Winter is on its way to McKinney, Texas. Although you may not wake up to a snowy winter wonderland, there are still plenty of festive things to do. Huffines Hyundai McKinney has the ultimate guide on all the fun activities to do in McKinney. Don’t let the winter blues get you down — get out and enjoy all that McKinney has to offer you this winter season. The sun is still shining here in Texas, after all.
Express Yourself Through Art
Beat the dreary winter months with a fun and creative outlet: painting. Painting With A Twist is a great way to engage in art therapy. If you’re planning on family visiting during the holidays, then make a reservation for one of Painting With A Twist’s holiday break classes for an engaging way to spend time together. These sessions aim to provide an interactive experience for all your family members. Children, teens, grandparents, and parents can all take part in a class together.
Painting With A Twist also hosts winter- and holiday-themed adult paint parties at their studio, wine included. Sip wine while painting festive masterpieces or a holiday door leaner. Classes are not meant to be serious art lessons, but rather a place for you to relax and create an awesome piece of artwork. You can check out the events calendar to book your session.
Get a Taste of McKinney
They say food is good for the soul, and McKinney has a lot to offer in terms of delicious food and drink events. Food Walks of Texas hosts the Historic Downtown McKinney Food Tour all year round, giving you the opportunity to sample some of McKinney’s finest restaurants.
The tour includes six local restaurants that are known for their unique and delicious food. It will guide you through Downtown McKinney’s history and art and give you the opportunity to taste some of the best local food. You’ll start at the Square and walk around 1.5 miles. Make sure you bring your appetite, comfy shoes, and a camera. They serve Texas-sized samples, so you probably won’t be hungry for a while. Tickets start at $64.
If you are more of a drinker than an eater, you won’t want to miss the 12 Wines of Christmas Wine Walk. Cozy up in your ugliest Christmas sweater and saunter over to Downtown McKinney to sip on various wines and indulge in some holiday shopping. Hosted by Lone Star Wine Cellars, guests can get their wine passport stamped at all 12 stops and return it to Santa’s Wine Workshop to receive a bonus wine tasting. Tickets run from $30 to $45.
Meet Dinosaurs
Yes, you heard us right. The Heard Museum’s Dinosaurs Live! exhibit is a fun and educational activity for children and families. You’ll get to meet a 46-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex and view over a dozen life-size animatronic dinosaurs throughout the nature trails. Some of the species that you can encounter include the Amargasaurus, Carnotaurus, Indophophosaurus, and Plateosaurus. There is even a fossil dig for young children.
The general admission to the museum includes the Dinosaurs Live! experience. The exhibit runs through February. The operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. You can purchase tickets online or in person at the museum.
Go Ice Skating
If you are looking for a more winter-themed activity, then head over to the Children’s Health StarCenter for some ice skating. The rink offers a variety of hockey and ice-skating activities throughout the year. The skaters find the facility’s environment and training programs enjoyable and suitable for all skill levels. The center also provides training for all levels. You may even share a class with a potential Olympic athlete or a future NHL draft pick.
See the Lights
Brighten up your day and get out of the house to see the beautiful holiday lights that McKinney has on display. Start at the McKinney Rotary Club for the Parade of Lights. You’ll be delighted with the dazzling displays of light-themed floats, live performances, antique firefighters, and of course, Santa. The Parade of Lights is a time for the community to come together and support the various projects that the club supports. The funds raised during this event helps advocate for projects that are focused on promoting peace, providing clean water and sanitation, improving basic education, and helping communities develop.
After the parade, head back over to the Heard Museum’s Holidays at the Heard for a jubilant fundraising event that brings the holiday season to life. The themed lights and decorations scattered throughout the trail in the Heard Nature Preserve are a must-visit this season, running on select dates throughout December. You can enjoy live music, appearances by Mother Nature and Father Christmas, and yummy holiday treats. Holidays at the Heard is a great way to spend time with your family and support the museum’s wildlife sanctuary.
Head Outside
Take advantage of McKinney’s temperate winters and head out into the great outdoors. The beautiful Bonnie Wenk Park is the perfect place to start. The park, which spans over 216 acres, features a large fishing pond surrounded by a three-quarter-mile loop. It also has a dog park with a splash pad, year-round restrooms, and an outdoor amphitheater. There are many scenic hiking routes throughout the park.
Towne Lake Park is another fantastic outdoor space with a variety of recreational activities. The park boasts a tranquil 22-acre lake with paddle-board rentals and a fishing pier. It also contains a 1.2-mile trail that’s lit at night, so you can hike at any time. You have free access to the various areas of the park, including the volleyball courts, playground equipment, horseshoe courts, and a disc golf course.
Are you ready to beat the winter blues and enjoy all that McKinney has to offer this season? Here at Huffines Hyundai McKinney, we can’t wait to go out and explore the town. We hope you found some enjoyable and engaging activities in our guide. Did we miss anything? Contact our team and let us know.