Celebrate the best of the holidays in McKinney with our comprehensive guide. Whether you call McKinney home or are just passing through, this guide ensures a memorable holiday experience.
Popular events during the season include the enchanting Prairie Lights at Grand Prairie, where you can stroll through a dazzling display of holiday lights and enjoy festive activities. In addition, the visit to the Gaylord Texan for their holiday event showcases spectacular decorations and unique activities for families. And the Snowday at the Galleria is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a whimsical winter wonderland experience complete with snow tubing. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around McKinney
- Visit the Gaylord Texan for their Holiday Event (Grapevine)
- Snowday at the Galleria (Dallas)
- Holiday at the Arboretum (Dallas)
- Prairie Lights at Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie)
- The Trains at NorthPark™ (Dallas)
- Holiday Concert with Dallas Symphony Orchestra (Dallas)
- The Light Park (Frisco)
- Dickens of a Christmas
- Lights on the Farm (Plano)
- Home for the Holidays – A McKinney Christmas
See these and even more events listed below!
McKinney Holiday Light Displays
Prairie Lights at Grand Prairie
What to Expect:
State-of-the-art light tunnel and reimagined walk-thru forest.
Description:
Prairie Lights at Grand Prairie is a premier holiday light park featuring an all-new state-of-the-art light tunnel, a reimagined magical walk-thru forest, captivating animated light displays, carnival rides, photos with Santa, and holiday shopping.
Where: Grand Prairie | More Info: Prairie Lights at Grand Prairie
The Light Park
What to Expect:
Dazzling light displays with synchronized music.
Description:
Cruise through millions of dazzling lights at The Light Park, featuring festive tunes and tasty treats at six locations across Texas.
Where: Frisco | More Info: The Light Park
Holiday at the Arboretum
What to Expect:
Elaborate holiday decorations and live performances.
Description:
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden transforms into a holiday spectacle with the 12 Days of Christmas Gazebos, Christmas Village, and the historic DeGolyer House elaborately decorated by renowned designer Michael Hamilton. The event features over a million lights, live performances, and unique shopping opportunities.
Where: Dallas | More Info: Holiday at the Arboretum
Lights on the Farm
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday light display with festive treats and Santa visits.
Description:
Explore over 1 million dazzling lights and unique holiday elements on a quarter-mile trail through the historic Heritage Farmstead Museum. Enjoy hot cocoa, s'mores, and festive music while meeting Santa Claus and capturing holiday photos.
Where: Plano | More Info: Lights on the Farm
Christmas Spectacular Light Show- The Colony
What to Expect:
Synchronized light and sound show with holiday music.
Description:
The Colony Christmas Spectacular is a free light show choreographed to music, visible every evening from December 2 to January 5, 2025, at the Central Fire Station. Tune your radio to 99.9 FM to enjoy the synchronized holiday music.
Where: The Colony | More Info: Christmas Spectacular Light Show- The Colony
McKinney Holiday Markets and Shopping
Neath the Wreath Holiday Gift Market
What to Expect:
Unique holiday shopping experience with diverse merchants.
Description:
The Neath the Wreath Holiday Gift Market is a four-day event featuring over 125 merchants offering unique holiday and home décor, ladies clothing, accessories, gifts, jewelry, children’s items, and gourmet food. It is the largest fundraiser for the Junior League of Collin County, supporting local community projects and programs.
Where: Plano | More Info: Neath the Wreath Holiday Gift Market
Plano Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Unique handcrafted holiday gifts.
Description:
The Plano Holiday Market showcases unique handcrafted holiday gifts, including jewelry, handmade wood items, candles, and soaps. This event is a great place to support local artisans and find special gifts for everyone on your list.
Where: Plano | More Info: Plano Holiday Market
McKinney Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Visit the Gaylord Texan for their Holiday Event
What to Expect:
Immersive ice sculptures and festive activities.
Description:
At Gaylord Texan, immerse yourself in a holiday spectacle featuring over 2 million pounds of ice, intricate ice sculptures, and larger-than-life scenes from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Enjoy thrilling frozen slides, ice tunnels, and colorful multi-sensory scenes. The event also includes snow tubing, ice skating, gingerbread decorating, and photos with Santa.
Where: Grapevine | More Info: Visit the Gaylord Texan for their Holiday Event
Holiday Concert with Dallas Symphony Orchestra
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday concert with a children's chorus.
