McKinney, Texas is a vibrant city with a mix of cultural and historic attractions, outdoor spaces, and plenty of family-friendly activities, many of which are free to enjoy.


Enjoy the Outdoors at Towne Lake Recreation Area

Check out the Trails, Disc Golf, Kayaking, and more

Enjoy the scenic views, walking trails, and playground at Towne Lake Recreation Area. There are also picnic areas where families can relax by the water, and the lake often has ducks and geese to watch. Also spend a little fun time at the horseshoe pits and disc golf course (you’ll need to bring your own equipment), bring a fishing pole (fishing license required for those over 16 years of age), or for a small fee of $3 for 30 minutes, you can rent a kayak to allow your family to paddle around the lake.

Insider Tip: Venture a little south of the park and explore the nature trails near the Towne Lake Recreation Center. Look for the Howell Memorial Labyrinth part way into the trail! There are large rocks to sit on and a rock labyrinth in the ground where you can walk and think during a quiet moment in nature.

 

Explore Historic Downtown McKinney

Admire the scenery, nostalgia, history, and public art... plus take a ride on the trolley

Take a leisurely walk around McKinney’s charming downtown square. There are boutique shops, murals, and historic buildings to admire, plus frequent community events that are free to attend. Spend some time exploring the public art installations found around the historic downtown square.

If visiting the square from Thursday to Saturday, hop on the trolley for a free ride around the historic downtown square.

Insider Tip: Make sure to get off at the Visit McKinney Trolley stop and head into the Visitor Experience Center to get your commemorative trolley pin. And when you do, make sure to check out our tiny door and the bluebird "mural" painted on our outside wall.

 

Check Out Chestnut Square Heritage Village

Learn about History & Experience Texas's #1 Farmers Market

Stroll through the grounds of the Chestnut Square Heritage Village to learn about McKinney’s past. A docent-guided tour of the buildings in the village does incur a small cost – tours are on Thursdays and Saturdays at 11 a.m. for $7-10 per person - but the grounds and the gardens are free to explore. Information about the buildings can be found on placards outside each.

McKinney Farmers Market is a must-visit spot on Saturday mornings. Located at Chestnut Square, this farmers market has repeatedly been named the top Farmers Market in Texas and the Southwest. While purchasing items isn’t free, browsing the farmers market is, and depending on the time of year, special family fun might just be on the schedule! You can walk around, enjoy the fresh air, listen to live music, and sample local produce or goods.

Insider Tip: On Saturdays during the Farmers Market, you can often catch the blacksmith at work in the blacksmith shop. Also, make sure to stop in at Dixie’s Store where you can view the Guinness Book of World Records largest collection of ice cream freezers.

 

McKinney Performing Arts Center (MPAC) Events

View top local art and step back in history

The McKinney Performing Arts Center is housed in the historic Collin County Courthouse. Opened in 1875 and updated (to add more office space) in 1927, the building itself is an architectural gem worth admiring.  The building was vacated in 1979 when a newer facility was built just south of the square. The building was restored in 2006 and reopened as MPAC. When visiting MPAC, check out the local art on the walls on the bottom and second floors.  The third and fourth floors contain the Courtroom Theater where you can attend concerts, movies, and other various events.

  • To find shows currently scheduled for the center, click HERE. (Cost is involved in tickets for the majority of the shows, but occasionally, there is a free one.)
  • Read more about the building’s history HERE.

Insider Tip: The historic courthouse was reopened briefly in 1980 for the scandalous Candace Montgomery murder trial because none of the courtrooms in the new courthouse were large enough for the crowd that was expected to attend the trial. Learn more about the Candace Montgomery trial, including seeing photos from the event HERE. (The trial was depicted in two limited TV series in recent years - Candy (Hulu) and Love & Death (HBO)

 

Erwin Park

Explore the trails by bicycle or on foot ... or pitch a tent for the night

Located in north central McKinney, the somewhat rural Erwin Park offers 212 acres of trails, a creek, and wide open spaces for families to explore. It's a great spot for a walk, bike ride, or even a game of frisbee. For those interested in more extreme sports, check out the multi-trail skills course filled with hills and jumps.

Insider Tip: Erwin Park is the one park in town where tent camping is allowed. (Find park and camping reservation information through the city Parks & Recreation Department.)

 

Bonnie Wenk Park

Check out the great play areas for both kids and dogs!

Bonnie Wenk Park offers a wide range of free activities for all ages. Families with young children will love the all-abilities playground, kid-sized zipline (shown), and other fun equipment for play. For those interested in getting fit, there is a free-to-use fitness center next to the small lake that provides users with cardio and strength-building equipment. Bonnie Wenk Park is also home to a spacious and well-maintained dog park where your furry friends can play off-leash in a safe, enclosed area; two sections enable small and large dogs to be separated for play time. Shaded benches and picnic tables provide spots for owners to relax while their pets enjoy the space.

Insider Tip: Bonnie Wenk Park also features walking/cycling trails, a pond for shoreline fishing (permits required for those over 16) and a water-side amphitheater, making it a great spot for the whole family to spend time outdoors. Restrooms are located near the pond and the playgrounds.

 

Festivals and Parades

Families have a multitude of special events from which to choose throughout the year

The City of McKinney hosts a variety of community events throughout the year, including the Red, White & BOOM parade and fireworks show, McKinney Oktoberfest, Arts in Bloom, and Home for the Holidays (shown here). The Rotary Club hosts a Christmas Parade, too, the second Saturday evening of December each year. These events are always free to attend. Live music is available in the evenings from Thursday through Saturday as well as other nights in many downtown spots - restaurants, wine rooms, and TUPPS Brewery.

Insider tip: While buying food and drinks at these festivals does have a cost,most of the other activities (and admission) are free. Also, following the Red, White & BOOM parade, the East Louisiana portion of the downtown square hosts a Yankee Doodle Block Party that offers all kinds of fun, free, family activities.

 

Live Music Throughout Town

Rock-out to live music throughout McKinney at restaurants, wine rooms, and more

Music enthusiasts will enjoy all the live music available in various McKinney spots. Downtown McKinney restaurants and wine rooms, TUPPS Brewery (shown here), and other places in town including District 121, Hub 121, and Adriatica, offer music from singer-songwriters and cover bands of all genres. A large music festival, Texas Music Revolution (TMR), takes place in Downtown McKinney the first weekend of June, featuring roughly 100 bands on stages scattered throughout the historic downtown footprint. Community music groups like the McKinney Community Band and its satellite groups - the McKinney Dance Band and the Flute Choir - perform free concerts multiple times a year. 

Insider Tip: While listening to high-quality music is generally free - there is rarely if ever a cover charge, unless attending a concert like those at music venues like The Sanctuary Music & Events that do charge for tickets. Tickets are sold for TMR, but there are plenty of bands attendees can listen to without buying a ticket.

 

Free History or Public Art Tour

Discover the history and public art that fills Downtown McKinney

Visit McKinney works in conjunction with the city's Historic Preservation Office and the artists at Jump Into Art Studios to offer free guided tours multiple times a year (usually two or three times a month for each). Whether learning about the city's more than 175 year history (the buildings and people who built our city) or exploring the various pieces of public art (murals and sculptures), these tours provide a fun, free experience for all ages! Find the schedules on our website HERE. 

Insider Tip: Two special public art installations require an eagle eye to seek them all out. You'll find a tour on our app that helps you in finding the McKinney Tiny Doors, and a new tour is coming for the recently completely 2024 Birdtober bird paintings.