Springtime is a beautiful season to travel in North Texas, and there’s no better place to spend a weekend or longer in McKinney. Whether visiting for a city festival or event or just making memories in the authentic, vibrant historic downtown, there’s no question that McKinney is the place to be this spring.
Arts in Bloom
The city’s spring festival season kicks off April 14–16 with Arts in Bloom, a three-day celebration of art, wine, and music in historic Downtown McKinney. The streets of the downtown square come alive with artists, local musicians, Texas wineries, and food vendors. Kids will have plenty of opportunity to create their own masterpieces at the Kids Creation Station. While visiting McKinney’s cultural district, make sure to hunt for the many murals and sculptures making up the city’s public art collection. And don’t miss the Flour Mill silo mural completed last fall by internationally-known muralist Guido van Helten.
AT&T Byron Nelson
World class golfers will head to McKinney’s TPC Craig Ranch May 8–15, 2023, to compete in the annual AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament. Beginning in the Dallas area in the mid-1940s and taking place for the first time in McKinney in 2021, the AT&T Byron Nelson is the city’s largest event by far. The Salesmanship Club-sponsored tournament draws nearly 50,000 attendees per day to enjoy the action and entertainment surrounded by lush rolling hills and Rowlett Creek that winds throughout the 7,438-yard Tom Weiskopf-designed TPC course.
The 2022 event was the first to sell out since 2008, and this year is likely to see even higher attendance, thanks to additional family-oriented activities and course improvements that will add to the attendee experience throughout the week. New public bleachers and 41 new hospitality units will surround the 17th green, increasing spectator capacity for that one hole alone from 3,500 to about 6,000. When tournament play wraps each day around 5 p.m. attendees can experience “19th Hole” fun while dining and enjoying live music and other fun times at eateries and venues throughout McKinney that offer exclusive tournament specials.
27th Texas Music Revolution
More than 90 musicians and bands will perform during KHYI Radio’s two-day Texas Music Revolution June 2–3 in historic downtown McKinney. Ticket holders will have full access to main stages featuring a combination of established and up-and-coming Texas music artists. More than 20 shops, restaurants, and other businesses around McKinney’s downtown square will also host inside and alleyway stages featuring local musicians that are open to non-ticket holders, too.
Other Great Experiences in McKinney
Downtown McKinney is home to more than a hundred locally-owned businesses including boutiques, specialty shops, wine rooms, and attractions like a vintage arcade, comedy club, and axe throwing venue (opening later this spring). The square also boasts more than 20 eateries offering some of the best chef-driven menus and impressive craft cocktails in North Texas, many of which source ingredients from local and area food producers. Several offer impressive brunch menus on the weekends, and the coffee shops downtown boast vast hot beverage menus, pastries, and even full breakfasts all week long.
History buffs have plenty of opportunities to learn about early settlers in North Texas. Explore a new exhibit this spring at the Collin County History Museum, and at Chestnut Square Heritage Village, tour several preserved homes and visit a general store that is home to the world’s largest ice cream freezer collection. On Saturdays, make sure to peruse the offerings at McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square, voted one of the top farmers markets in Texas. If you love early 1900 architecture and art, stop by the Heard-Craig Center for the Arts to tour the home and its vast art collection. Free historic and public art walking tours are also available, leaving from the Visitors Center a few times each month.
Commune with nature at the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary where you can enjoy guided bird walks, a kid-sized pioneer village, and zip line and canoe adventures.
Check out Adriatica Croatian Village where you can take in a concert at The Sanctuary and enjoy delicious cuisine at eateries including Zin Zen Wine Bistro, Pane Nostro Ristorante, Cavalli’s Pizza, and Harry’s at the Harbor. It’s a favorite spot for photographers, too!
You’ll also want to visit McKinney’s newest entertainment district, Hub 121 at Craig Ranch. Here, you can partake in scrumptious cuisine at several exciting new restaurants, a wine room, and an open-air amphitheater.
Plan your visit to McKinney this spring with this online trip planner!
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