Celebrate 15 fun-filled years of free concerts at the City’s signature event on Saturday, November 8 in Historic Downtown Carrollton.
Enjoy FREE family-friendly concerts, shop Festival booths, take a break in the beer garden, and grab a bite to eat from food vendors or local restaurants while the kids enjoy free rides and games, a craft area, face painting, bungee trampolines, arcade games in the Plaza Arts Center, and more!
Main Stage
11:05 a.m. Ted Polk and DeWitt Perry Middle Schools choirs will open the Festival with the National Anthem.
12 p.m. School of Rock (North Dallas) students will begin the day belting rock & roll favorites bursting with infectious energy.
1 p.m. Kenny Chesney tribute band Barefoot Nation will perform country classics for fans of the ‘Man from Tennessee.’
2 p.m. Fusion Latina can turn any stage into a full-blown fiesta with a performance featuring salsa, bachata, and merengue.
3:10 p.m. Dallas-based party band Midtown 10 will pump up the jams by putting an electro-pop spin on a host of Top 40 hits.
4:20 p.m. Wild out when punk rockers Alien Ant Farm take the stage to play their charttopping cover of “Smooth Criminal” and other songs from their six studio albums.
5:50 p.m. Grammy Award-nominated indie pop rock band Sixpence None the Richer will play favorites including “There She Goes,” “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” and ask fans to “Kiss Me” beneath the milky twighlight of the evening.
7:20 p.m. Fans can’t go wrong Spin Doctors, the multi-platinum selling alt rockers, take the stage to play their endlessly catchy hits “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong.”
8:50 p.m. Grammy-award winning headliner Rick Springfield will electrify the crowd with his many top hits including “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “Affair of the Heart,” “Love Somebody,” and his most famous rock anthem, “Jessie’s Girl.”
Plaza Arts Center
11 a.m. Arcade games & pinball through 5 p.m.
Front of Stage
11:15 a.m. Kent Elementary Momentum Dance Company
11:30 a.m. Creekview High School Department of Dance
11:45 a.m. Dallas Tap Dazzlers
12:40 p.m. K-Pop Dance Dallas
1:40 p.m. Sidekicks Martial Arts
2:50 p.m. Hebron High School Silver Wings
Strolling Entertainment
Avengers Initiative - Lone Star Troupe • Cosplay group Cause to Play • Hula Hoop Artist Amanda Slick • Juggler David Slick • Magician Robert John Cast members from Pocket Sandwich Theatre
DART Silver Line Quiet Zones
Quiet zones are now active along the DART Silver Line in Carrollton, which means the community will no longer consistently hear the horn as a train approaches a rail crossing or station.
Safety improvements including fencing and quad gates make this possible, with horns only being used when needed, such as an object on or near the track obstructing the train’s path forward.
The DART Silver Line is expected to open in late October, connecting Carrollton to six other North Texas cities.
cityofcarrollton.com/news
9 p.m. Routine
Setting a daily alarm for 9 p.m. can save hours, days, weeks, months, or even years of heartache. The 9 p.m. routine serves as a nightly reminder for residents to turn on exterior lights, activate all alarms and security systems, remove valuables from vehicles, lock vehicle doors, close the garage door, ensure valuables are not visible from outside the home, and secure entryways to the residence. This habit can give residents peace of mind and help protect their family and property while they sleep.
Call 911 to report any suspicious activity. cityofcarrollton.com/police
Trash Rate Increase
New solid waste rate changes were adopted by Carrollton City Council on Tuesday, September 9, resulting in a $2.30 monthly increase for residents, from $24 to $26.30, for regular trash and recycling services. The new rate will go into effect on Wednesday, October 1 to cover contractual and operational increases within the City’s newly procured solid waste contract with Republic Services. cityofcarrollton.com/solidwaste
Solid Waste Collection Reminders
Proper placement and preparation helps protect collection crews and keeps these important services running smoothly.
Follow these guidelines to help improve the efficiency of trash and recycling collection and avoid missed pickups.
Know the Waste
Knowing the difference between yard waste, brush, and bulk keeps Carrollton clean and service collection on track.
Bulk Waste: Furniture, mattresses, bicycles, household appliances, and other similar items must be stacked in manageable piles.
Yard Waste: Grass clippings, leaves, twigs, and other garden debris must be in plastic bags or brown paper (kraft) bags.
Brush: Tree/bush limbs and branches must be cut, bundled to under 4 feet in length weighing no more than 40 pounds, and stacked neatly.
