Holiday Lights & A Holiday Surprise Calendar!

The City of McKinney has some fun things planned that you can do with your family while remaining safely-distanced from others. If you like to deck out your house with lights like The Griswalds, submit your home to the city's Holiday Lights Map where you can find all the houses in town with the best in holiday light displays! And then for some daily fun with the kids, check out the city's Holiday Surprise Calendar, an advent calendar of sorts for the whole month of December with a new activity every day! 

47th ANNUAL HOLIDAY TOUR OF HOMES

CHESTNUT SQUARE HERITAGE VILLAGE | 315 S. Chestnut

Homes at Chestnut Square will be open for touring from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Due to the pandemic, residential homes will not be open for touring. Virtual tours will be shown regularly in the Chapel throughout the two days. You may also travel to and visit the exterior of the homes, and view the interior tours on your own devices. Presentations on residential architecture, historic preservation, commerce, and holiday customs in Victorian McKinney will be held throughout the tour days in the Chapel. Video tours are professionally produced and narrated by historic preservation experts. Live music, box lunches to go (for an additional fee), holiday crafts, and more. Purchase tickets online.

$15-25 | Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

A McKINNEY CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY POP-UP

DOWNTOWN McKINNEY | Various Locations

This year, make magical memories with a Christmas carousel, activities for the whole family, holiday photos-ops, and more. All activities are planned with safe distancing in mind to enable families to enjoy the holiday fun. Details about the activities below can be found on the website:

• Visits with Santa: Saturdays, Nov. 28-Dec. 19
• Story Time: Saturdays, Nov. 28-Dec. 19
• Letters to Santa: Saturdays, Nov. 28-Dec. 19
• Little Elves' Workshop: Thursdays/Fridays, Nov. 27-Dec.24
• Christmas Tree Lot Photo-Op: Daily, 224 E. Louisiana
• Kids' Ornament Decorating: Saturdays, Nov. 28-Dec. 19
• City Holiday Lights Map (fill out form for consideration)

Check Website for Details including Times and Dates

SANTA'S WORKSHOP GIFT-MAKING 

JUMP INTO ART | 404 N. Church
Jump Into Art's annual gift making workshop is a perfect option for everyone on your list. Homemade gifts are fun to create and fun to give. This event is suitable for all ages but if your young artist needs adult assistance, please consider staying to help them. Limited attendance with five art stations and rooms to work in. Artists make and wrap a total of eight one-of-a-kind gifts (all eight are included in admission cost) including snow globes, glass and wooden ornaments, wreaths, organic body butter and sugar scrubs, body/face soaps, room sprays, paintings, birdhouses, and art angels. Pick your time slot and buy tickets online. Reserve your spot online before they fill up! (This event continues next weekend.)

$80 for all eight projects | Saturday-Sunday, time slots vary

LANDSCAPE BEAUTY & EXQUISITE POTTERY
Hinton-Forbes, Forbes, and the Potters of SPARC

THE COVE | 402 N. Tennessee

Two elegant collections of art, from painters Sandy and Alex Forbes, and the potters of SPARC (St. Peter’s Artist Run Co-op), including Kerry Randol-Johnston, Jennifer Burke, Amanda Taylor, and Steve, Minda and Alex Macias. This is the perfect opportunity to purchase the timeless gift of original art.

FREE | Friday-Saturday, 6-9 p.m.

HOLIDAY ART BAZAAR

TUPPS BREWERY | 721 Anderson

The McKinney Creative Community's annual Holiday Art Bazaar is a shopping event and party that showcases the very best in handmade gifts, apparel, jewelry, home décor, accessories, art, pottery, and more! Hand-picked artists, crafters and designers will gather at the Holiday Art Bazaar for pure shopping fun. This year's Art Bazaar will be held at the fields across from TUPPs Brewery at The Cotton Mill. We are dedicated to putting on a safe event this year which is why we will be outside! TUPPS will still be open for beer to-go so you can still drink and shop! We will be following CDC guidelines and will require a mask while shopping and in the vendor booths.

