The leaves are starting to change to beautiful fall colors and since the fall season brings with it so many wonderful events and activities, we wanted to share some of the most popular fall events in September and October here in McKinney. (We will continue to update this blog post as we find more.)
Stay Awhile!
And while you're perusing all the events that await you in McKinney this fall, check out our bed & breakfasts and hotels so you can make it a weekend (or longer) stay!
Dinosaurs Live!
(Runs through Feb. 20, 2023)
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
Encounter the 46-foot T-Rex and nine new life-size animatronic dinosaurs along the nature trails at the 16th annual Dinosaurs Live Life-size Animatronic Dinosaurs exhibit. This event always offers great opportunities for fun family photos! And look further down this blog post for details about the Heard's always popular Halloween event.
Admission: This exhibit is included in museum admission.
Also at the Heard Museum: Check the museum website for a wide variety of regular events including Second Saturday Bird Walks, Zip Line Days, Night Hikes, and more!
Bar Wars
(Sept. 12, 6-9 p.m.)
Chestnut Square Heritage Village
This Bar Wars event, "Rum Punch Rumble," features the best rum punch cocktails from local bars and restaurants that compete for the rotating trophy. Your entry fee gets you 10 tickets for samples of cocktails entered into the competition for the BEST of MCKINNEY!
Admission: $25. Tickets for additional samples, food, wines, and raffle items can be purchased at the door. Get tickets HERE.
Pumpkin Patch
(Sept. 16-Oct. 30)
5G Farm, 6601 County Road 166
Once again, McKinney's 5G Farm located just south of Myers Park is hosting a pumpkin patch complete with a bounce house, BBQ, farm store, jewelry, crafts, kettle corn, and more. Admission is free!! Check their Facebook page for hours. Open Fridays-Sundays.
Admission: Free. Pumpkins, snacks, and other products are available for purchase.
McKinney Oktoberfest
(Sept. 23-25)
Downtown McKinney
Don your lederhosen, grab your best beer stein and join in for a full weekend of German-themed family-friendly fun in Historic Downtown McKinney. Enjoy the tradition of authentic German food, domestic and imported beer, live music, games, Weenie Dog Races (shown), and much more. For full event details, click HERE.
And make sure to enter for a chance to win an all-expense trip to the 2023 Munich Oktoberfest. For details, click HERE.
Admission: Free. Food, beer, and other goodies will be available for purchase
Also in September
- The Quilts of Chestnut Square Exhibit - Sept. 1-29; Thursdays & Saturdays, 11 a.m.
- Foodstock (Market Street) - Friday-Saturday, Sept. 16-17
- Adriatica Fall Flavors Wine Walk & Shop - Saturday, Sept. 17
- Farmers Market Tour & Farm Breakfast - Saturday, Sept. 17
- Granddaughter Tea (Heard-Craig Center for the Arts) - Saturday, Sept. 17, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
- I Spy McKinney (Meals on Wheels Scavenger Hunt Across McKinney), Saturday, Sept. 17, 4-7 p.m.
October Events
6th Annual McKinney Wine & Music Festival
(Oct. 15-16)
Towne Lake Park
The McKinney Wine & Music Festival is back for its 5th year and it’s an event you don’t want to miss! The festivities will take place over two days at the beautiful Towne Lake Park with plenty of live music on two stages and delicious wine from 30 local and national award-winning wineries. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy your wine while listening to the bands and sitting under the canopy of trees next to the lake. Participate in grape stomping competitions, chow down on delicious cuisine, shop and enjoy a huge variety of local businesses and artisans.
Admission: See all the options for different level experiences at the ticket link. Get tickets online.
McKinney Día de Los Muertos
(Oct. 15)
Dr. Glenn Mitchell Park
The first McKinney Día de Los Muertos, provided by the Legacy Keepers of Old East McKinney, will be a day of fun with food, music, games, and art. Día de los Muertos is a Latin American custom celebrating the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and activities the dead enjoyed in life. It recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience, beginning with birth, childhood, and growing up to become a contributing member of the community. Legacy Keepers of Old East McKinney will use the strength of our unique identities in a collective framework to document, honor, and promote the historic legacies of McKinney's Black and Mexican communities, ensuring that all cultures are natural parts of the community's experience.
Admission: Free.
Halloween at the Heard
(Oct. 22)
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
Experience Collin County’s premier family-friendly Halloween event that features a safe environment to experience the joy of trick-or-treating along the eerie Dinosaurs Live nature trail. Families will enjoy an evening full of fun activities including a presentation of a movie on the Heard's outdoor amphitheater stage, a Haunted Forest, and more. Tickets sell out each year before the event. Check the Heard website for details.
Admission: $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 3-12, and free for children ages 2 and under.
McKinney Ghost Walk
(Oct. 28-30)
Chestnut Square Heritage Village
Learn about McKinney's ghost stories both at Chestnut Square and throughout the downtown during guided tours and tours via trolley as well as Ghostly Haunting tours that include audio and video clips of paranormal activity in the village. Also available this year are a couple of murder mystery dinners.
Admission: Varies based on activity selected. Links to tickets on Chestnut Square's website.
McKinney Quilt Show - Dia de los Muertos
(Oct. 29)
Heard-Craig Center for the Arts
The Dia de los Muertos festival will be held in McKinney at Mitchell Park the weekend of October 15, 2022. During the festival, you can register your quilt for the festival's quilt show which will be held two weeks later (October 29, 2022) in the Heard-Craig Center for the Arts gardens. There will be prizes for various categories.
Admission: The event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC with free tickets encouraged.
Also in October...
- Collin County Master Gardeners Fall Plant Sale (Oct. 1, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.)
- An Evening with the Young Dubliners (Oct. 7, 8-11 p.m.)
- Texas Flood in Concert at Hub 121 (Oct. 7, 8-10 p.m.)
- Windy City at Hub 121 (Oct. 8, 8 p.m.)
- Chili Cook-Off (Oct. 9, 2-6 p.m)
Ongoing Events and other event links:
- Farmers Market at Chestnut Square (Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon)
- Jump Into Art Studios (weekly classes)
- The Comedy Arena (weekly events)