Household Hazardous Items: Paint, batteries, automotive fluids, and other household chemicals should never be placed at the curb. Visit cityofcarrollton. com/HHW or call 469-451-3713 to set up a free Household Hazardous Waste collection appointment.
Need help sorting it out? Use the Waste Wizard at the website below to search hundreds of items.
Bin Basics
Solid waste collection works faster when everyone understands how, when, and where bins must be placed for pickup. This helps solid waste collection crews work safely and efficiently.
Trash and recycling carts should be placed at the designated collection location (alley or street) no earlier than 6 p.m. of the evening before and no later than 6:30 a.m. of the collection day
All trash should be tied in bags and placed inside the City-provided bin. The lid must close completely, and the bin should not weigh more than 85 pounds. Anything left on top or beside the bin will not be collected.
Place bins at the curb or in the alley 3 feet apart from other bins, cars, trees, mailboxes, fences, and meters. Face lids toward the street and allow at least 14 feet of overhead clearance. Do not park vehicles in front of the collection areas on pickup day.
After the trash and/or recycling is picked up, bin/s should be brought back to the location they are stored by 9 a.m. the next day.
Waste 101
To ensure a timely collection, bulk and brush items must be properly placed.
Brush and yard waste, together, should measure up to 3 cubic yards and be placed at the curb for collection.
Bulk items should also be placed at the curb in manageable piles. Place loose items such as picture frames or bagged garage cleanout trash in the trash bin.
If setting out appliances such as refrigerators or air conditioners, all refrigerants must be removed by a certified professional and must be clearly labeled as ready for pickup.
DO NOT:
• Stack or lean waste near trees, light poles, mailboxes, meters, or any other structures that makes removal difficult
• Block streets, sidewalks, or storm drains
• Place tree debris or yard waste in the recycle bin
Ineligible Items
The items below are ineligible for collection and must be disposed of by other means.
• Compressed gas tanks – propane tank retailers
• Glass (windows/mirrors/doors) – landfill
• Metal – landfill or recycling facility
• Radioactive materials – tceq.texas.gov
• Railroad ties or chemically/pressure-treated woods – landfill (take separately, do not mix with other refuse)
• Tile/brick/stone/concrete blocks – landfill
• Vehicle tires – auto repair & tire shops
cityofcarrollton.com/solidwaste
Know Where Your Tax Dollars Go
City Council approved a new annual budget and set a reduced property tax rate for the 12th year in a row.
On Tuesday, September 9, City Council adopted the budget and property tax rate for the fiscal year October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026, which lowers the property tax rate from the prior year’s rate of $0.538750 to $0.537500 per $100 assessed value. While some residents may see a higher tax bill due to increased property values in Carrollton and the overall DFW area, the City’s reduced tax rate aims to help offset taxpayer costs as much as possible. The City strives to continue to use taxpayer funds efficiently and effectively and has policies to keep the rates as low as it can. Homestead exemptions have also been maintained at 20 percent, the max allowed by state law.
For
Every
Dollar You Pay
*Based on an average of participating districts. Property Tax costs will change based on
Major Capital Projects Funded in FY2026 (General Fund)
Strategic Community Reinvestment
Fire Station SAY-GO (Save as You Go)
Localized Drainage Projects
Street Panel Replacement ..........................
Prof. Services for Various Eng. Projects
Addt’l. Dep. for Fire Apparatuses
Facility Maintenance Fund
Professional Services for IT Projects
Parks Strategic Amenity Fund
Residential Streetlight Infill Ph. III
$5,840,982
$3,500,000
$2,500,000
$2,000,000
$1,700,000
$1,421,350
$950,000
$700,000
$500,000
$500,000
cityofcarrollton.com/finance
Holiday Crime Prevention Tips
‘Tis the season to be careful: Don’t let the spirit of giving take away those precious holiday goodies or perfect shopping finds.
Crimes of opportunity increase during the holiday season. Rob thieves of the chance to target you in 2025. The Carrollton Police Department offers these safety tips to keep residents’ holiday season merry and bright.
To Prevent Package Theft:
• Have packages delivered to an Amazon Locker, P.O. Box, or FedEx/UPS location.
• Retrieve packages left on the porch immediately or ask a neighbor to help.
• Keep the area around the front porch clear and visible.
While Shopping:
• Avoid parking near cars with dark tinted windows or near cars that block a view.
• Don’t leave anything in plain sight in a car that could be perceived as valuable.
• At home, park vehicles in the garage or lock the doors when taking packages into and out of the house.