FREE | Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Also at TUPPS this weekend: 

HOLIDAY MOVIE NIGHT (Thursday, 7-9 p.m.): Bring your friends and family and a blanket to cuddle up with and stay warm. Barley by Rye will be offering dinner from 5-8:30 p.m. The movie will be either Elf or Home Alone. 

FESTIVE TOUR OF TREES

TRINITY FALLS | 7801 Trinity Falls Parkway

Model homes in Trinity Falls will shimmer with holiday finery during the Tour of Trees event happening throughout December. Ten of the 17 professionally decorated model homes in the community will be further decorated with Christmas trees and other seasonal accents. In addition, visitors on Dec. 5, 12, and 19 can stop by The Club at Trinity Falls, 7801 Trinity Falls Parkway, for free cups of gourmet hot chocolate and the chance to take photos at the decorated tree stationed there. Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sundays, noon-5 p.m. through Dec. 31.

FREE | Through Dec. 31, Times Vary

DINOSAURS LIVE!

HEARD NATURAL SCIENCE MUSEUM & WILDLIFE SANCTUARY | 1 Nature Place

Encounter the 46-foot T-Rex and nine new life-size animatronic dinosaurs along the nature trails at the 15th Annual Dinosaurs Live! The exhibit always gives families and friends a fun, educational activity to enjoy together. See the dinosaurs move and hear them roar! Photo op and play area dinosaurs will be available as well. This year, the exhibit also features an outdoor fossil dig. The dinosaur trail is jogging stroller-friendly; it is not suitable for strollers with small wheels or wheelchairs. Through February 15, 2021. Please note that The Heard is unable to animate the dinosaurs when temperatures are below 35 degrees. (Photo by thconroy)

Included w/admission | Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

HOLIDAY SALE

An Art Club of McKinney Event

HEARD-CRAIG CARRIAGE HOUSE | 205-1/2 W. Hunt

Original artwork, handcrafted jewelry, and handmade gifts by participating members of The Art Club of McKinney. Masks required. Tables will be spaced appropriately for social distancing.

Check Website for Rates | Friday, 5-9 p.m.

PARENTS NIGHT OUT

Bounce House Fun

CRAIG RANCH FITNESS + SPA CENTER | 7910 Collin McKinney Pkwy.

Fly through the air in our bounce houses at this week's Parents' Night Out! Kids will play on inflatables, snack on fish sticks and tots, and watch Mulan. Contact 214-383-1030 or send an email to save your child's spot.

Check Website for Rates | Friday, 5-9 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

Some McKinney nightspots have started hosting live music again. Check with your favorite spot to find out who is performing and when. Please check out the McKinney Music Live and McKinney Musician Relief Fund Facebook pages for live and virtual performances. Below are locations offering live music. Check websites and Facebook pages for details.

• Barn Hill Vineyard (shown): Jesus - The Reason for this Incredible Season (Fri.) No tickets sold at the door.
• Cocktail Creamery: Live music (Fri.)
• E.J. Wills Gastropub: Open Mic Night Every Tuesday, 7-9 p.m.; live Music Wednesdays 7-10 p.m. and Fridays 7:30-10:30 p.m.
• Guitars & Growlers: Singer/Songwriter Night (Tues.)
• Harvest: Live music (Fri.-Sat.)
• Lone Star Wine Cellars: Live Music (Fri.-Sun.)
• TUPPS Brewery: Live Music (Fri.-Sat.)
• Zin Zen Wine Bistro:  (8-11 p.m., $10 cover/$5 for wine club members): Eric Erickson (Thur.); The 3 Amigos (Fri.); Chant Duplantier (Sat.)

Other Nightlife at Downtown McKinney's Chestnut Commons Area on East Virginia St.

• Arcade 92
• The Comedy Arena
• En Fuego Cigar Bar & Lounge
• Amore Lounge Cafe' & Hookah Bar