KXAN (ROUND ROCK) — If you’re looking for a place to celebrate the Fourth of July in Round Rock, you won’t be short of options, as the city will have three major fireworks shows all less than a mile from each other.
Kalahari Resorts, Dell Diamond, and Old Settlers Park are the three different venues hosting major fireworks shows in the City of Round Rock. Rick Atkins, Round Rock’s Director of Parks and Recreation, is helping plan the city’s fireworks plans at Old Settlers Park.
Akins said the City of Round Rock has a traffic plan in place to make things flow smoothly, but he also warns it still might take a while to get in and out of the area.
“We expect big crowds,” Atkins said. “Patience is always a virtue. [Citizens] need to know that there they’re going to be some lines.”
The big crowds anticipated on the Fourth of July is something many of the local businesses in the area are excited about.
There’s a positive impact where more people are coming in, so maybe they’ll recognize this restaurant and be like: I’ve never been there, let me go ahead and see what it’s all about,” said Victoria Chapa, a server at Misaki – Ramen, a business close by all the venues.”
Chapa, who has worked at the restaurant during past Fourth of July celebrations, said it gets busy.
“Almost all the parking lots, like, just around this vicinity are like, taken over just by, like, people wanting to watch the fireworks,” Chapa said.
That feeling was echoed by Maria Toland, a clerk at nearby Shipley Donuts.
“We’re going to bake more than usual to accommodate all of our customers,” Toland said. “I was here last year, and there was quite a bit of traffic. We pretty much sold out, and we expect the same tomorrow and the weekend.”
Kenny Fort Pub, another local business in the area, will be closed on the Fourth of July—but its owner, Timothy Jones, said they expect lots of customers after the Fourth of July.
“People like to come and get away from cooking for themselves and necessarily socializing at home and not have to clear up after themselves,” Jones said. “We tend to see that the day after is a better day for us.”
The Round Rock Police Department on social media also posted they anticipate traffic delays. They said officers will be “conducting enhanced DWI enforcement to ensure public safety.”