Description:
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents a festive holiday concert featuring the Dallas Symphony Chorus and Children's Chorus, along with renowned vocalists Capathia Jenkins and Ryan Shaw. The event includes a variety of seasonal songs and carols, culminating in a special appearance by Santa Claus.
Where: Dallas | More Info: Holiday Concert with Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Holiday on the Hill
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with live performances and Santa photos.
Description:
Join friends and family in historic downtown Cedar Hill for a holiday celebration featuring live performances, photos with Santa, festive photo ops, and the official lighting of the City of Cedar Hill tree. Enjoy holiday kids' activities and games in a joyful atmosphere.
Where: Cedar Hill | More Info: Holiday on the Hill
Klyde Warren Park's Tree Lighting Celebration
What to Expect:
Live holiday entertainment and tree lighting.
Description:
Klyde Warren Park's Tree Lighting Celebration features photos with Santa, story time with Mrs. Claus, face painting, crafts, games, and live holiday entertainment, culminating in the annual lighting of the Mayor’s Tree.
Where: Dallas | More Info: Klyde Warren Park's Tree Lighting Celebration
McKinney Other Holiday Activities
Snowday at the Galleria
What to Expect:
High-quality, studio-lit photo moments with integrated cameras.
Description:
Snowday at the Galleria offers an immersive holiday experience with endless photo opportunities, interactive spaces, and nostalgic moments for all ages.
Where: Dallas | More Info: Snowday at the Galleria
Home for the Holidays – A McKinney Christmas
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday activities in historic downtown.
Description:
Home for the Holidays – A McKinney Christmas transforms Historic Downtown McKinney into a vibrant holiday destination with family activities, food, and entertainment. Enjoy visits with Santa, a carousel, children's crafts, and more.
Where: McKinney | More Info: Home for the Holidays – A McKinney Christmas
Visit Santa at Fairview Town Center
What to Expect:
Personalized Santa visits with various activities.
Description:
Visit Santa at Fairview Town Center in a relaxed environment, using your personal camera, and enjoy a variety of activities like face painting and decorating cookies.
Where: Fairview | More Info: Visit Santa at Fairview Town Center
Dickens of a Christmas
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday celebration with tree lighting and Santa visits.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season in Historic Downtown McKinney with family activities, live entertainment, and visits with Santa. Enjoy a variety of events including a tree lighting ceremony, carousel rides, children's crafts, and more.
Where: McKinney | More Info: Dickens of a Christmas
Santa's Wonderland- Bass Pro Shops
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday experience with Santa and wildlife displays.
Description:
Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops offers a holiday experience with aquariums, wildlife displays, and the opportunity to mail letters to Santa. Families can enjoy free giveaways while supplies last.
Where: Grapevine | More Info: Santa's Wonderland- Bass Pro Shops
The Trains at NorthPark™
What to Expect:
Elaborate miniature train display with multiple tracks and scenic American landscapes.
Description:
The Trains at NorthPark is an elaborate holiday train exhibit featuring 24 Lionel miniature train sets running on tracks simultaneously, showcasing iconic American landscapes like New York City, San Francisco, and Dallas.
Where: Dallas | More Info: The Trains at NorthPark™
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Allen (7 miles)
- Frisco (12 miles)
- Murphy (13 miles)
- Plano (13 miles)
- Wylie (13 miles)
- Sachse (15 miles)
- The Colony (17 miles)
- Richardson (18 miles)
- Little Elm (19 miles)
- Garland (20 miles)
- Rockwall (20 miles)
- Rowlett (21 miles)
- Carrollton (23 miles)
- Lewisville (24 miles)
- Farmers Branch (25 miles)
- Corinth (26 miles)
- University Park (26 miles)
- Coppell (29 miles)
- Greenville (29 miles)
- Mesquite (30 miles)
- Denton (30 miles)
- Sherman (30 miles)
- Flower Mound (31 miles)
- Dallas (31 miles)
- Grapevine (32 miles)
- Balch Springs (32 miles)
- Irving (33 miles)
- Southlake (35 miles)
- Euless (37 miles)
- Colleyville (38 miles)
- Grand Prairie (38 miles)
- Denison (39 miles)
- Bedford (39 miles)
- Keller (41 miles)
- Hurst (41 miles)
- Duncanville (41 miles)
- Lancaster (43 miles)
- Arlington (43 miles)
- North Richland Hills (44 miles)
- Watauga (44 miles)
- DeSoto (44 miles)