Melissa Tribute Fest Returns to Lake Park on September 12 With Live Music, Vendors, and a New Kids' Act
Melissa Tribute Fest 2026 brings live tribute bands, a beer and wine garden, food, vendors, and family fun to Lake Park on Sept. 12.
Local News
Every story from around Melissa, newest first — events, dining, schools, development, and community life.
What Melissa's 'In Motion' Parks Plan Actually Means for the City's Future Green Spaces
The newly adopted Melissa in Motion master plan sets a long-term, data-driven course for parks, trails, and open spaces as the city keeps growing.
Melissa Lake Park's $11.95 Million Amphitheater and Splash Pad Is Ready for Fall
The new amphitheater, splash pad, playground, and pedestrian walkways at Melissa Lake Park reached completion in May and are open this fall.
Moving to Melissa, TX: A Newcomer's Guide
Everything new residents need to know about Melissa, TX — neighborhoods, schools, parks, and local life in one of Collin County's fastest-growing cities.
Melissa Fire Department Becomes First in North Texas to Join ECMO Emergency Response Protocol
Partnering with PHI Air Medical and Medical City Plano, the Melissa Fire Department is pioneering a cardiac care protocol new to the region.
Two New Schools, One Stadium, One Season: Melissa ISD Heads Into 2026–27 With a Bigger Footprint
East Cardinal Middle School and Highland Elementary opened in 2025, and the Cardinals open football season at home Sept. 4.
An Evening of Tribute Bands, Food, and Fireworks at Melissa Lake Park This September
Melissa Parks and Recreation hosts a free tribute festival on Sep 12 with live music, food trucks, a beer garden, and a fireworks finale.
Melissa Public Library Reshapes How Residents Access Programs This Fall
Starting September 1, Melissa Public Library launches a new admittance policy while expanding free programs for kids, teens, and history buffs.
Melissa's 'In Motion' Parks Plan Is Already Shaping the City's Open Spaces
Melissa City Council's adopted parks master plan positions the city to pursue new funding and expand public green space for residents.
A Historian Brings Melissa's Railroad Past Back to Life
Dennis Hogan of the Railroad and Locomotive Historical Society presents rare photos and research on the Houston and Texas Central Railroad at Melissa Public Library.
Melissa ISD Opens a New School Year With Cardinals Ready to Head Back to Campus
Melissa ISD welcomes Cardinals back for 2026–2027 with enrollment resources, supply lists, and arrival maps all in one place.
Melissa Public Library Is Doing More Than Lending Books — And a New Policy Reflects That
From a statewide excellence award to STEAM labs and D&D sessions, Melissa's library is redefining what a small-city civic space can be.
All Summer Long, East Cardinal Middle School's Band Students Showed Up — and a Program Was Born
East Cardinal Middle School launched its first-ever summer band program, with 7th and 8th graders meeting every Thursday through the season.
Melissa ISD Opens Its Doors to a Bigger District Than Ever Before
With five elementary schools, two new buildings, and a high school expansion, Melissa ISD's 2026–27 school year reflects a district growing fast.
Melissa's Public Library Is Quietly One of the Best in Texas — And It's Proving It This Summer
From D&D sessions to sensory stations, the Melissa Public Library holds a top-20% statewide excellence award and a packed August program lineup.
A New Retail Strip Center Is Coming to Melissa — What the Harrington Project Signals for the City's Growth
Sparks Construction breaks ground on Harrington Melissa, an 8,100-sq-ft multi-tenant retail center near Harrison St and Washington Dr.
Melissa's Downtown Core Is Being Rebuilt From the Ground Up — Here's What Gateway Village Means for the City
Construction is underway on Melissa Gateway Village at Hwy 5 and Harrison St, reshaping the city's downtown with new streets, parking, and gathering spots.
Melissa, TX FAQ: What Newcomers Ask
Moving to Melissa, TX? Get real answers on schools, parks, groceries, property taxes, safety, and how to plug into the community.
The Melissa Public Library Has a Full Calendar This August — Here's What's Happening at 3411 Barker
From Dungeons & Dragons to sensory stations to a railroad history talk, the Melissa Public Library is running a packed August lineup.
Melissa's Railroad Roots Come Back to Life at the Library This August
Historian Dennis Hogan brings rare photos and local stories about the Houston and Texas Central Railroad to Melissa Public Library this month.
What Will 22 Acres at Highway 121 and Melissa Road Actually Become?
X Capital has broken ground on Melissa Park Village, a 22-acre mixed-use project bringing retail and office space to a key intersection.
Your August 2026 Guide to Melissa Public Library Programs
From kids' STEAM labs to a Canva workshop and a blood drive, the Melissa Public Library has a packed August lineup worth marking on your calendar.
A Plan Called 'Melissa in Motion' Is About to Change How This City Plays
Melissa's adopted Parks & Recreation Master Plan is moving from blueprint to reality, with funding pursuits and trails expansion now underway.
Where to Shop in Melissa, TX
A local guide to the best grocery stores, boutiques, and retail options in Melissa, TX — from everyday essentials to weekend browsing.
Emily Chapman Takes the Helm at Melissa High School for the 2026–2027 School Year
Melissa ISD names Emily Chapman as the new principal of Melissa High School ahead of the August 13 first day of school.
