From a menorah lighting to a home improvement exhibit, a variety of events will take place in Round Rock and the surrounding area throughout the month of December and all the way into February. Check out this noncomprehensive list of 12 area events.

Community Chanukah Celebration: Chabad of Round Rock will host a Chanukah celebration in Round Rock with crafts for family, an LED robot, a menorah lighting, hot cocoa and more activities.

Dec. 17, 5:30-7 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Buffet and Party: Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Round Rock will host an event for people to ring in the New Year, offering a buffet of holiday dishes and sweet treats. Dinner also includes drinks and a full bar will be available with beer, wine and cocktails for purchase.

Dec. 31, 6-8:30 p.m.

Catch up on recent coverage of development activity in Round Rock, including consideration for a future data center, water infrastructure and an expansion to the Play for All Abilities Park.

$25M expansion set for emergency training hub: In December, Round Rock will break ground on a $25 million expansion to its Public Safety Training Center for firefighters and police officers, seven years after it originally opened.
Funded by a 2023 voter-approved bond package, the project will increase the Round Rock Public Safety Training Center’s classroom space, outdoor skills training space and include a driving track. These enhancements will keep officers and firefighters in town for training and reduce local competition for training space, avoiding the expense of travel and lodging.

Grant, bonds to fund expansion to Play for All Abilities Park in Round Rock: Round Rock children will soon be able to learn about recycling from a grant and bond-funded expansion to the city's Play for All Abilities Park. The grant funding the expansion comes from Republic Services Recycling.

The 2025-26 school year will be the last spent at an existing campus for some students in KIPP Texas Public Schools. 

What you need to know: Seven Central Texas-area KIPP Texas Public Schools are set to close at the end of the current school year, the charter school district announced Dec. 11. The charter school system operates over 45 schools across the state.

The details: Seven KIPP schools will close at the end of the current school year, spread across the system's Commerce, Austin South and Austin Ridge campuses.

Williamson County’s Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors program will soon provide practical support to individuals and families affected by a suicide. The volunteer-run program aims to intervene in the immediate aftermath of the loss.

About the program: The LOSS program will send two trained volunteers, including at least one suicide loss survivor, to the scene of a suicide, helping connect families or individuals with community resources.

County officials are finalizing program details such as logistics, volunteer training requirements and procedures in order to integrate the program into local response protocols, a county news release states.

Get involved: Those interested in volunteering can email Senior Death Inquest Investigator Rubean Leal at [email protected]. Loss survivors and other community members are encouraged to inquire, the release states.

Check out the top trending Community Impact stories Dec. 8-11. 

1. Dozens of Lake Austin properties move to disannex; city to lose nearly $300M value

2. Buffalo Wild Wings closes its doors in Cedar Park

3. New development to bring almost 400 homes to Georgetown

4. Kudos convenience store heads to Adelton in Bastrop

5. Local police coordination concerns arise for EISD following September incidents

6. $210M state library and archives building underway in Pflugerville