5 Things to Do In – and Near – McKinney, Texas This Holiday Season
As the song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Streets are lined with twinkling lights, the smell of freshly baked gingerbread fills the air and good cheer abounds as time seems to temporarily suspend itself during the holiday season. It’s also the time of year where old, cherished traditions are honored as new ones are formed.
If you’re new to McKinney, you might be looking for ideas for starting the holiday traditions that you’ll cherish for years to come.
There is plenty to do and see in McKinney during the holiday season. From enjoying your neighbor’s holiday decorations to shopping local for all the people on your gift giving list, McKinney has everything you need to enjoy your holiday season. When you’re looking to get out and enjoy the festive spirit within the community, here are five holiday attractions that you don’t want to miss.
The Annual Christmas Parade of Lights
Since 1999, the Annual Christmas Parade of Lights has been one of the holiday highlights for the residents of McKinney. This long-standing tradition takes place this year on December 8, with the theme of the parade is “Christmas Around the World”. The annual parade is sponsored by the Rotary Club, and this year’s theme is to represent and honor the Rotary Club’s commitment to helping people all around the globe.
The parade begins at 6:30 in Downtown McKinney and has become such an important annual community event that the expected attendance hovers around 30,000. Of course, you’ll want to arrive early to get a front-row view of the parade of lights, but once the last float has passed, you’ll want to hang around to enjoy the other festivities as well as visit the local shops to take care of those last minute gifts on your list.
Visit the McKinney Christmas Tree and Spread Good Cheer
Each year, the Historic District of Downtown McKinney comes alive with holiday cheer as the city’s official Christmas tree finds its home in the downtown square. Visiting the tree has become a long-standing tradition for residents of McKinney. The tree is typically a gorgeous, towering Blue Spruce that lights up the square with holiday spirit.
As you might imagine, it’s no small task to transport such a magnificent Christmas tree to McKinney, which is why McKinney Main Street has announced its annual fundraising campaign to help cover the costs of transporting the tree from its original home in Michigan. A gift to the McKinney Christmas Tree campaign is a gift to the community as a whole. This year when you visit the tree, you’ll experience an extra burst of community and holiday pride, knowing that you contributed to filling the town you love with holiday spirit.
For the Love of Holiday Lights
There is something positively magical about walking or driving along a street that is twinkling with festive, holiday lights. Not only are these lights pretty to look at, but they serve as a reminder of everything that is beautiful about the season. Looking at Christmas lights is something that both the young and old enjoy equally, as well as everyone in between.
What makes it even more special is when entire neighborhoods and communities get together to coordinate their outdoor holiday decorations. You can drive through some neighborhoods and experience a true festival of lights on any evening, at any time. This is an especially nice pastime when the non-stop, hectic pace of the holidays starts to wear on your spirt or when you’re not quite sure what to do with the kids who are bouncing off the walls with excitement. A tour of Christmas lights is also a nice way to spend a quiet, romantic evening with someone special.
Some communities take their holiday lights and decorations very seriously. To help them show off their efforts, the Collin County Guide has put together a map of the county’s best holiday light displays, along with some tips for getting the most out of the experience. In McKinney, you’ll find beautiful neighborhood displays of holiday lights in the Village of Eldorado, Tucker Hill, and Winding Creek.
Visit Frisco’s Christmas on the Square
Frisco is a short drive the down road from McKinney, making it one of the best holiday escapes. Not only is there plenty of shopping opportunities to find the perfect gift for someone special, but the city of Frisco also turns their downtown square into a holiday playland for adults and children alike.
The events and activities of Frisco on the Square run from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Eve, giving you plenty of opportunities to make the trip and experience the holiday wonder for yourself. What can you expect from your excursion to Frisco? How about Skating in the Square or an enchanting Christmas Tree Maze? How about parachuting with Santa or experiencing the magic of a festive music and light show?
Grab your favorite shopping buddies, your best pals or pack your family into the car and plan on spending an entire day exploring Frisco and creating a brand new holiday tradition.
Cookies with Santa
Santa is a popular guy during the holidays and tracking him down to fill him in on the details of your wish list can be a challenge. Fortunately, for McKinney residents, he is taking the time to stop by, chat and enjoy his favorite snack – cookies and milk – with the community.
Stop by for mid-day sweet treat with the guy in red on December 8, 2018, at Verona Estates. Remember to be on your best behavior because he’s still making notes for his naughty and nice lists.
After a day of enjoying all the local holiday attractions, you’ll want to return the cozy, comfort of your own home. Our Willowcreek at Auburn Hills community is where you’ll find the perfect escape at the end of a long, festive filled day. Our homes feature spacious floor plans and luxury amenities that will set the backdrop for your holiday entertaining.
Contact Taylor Morrison today to learn more about our beautiful communities.
