What’s happening?
Lewisville was formally incorporated Jan. 15, 1925, though the city’s history stretches back even further to the 1840s. Lewisville residents can learn more about the city’s history through a new centennial website that was launched near the end of November.
The website contains a digital gallery of historical photos, a historical timeline, an event calendar and more. The calendar tracks centennial celebration events planned through December 2025 and will be updated as more events are confirmed, according to a city news release.
Events already on the calendar include a citywide centennial celebration picnic in May, a public tree-planting event and historical exhibits.
During a Dec. 2 City Council work session, Community Relations and Tourism Director James Kunke said the goal was to drive engagement across the city in 2025. Every activity and project meets one or more of five major elements focused on story telling, story sharing, historical preservation, public events and visibility.
“The idea is we want to involve as many people as possible in this celebration in some way,” Kunke said. “We want to engage as many people as possible to make this a true communitywide celebration.”
The details
Kunke and Library Director Caroline Booker delivered an update on the centennial celebration planning during the December work session. The activities and projects being planned in 2025 were determined by nine committees with participation from about 40 Lewisville residents, according to the staff presentation.
See the committees listed below with associated projects:
- Community Partners
- Work with local students to host writing and art contests or shows.
- Commission a play with Lewisville Playhouse to produce a play about the city’s history.
- Education and Training
- Create and facilitate a second-grade lesson to implement into school curriculum about Lewisville’s history.
- Display popular books over the past century at the Lewisville Public Library.
- Publications
- Publish a new children’s book about Lewisville’s 100-year anniversary using characters from “Marco’s Big Move.”
- Publish other materials as needed.
- Special Projects
- Plant 100 trees in celebration of 100 years.
- Build an outdoor photo prop for use during 2025.
- Install stone markers along Church Street’s southside sidewalk
- Name the Timber Creek Trail extension to commemorate 100 years
- Finance and Fundraising
- Monitor budget.
- Ensure compliance with city purchasing policies.
- Accept donations and seek donors if needed.
- Event Planning
- Ensure centennial presence at existing city events.
- Build parade float to be used in four parades throughout the year.
- Organize a community-wide celebration picnic.
- Historical preservation
- Install historical exhibits.
- Organize self-guided tours in Old Town Lewisville.
- Recognize properties as Lewisville landmarks.
- Memorabilia
- Sell branded merchandise.
- Create merchandise items for giveaway.
- Public Relations
- Develop a logo for the centennial celebration.
- Develop window decals for businesses to celebrate how long they’ve been in Lewisville.
With the website launched, Lewisville residents can keep track of upcoming events and activities planned throughout the year. Upcoming events in January include:
- Jan. 2: Rotating history exhibits open at Lewisville City Hall, Lewisville Public Library, Lewisville Thrive and The Vista mall
- Jan. 15: Heritage Walk stone to be dedicated at Wayne Ferguson Plaza
