to eat beforehand to the best way to get there from Lake LBJ, Lake LBJ Partners is happy to share what we know. We live and work on these lakes all year, and we'll be at Lakeside Park this season too.