Personal Safety:
• Stay alert of surroundings and the people nearby.
• Do not become distracted by devices. It’s easy to be caught off-guard while talking or texting on a smart phone.
• Keep a record of all credit card numbers in a safe place. Notify card companies immediately if lost or stolen.
• Be cautious about bulk trash placed at the curb. For example, the box from new electronics may tell a thief what is in the house.
cityofcarrollton.com/police
Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time.
It’s not just the law; it’s for the safety of the driver and passenger. Nearly 50 percent of people killed in vehicle crashes in 2023 were unrestrained — a completely avoidable mistake. Carrollton Fire Rescue works hard to keep the community safe when emergencies happen, but the best vehicle crash they respond to is one where their services are not needed. This Thanksgiving, start a new habit of always wearing a seatbelt. cityofcarrollton.com/fire
Who Should You Contact?
Whether it’s public safety assistance or help paying a water bill, knowing the right number to call can make all the difference.
Emergencies:
911
• Medical emergencies
• Fires or life-threatening situations
• Abductions
• Crimes in progress
• Domestic violence
• Major vehicle accidents
• Immediate danger
Crisis Support: 988
• Thoughts of suicide
• Mental health crisis
• Substance use crisis
• Emotional distress
Non-emergencies: *247 on Cell Phone or 972-466-3333
Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) come from meats, butter, margarine, lard, food scraps, sauces, dressings, gravy, dairy products, and cooking oil. When FOG is poured down the drain, it sticks to the inside of pipes. Over time, FOG can build up and block the entire pipe. This can result in raw sewage overflowing into homes, yards, neighborhoods, and streets and cause expensive plumbing repairs for everyone.
Instead of pouring holiday grease down the drain this season — recycle it! Stop by the Central Service Center (2711 Nimitz Lane) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday or Tuesday, December 1 or 2, to properly dispose of grease and cooking oil for free.
Below are tips for disposing of FOG after that big holiday meal.
• Wipe or scrape excess food scraps into trash cans or garbage bags.
• Put strainers in the sink drains to collect solids and empty into the trash.
• After cooling, put used cooking oil or grease into a container and throw it away.
• Remove excess oil from pots and pans with a paper towel and throw it in a trash can.
• Avoid using the garbage disposal.
• Don’t pour oil and grease down sink drains or into toilets.
• Don’t use cloth towels or rags to scrape plates or clean oily or greasy dishes. When washed, the grease will still end up in the sewer.
Did you know? Running hot water along with the FOG will not keep it from congealing. Eventually, the water will cool, and the grease will begin to solidify and coat the pipes, trapping other food particles and creating an expensive and messy problem. Thanksgiving
972-466-3425
cityofcarrollton.com/envservices
Upcoming Events
Veterans Day Celebration, Nov. 11, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Senior Center – Enjoy a patriotic concert by The New Horizons Band Dallas. Due to limited seating, registration is limited to veterans and a guest or widow(er)s of a veteran and a guest. Registration is required by Nov. 6.
Cocoa for Coats @ Sounds on the Square, Nov. 21, 5-7 p.m., Downtown Carrollton – Swap gently worn coats and winter garments for a warm cup of cocoa, then stay for the music (in partnership with Metrocrest Services).
Enchanted Library, Nov. 21, 5-8 p.m., Josey Ranch Lake Library – Unlock the wonder of fantasy with crafts, activities, trivia, photo ops, and more. Costumes are encouraged on this magical journey.
Thanksgiving Break Movie Matinee, Nov. 24, 2-3:35 p.m., Josey Ranch Lake Library – Take a break before the big feast and enjoy a screening of Dog Man (2025), PG. Don’t forget to BYOBlanket.
Winter Reading Challenge, Dec. 1Feb. 1, Carrollton Public Library –Engage in a reading challenge during those slow winter months when a good book can mean taking part in an adventure without leaving the comfort of a cozy chair. Register at carrollton.beanstack.org.
Sensory Friendly Santa, Dec. 3, Perry Museum – Enjoy the holiday lights and beautiful Victorian décor, then take your own photos with a sensory-friendly Santa. To ensure a sensory-friendly experience, multiple time slots are available (registration is required)
Christmas at the Perry, Perry Museum – Enjoy the holiday lights by taking a stroll through Gravley Park. The Perry Homestead will be open after hours on Dec. 4 and 11 from 5:30-8 p.m., so guests can self-tour and see a traditional turn of the century style Christmas with a modern twist (preregistration is encouraged). Park decorations will be on display throughout December.
