Now that winter has arrived, you might think you can’t find things to do in McKinney, Texas. In reality, McKinney offers plenty to see and do this season. Don’t hibernate. Celebrate with your friends and family by exploring the following wintertime activities.
Discover Dinosaurs Live!
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Meet a 46-foot Tyrannosaurus rex. Witness a dozen life-size animatronic dinosaurs as you stroll through the nature trails at the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary. An ideal exhibition to explore with children, Dinosaurs Live! offers a fun and educational activity that everyone can enjoy together.
Each dinosaur that makes up this exhibition features an electronic brain powered by a pneumatic system that gives the dinosaurs realistic movements. The following are some of the many dinosaur species you’ll encounter:
- Amargasaurus.
- Carnotaurus.
- Dilophosaurus.
- Iguanodon.
- Plateosaurus.
Dinosaurs Live! will remain on exhibition through Feb. 21, 2022. This experience is included with general admission to the museum and is free for museum members. Operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. Purchase tickets online or in person. The Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is at 1 Nature Place.
Enjoy Some Laughs With ComedySportz
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Come to The Comedy Arena for an entertaining evening of comedic antics. A ComedySportz match pairs two teams of contestants who compete in selected improvisational games and scenes. Members of the audience follow along with the action using their glow-in-the-dark Vote Sticks. ComedySportz follows a format similar to the television program “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”
ComedySportz takes place weekly at The Comedy Arena, located at 305 E. Virginia St.
Explore the Shops of Downtown McKinney
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Park the car and take a walk through historic downtown McKinney. Dozens of chic boutiques await your shopping pleasure.
Apricot Lane Boutique
Create the perfect look for any location at Apricot Lane Boutique. This retailer features distinctive accessories, clothing, and gifts to suit any occasion. Shop the collection of well-known and up-and-coming brands with lovely styles to flatter your figure.
Apricot Lane Boutique is at 110 W. Virginia St.
Fair and Square Imports
Find one-of-a-kind pieces for your home at this fair-trade store. All of the items the shop carries are ethically handmade by artisans in more than 40 different developing countries. You’ll treasure objects such as a lovely Kantha rainbow spiral bracelet from India, bee-shaped earrings from Mexico, and a sari organizer basket from Bangladesh.
Fair and Square Imports is at 219 E. Louisiana St.
My Favorite Room by KBM Designs
Browse this curated collection of distinctive gifts, home decor, and more that await you at this charming boutique. Fine furnishings, attractive antiques, home accessories, gifts, and more await shoppers at this extraordinary emporium of fine goods for the home. If you’re starting an interior design project and need some inspiration, staff members are happy to work with you to find the look you want to achieve.
My Favorite Room by KBM Designs is at 218 E. Virginia St.
Have an Incredible Friday
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Parents of children with special needs understand how much time and attention they devote to caring for their kids. First McKinney Baptist Church has created a new monthly program for families with special needs children called Incredible Fridays.
Once a month, parents can bring their children, including siblings without special needs, to the church for a three-hour Friday evening program held from 6 to 9 p.m. Church volunteers involve the kids in crafts, movie viewings, and other activities. Moms and dads can use the occasion to spend time with one another, go shopping, catch up on housework, or relax.
The remaining Incredible Fridays program for 2021 will be held Friday, December 10. In 2022, Incredible Fridays will take place on January 28, February 25, March 25, and April 22. Participating families do not need to become members of the church to attend. For more information, email Lucy Wilson.
First McKinney Baptist Church is at 1615 W. Louisiana St.
Make Your Own Pottery
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Have you ever tried making a piece of pottery? Jump Into Art Studios offers a weekly two-hour pottery workshop designed to stimulate your creativity in clay. Bring your favorite beverage and a best friend or two and discover the technique of making extraordinary pieces of pottery. Come back two weeks after the event to pick up your one-of-a-kind creations.
Jump Into Art Studios is at 404 N. Church St.
Take a Food Tour
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Discover the best places and best dishes on the menus of McKinney’s restaurant community during a food tour. Combining food with architecture, history, culture, and more, Food Walks of Texas presents dynamic experiences that introduce locals and visitors to the tastes of downtown McKinney’s culinary establishments.
The Historic Downtown McKinney Food Tour is a three-hour experience that will take you to six diverse eateries. Sample a stellar Cuban sandwich and refreshing mojito at The Guava Tree. Find out why Cadillac Pizza Pub is named the best pizza in McKinney when you take a bite of a delicious pizza featuring Texas-grown herbs and vegetables. Indulge your sweet tooth with a slice of The Pantry Restaurant’s famous chocolate cream pie that appeared on the Food Network.
Participants ages 12 and older are welcome on this tour offered every Friday and Saturday at 10:45 a.m., and 3 p.m. Tickets are $64 per person. Look for the tour guide, “Tall Paul,” in front of the Collin County Museum at 300 E. Virginia St. to begin the tour.
Guests 21 and older will also enjoy the Quarantini Cocktail Tour, which takes participants on a 2 1/2-hour guided tour experience of some of the best establishments serving expertly crafted cocktails. This tour takes place every Wednesday and Thursday, beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $74 per person.
Purchase tickets for these food tour experiences on the Food Walks of Texas website.
Learn more about the McKinney community as you explore these wintertime activities. What did you think about this list of programs? Did we miss an event that you think we should include in this article? Write to us and let us know. Our team members at Huffines Kia McKinney are always eager to share McKinney’s local attractions with customers and visitors to our area.