Things To Do In McKinney
Are you traveling to McKinney from out of town to the Market at East End? Maybe you’ve been to our small town before and spent time on our historic square, or this will be your first time to cross over into our city limits. Either way, spending a day or an entire weekend exploring McKinney, Texas is time well spent.
We’ve put together a list of happenings and fun to-do’s in McKinney for the weekend of our market. Explore and have fun while you’re in town!
1. McKinney Garden Clubs Garden & Home Tour
If you love historic homes, you can’t miss the McKinney Garden Club’s Garden and Home Tour. 2022 marks their 12th biannual tour and I think I’ve managed to make the majority of them! McKinney homeowners spend months prepping their interiors and gardens for this special event, and many on the tour are East End clients, too, so you’ll see some of our antiques & architectural salvage “in the wild”. Proceeds from the tour are used as scholarships and given to local horticulture students. It’s a WIN-WIN for all!
Purchase Tickets to the tour HERE.
2. Texas Music Revolution
Do you love Texas music?
Presented by The Range, The Texas Music Revolution is a 2-day music festival featuring some of the biggest names in Americana, Alt-Country & Texas music. Held on June 3rd-4th 90+ bands will grace 20+ stages, all within walking distance of each other, in historic downtown McKinney, TX.
In their 26 year, this promises to be the biggest and best one yet featuring Old Crow Medicine Show, Wade Bowen, Jack Ingram, and the iconic Ray Wylie Hubbard.
Get your tickets while you can! Purchase TICKETS HERE.
3. Shop the Historic Downtown McKinney Square
Ettienne Market
The McKinney square will always be special to us. For 10 years we called it home (read OUR STORY HERE). The brick-lined walkways are still some of my favorite places to shop. Filled with unique small businesses, you can find anything you want or need.
HINT: Don’t forget to wander off the square down each side street, where some of our favorite shops are located.
If you want to do MORE antique shopping after visiting us, we recommend exploring East Virginia street and popping into the Antique Company Mall, Chase Hall, My Favorite Room, Barrons Estate Jewelers, and HomePieces.
For French-inspired apparel, visit SOHO McKinney. Visit Cotton Hearts and Willow House, too, for boutique women’s clothing and accessories.
To stock up on items that fill your kitchen and home with joy, head to Ettienne Market. If you enjoy making cocktails at home, don’t miss the well curated bar accessories, cocktail mixes and cordials shelf.
If you’re on the hunt for a gift, we can always find that perfect something for someone special at one of three places: Fair & Square Imports , Red Zeppelin Records, or Rockin AB (gifts for littles).
Click HERE for a complete map of downtown McKinney
4. Come Hungry (and thirsty).
Harvest Seasonal Kitchen, McKinney
Have a thirst to quench or a stomach that’s talking to you? Well, you’re in the right town. Whether you’re in need of breakfast, lunch or dinner, coffee, tea, or something stronger, you’ll find a slew of amazing options all within a few steps of each other.
Head out a little early and start your day at our new favorite bakery, Bresnan Bread & Pastry. Seriously, we are obsessed with their delicious pastries that stand up against the finest patisseries of Paris. Then when the clock strikes 5 (somewhere….anywhere), head to the lounge at Rick’s Chophouse or the bar at Harvest for a cozy atmosphere and specialty cocktails to wet your whistle.
You can hang at the bar and then transfer to a table at Ricks and Harvest (their food is exceptional), but if you want to try more than one establishment, you’re not lacking in options. Rye is a special favorite and just opened a second location in Dallas, receiving rave reviews in the Dallas food arena, which says something BIG, right? But their first location is right off the McKinney square. It’s cozy, with limited seating, so it’s best to call in advance for a reservation.
PRO TIP: You’ll want to call any restaurant in advance this weekend (or any weekend for that matter) to secure a reservation.
If you want to avoid the downtown altogether, then pop over to Local Yocal Barbecue & Grill, right down the street from us. Their steak and wagyu offerings are excellent!
If the pub atmosphere is more to your liking, Cadillac Pizza is a great option, and if you plan on having a late(er) night on the town, climb the stairs to the second floor of The Celt Irish Pub, where you can enjoy drinks and play games of darts with friends new and old into the wee hours of the morning.
*All of these restaurants are open for both lunch and dinner.
See a list of McKinney restaurants HERE.
5. McKinney-Unique by Nature
Heard Trails
Put on your walking shoes and explore the natural side of McKinney. If you gravitate towards an intense hike or mountain bike ride, head to Erwin Park. With over 10 miles of graduated bike trails, natural wooded areas, and recreation areas, it’s a wonderful place to spend an afternoon sweating it out in nature. Hikers are welcome on the loop bike trails, too!
If a more leisurely pace is your preferred speed, we suggest visiting the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary. This 289 acres of natural preserve and museum is a McKinney treasure. Get an up-close and personal view of our North Texas ecosystem while hiking through the prairie land, and don’t miss the boardwalk through the wetlands on the Wood Duck Trail. Perfect for the entire family!
6. Get Lost In McKinney’s Historic District
If you’re like us, you can’t turn away from historic architecture. One of the most unique parts of McKinney is our downtown historic district. Get lost turning down each road and admiring our colorful historic homes…all while enjoying the cold blast of AC from your car!
PRO TIP: Hunt, Lamar, Tucker, Church, College, West Virginia, and Louisiana Streets are some of my personal favorites to explore!