City of Marble Falls takes over the Walkway of Lights
The Walkway of Lights at Lakeside Park during the 2025 Winter season. Staff photo by Maci Cottingham
The city of Marble Falls has assumed ownership of the Walkway of Lights at Lakeside Park, taking over the community’s signature holiday attraction after more than 35 years under the Marble Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.
The City Council approved two agenda items on Tuesday, June 2: one authorizing the acquisition of Walkway of Lights assets from the Chamber of Commerce; and two being a promotional funding agreement with the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation.
Under the $175,000 agreement, the city will pay the Chamber of Commerce $25,000 at closing and $10,000 annually through 2031, while the Marble Falls EDC will provide $100,000 in funding to cover the remainder.
The move comes after the Chamber of Commerce approached the city about taking over the event, according to Parks and Recreation Director Lacey Dingman. Following several months of negotiations, the city agreed to acquire more than 100 light sculptures and their electrical infrastructure, tunnels, trees and other property associated with the Walkway of Lights. All assets will transfer in “as-is” condition.
Dingman said the annual display attracts more than 40,000 visitors and remains an important tourism driver for Marble Falls, generating sales tax revenue and economic activity for local businesses.
While the acquisition is finalized, the long-term cost of maintaining and potentially expanding the display remains unclear.
“I don’t think we can assess that properly,” Dingman said. “I don’t know that I can actually articulate exactly what our maintenance cost is, but we are preparing to bring those forward in our budget presentations.”
The transition is expected to bring challenges as the city takes over an event operated by the chamber for more than three decades.
“The first year is going to be kind of a transition, so we’re probably going to have to sacrifice other Christmas things to get it up and running,” Mayor John Packer said during the meeting.
One option under discussion is ending the city’s seasonal ice rink after the 2025 holiday season. Dingman said doing so could help offset the cost of operating the Walkway of Lights without requiring a significant increase to the city’s budget. The ice rink currently costs about $160,000 annually, and the city has not fully recovered operating expenses in recent years.
As planning begins for the transition, Dingman said staff are committed to preserving the event’s success.
“I’m not going to stand up and tell you that we’ve got it all figured out, because that would obviously be offensive to the chamber, who has 30-something years of experience. So we’re going to have to quickly get busy to make sure 2026 goes off as a success,” Dingman said.
Marble Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman Cody Petty said the organization is confident the event will continue to thrive under city leadership.
“This great event has become a staple of the Marble Falls and surrounding community,” Petty said in a media release. “The chamber would like to thank the founders of the event and all the many volunteers over the last 35 years that have built it into the success it is today. We look forward to the city carrying it into the future and its continued success.”
The city, the chamber, and the EDC
While the city of Marble Falls, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Marble Falls EDC all operate within the Marble Falls area, they are each separate entities with different budgets, leadership structures, and funding sources.
The city is a municipal government funded by property tax and sales tax revenue from within city limits. It is responsible for utilities, police, fire protection, street maintenance, public parks, and general maintenance within Marble Falls.
It is run by an elected city council that includes six councilors and a mayor that each serve a two-year term. The day-to-day operations of the city are handled by a professional city manager that is hired by the council.
The chamber is a nonprofit organization founded in 1959 that advocates for the general welfare and prosperity of the residents and businesses in the Marble Falls area. The chamber is behind several local traditions like Lakefest, Walkway of Lights, and Mayfest.
It is not a branch of local government, but it does work closely with the city of Marble Falls to bolster the local economy.
It is primarily funded by membership dues and event revenue. The chamber is led by a board of directors made up of business owners, executives, and community leaders. The operations of the chamber are managed by a president/CEO that is hired by the board.
The EDC is funded exclusively by a half-cent sales tax within Marble Falls city limits for the exclusive purpose of economic development in the area.
The EDC is run by a board of seven directors who are appointed by Marble Falls City Council. The operations of the EDC are run by an executive director who is hired by the board.