Melissa Lake Park Opens Its Amphitheater With the First-Ever Fam Jam This Thursday
The city debuts its new outdoor amphitheater at Melissa Lake Park on July 31 with a free family evening of summer entertainment.
Melissa Public Library Wins State Excellence Award Two Years Running — What's Behind the Streak?
The Melissa Public Library earned Texas's top library honor for a second straight year. A look at the programs and philosophy driving that recognition.
Melissa ISD Enrollment Is Open Now — Here's What Families Need to Know Before School Starts
New and returning student enrollment is underway at Melissa ISD. Key dates, what to bring, and where to go before the bell rings.
A New Playbook: Melissa ISD's Athletic Department Welcomes Fresh Leadership for 2026–27
Melissa ISD has reshuffled its athletic department for the coming school year, with Coach Katie Stinton stepping into a new role as Assistant Athletic Director.
Melissa Lake Park Gets Its First Amphitheater Show This Friday
The city's new $11.9M amphitheater at Melissa Lake Park hosts its inaugural live event July 31 with the Melissa Fam Jam.
Melissa Public Library Is in the Top 20% in Texas — Here Is What That Looks Like in Practice
Melissa Public Library holds a statewide excellence award and is filling summer 2026 with programs that show exactly why it earned the recognition.
Splatter Paint Your Way Into August at the Melissa Market's Back to School Bash
The Melissa Market hosts a Back to School Bash on August 1 with KT's Craft n Draft splatter painting, open to all ages, 10 AM–2 PM.
Annual Events & Festivals in Melissa, TX
A local guide to Melissa, TX's recurring festivals, community celebrations, and markets—from fireworks nights to weekly Saturday markets.
The Tracks That Built a Town: Melissa's Historical Society Brings Railroad Stories Back to Life
Historian Dennis Hogan presents rare photos and Melissa-specific stories about the Houston and Texas Central Railroad at the public library.
Melissa Lake Park's $11.9 Million Expansion Is Open — and the City Is Already Filling the Calendar
The Phase II expansion at Melissa Lake Park added an amphitheater, splash pad, new playground, and more. Here's what's there and what's coming.
The Busiest Building in Melissa Might Be the Library on Barker Avenue
Melissa Public Library has quietly become one of the city's most-used civic buildings, recently earning a statewide excellence award. A look at what it offers beyond books, from 3D printing to summer reading.
Liberty, North Creek, or Wolf Creek Farms: A Field Guide to Melissa's Newest Neighborhoods
Three of the developments driving Melissa's growth look different up close than they do from a builder's brochure. A side-by-side look at Liberty, North Creek, and the Wolf Creek Farms build-to-rent community.
Melissa ISD Is Adding Students Faster Than Almost Anyone in Collin County
Melissa ISD has grown past 8,600 students with more than 9,300 projected by 2027. A look at the new high school arena, the shift in start times, and what breakneck enrollment growth asks of a district.
The Highway Project That Will Reshape How Melissa Gets to Work
A TxDOT project widening US 75 from four to six lanes at the Collin-Grayson county line down to Highway 5 broke ground in 2025. What it means for Melissa commuters over the next few years.
Homecoming Parades to Santa Photos: What's on the Melissa Chamber's Calendar
The Melissa Area Chamber of Commerce keeps a running calendar of community events, from the high school Homecoming Parade to the Christmas Parade and an annual banquet honoring local businesses.
Your First Year in a New Melissa Home: Clay, Warranties, Watering Days, and the HOA
A practical first-year guide for new-construction homeowners in Melissa, TX — setting up city utilities and CWD trash, watering a fresh lot on the Blackland clay, understanding builder warranties and settling, and living with a mandatory HOA.
Eating Your Way Through Melissa: A Corridor-by-Corridor Roundup
Where to eat in Melissa, TX right now, organized by where it actually is — the Sentinel Way center, the Sam Rayburn Highway strip, the Washington Drive cluster, the H-E-B anchor node, and the Highway 5 downtown corridor.
A Parent's Map of Melissa ISD: Every Campus, and How the District Is Growing Into Itself
New to Melissa ISD? Here's a plain guide to the district's campuses in 2026 — the five elementary schools, the two new 2025-26 buildings, the sixth grade center, both middle schools, and the high school expansion.
Where to Walk, Fish, and Cool Off: A Guide to Melissa's Parks and Trails
A rundown of Melissa's public parks and trail system — Melissa Lake Park's stocked 10-acre lake and splash pad, Country Ridge Park and Lake Perry Fisher, Rotary Park, and the Hike & Bike Trail along Melissa Road.
The 1921 Tornado, and the Buildings on Cooper Street That Lived Through It
How a railroad town platted in 1872 was nearly erased by an April 1921 tornado, why a few Cooper Street buildings still stand, and what the city's downtown reconstruction is trying to protect.
What's Being Built in Melissa Right Now: A Summer 2026 Development Tracker
A project-by-project look at the retail, downtown, and housing construction reshaping Melissa, from the new H-E-B and Chick-fil-A to Gateway Village and the $95M Wolf Creek Farms build-to-rent community.
Cooper Street's Second Life: Melissa's Downtown, From Peters Colony to the Overlay District
The long story of downtown Melissa — settled off the Blackland Prairie in the 1840s, platted by the railroad in 1872, flattened by disaster twice, and now being rebuilt block by block around Cooper Street and Highway 5.