Attended the Arts in Bloom festival in downtown McKinney and I was impressed! Downtown McKinney reminds me of a, much smaller scaled of course, downtown Fort Worth so I felt right at home! Small local shops, tons of eateries and plenty of space to roam about. The festival layout was well thought out and extended down every main street. Loved supporting the local wineries and trying yummy wine. Definitely an area I'd return to for another festival, or lunch/dinner if I'm in the area. read more

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I love Historic Downtown McKinney. We come often for food, bevvies, shopping, comedy/clubs, events, and holiday activities. They have done a superb job revitalizing especially post-COVID. They understand their identity and have poured into the locale with a solid unifying theme. My only complaint is the lack of planning in parking. With the increase in businesses and activities, they should have planned for more parking especially garages. Parking is a HUGE challenge almost Californian level. Nonetheless we return over and over. It's just a great location. read more

Impressive how this city has transformed in the last 20 years. Many factors have significantly contributed to the exponential growth. Mainly location. It's a place where you can still find a small town feel but be in the thick of it. There are several services I use in town that are relatively unchanged over decades. However,there is The, brand new next door offering all 2026 can bring. In addition Texas has always been that certain type of special " melting pot". All the new peeps I run into on my morning walks around town are from,Indiana, California, Ohio....etc. All are happily matriculated or ( in process) To cultural adjustment. Lyle Lovett said it best in one of his songs, " Your not from Texas,but Texas wants you anyway!" Go! read more

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I've been here twice. Lots of cute shops, friendly employees everywhere, yummy food, wine tastings and a really good coffee shop. It's a lovely place to spend an afternoon. read more

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What a wonderful parade of lights! Started on time and with great fan fare. The mayor and FD and Police initiated the parade and then there were many children representing school and groups that added to the parade and the festivities! We enjoyed it very much! read more

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Personally, I think the Historic Downtown McKinney area is my favorite downtown area of all that I have been to. It is small enough to preserve the small town historic charm, and large enough that it offers so much more than just a street of old buildings. Historic Downtown McKinney covers a large area radiating throughout an area centralized by an old historic courthouse that was once the county seat for Collin County. Today, the courthouse has become a performing arts center, so even in its current use it remains a hub of the area. On top of amazing shops, there are some really good restaurants in the area too. There are also bookstores, candy stores, antiques, and pretty much something for everyone! They also decorate and celebrate the seasons very nicely too. For example, for Christmas it is simply charming. If you are looking for something fun and unique to do, I highly recommend a stroll through the area and let your interests lure you into some of the unique offerings! read more

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Attended Home for the Holidays Thanksgiving weekend and this event, hosted by McKinney city government, is one of the best seasonal, downtown style events I have attended. My adult family wasn't sure if we would be entertained while remaining sober and something definitely aimed at kids, but rest assured we were throughly entertained for 2.5+ hours. After the tree lighting, my husband had to pull my dad and I out since we really wanted to stay later. Lots of cute photo ops and great holiday music. This might just turn into a great holiday tradition for us. The only thing that could be better is better religious representation and adding a children's choir performance to make the tree lighting itself a bigger production. read more

Historic Downtown McKinney - Beautiful square with cute holiday tree lighting ceremony. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - McKinney, Texas

Lovely place to what around and spend your day. Lots of boutiques, art galleries, and wonderful restaurants.

McKinney, you have my heart! The historic downtown area feels like you stepped into a storybook or set of a movie. When you hear about those cute small towns, McKinney is one that probably comes to mind. Came here with a friend for a wedding and it was such a great weekend stay. The weekend we came, they had the Arts in Bloom Festival, so it was hustling and bustling with a lot of people. We stayed in the heart of this area, so everything was a hop and skip away. Things close fairly early around here, so make sure to grab dinner at a decent time. The place is beautiful with a lot of great, local spots around! read more

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McKinney town square is a fun place to visit to shop and dine any day of the week, but this is especially true during the holiday festival the weekend after Thanksgiving. The festival is free to visit and there is free parking. Many of the activities are very affordable, so bring your whole family. The town square is dressed in lights and there are fun holiday decorations found on every corner and park bench. Selfie stations are throughout, so snap a photo with a reindeer or behind a snow globe or in a VW van. The streets are blocked from car traffic. This is a pedestrian friendly event. Artisans are setup in tents along the center of each street selling jewelry, clothing, accessories, woodwork, and art. The small mom and pop shops along the road are open late too, so you can cruise through them to check out the unique wares for sale and stock up on your Xmas shopping. Rides and activities for the kids are on every block. They have a bounce house, a climbing tower, a sled station with snow, and an actual ferris wheel! Even though we don't have kids, it was fun seeing others enjoying these activities. The city had Santa's workshop setup in a storefront where you could get a photo. We were much too late for the street performances, but there was also a stage with entertainment scheduled throughout the festival. If you have never been, it's worth a stroll to work off that Thanksgiving meal and to take a break from the leftovers. the piles of dishes, and possibly your overnight family guests. Enjoy an evening bundled up in the crisp air. Indulge in some mulled wine or hot cocoa, grab some freshly made donuts to share, and let the season be merry and bright! read more

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Love this area! So many options, family friendly, had quality options for adults (great food and beverage avenues), and very walkable. Love this area!!! Also great Airbnb options and close to other areas in Texas. read more

I love downtown McKinney. They have the best restaurants, cutest shops and a great art scene. Go check out the tiny doors and the murals. read more

Crowded and HOT I've been to the Oktoberfest since they started and today was a disappointment. Few vendors, real food was scarce. Not much entertainment. Just boring read more

I'm a sucker for adorable and quaint downtowns, and downtown McKinney perfectly fits that mold! There are oodles of small, local-owned boutiques and eateries, which makes for the picturesque area to walk around and enjoy yourself (and probably spend some money). I came during a 4th of July parade which only heightened the activity and entertainment of the area, and I'm certainly glad I have family that lives in the vicinity so that I have an excuse to come back! If you're looking for something kind of laid back and fun to do in the area, why not check out dahn-tahn! read more

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What do you do over the holidays during a pandemic? You visit the McKinney square! Everyone there was very respectful about wearing masks and keeping a safe distance. We were so grateful for the opportunity. It was my birthday and I chose Rick's Chophouse to celebrate, located directly on the square. My evening could not have been more perfect, exciting and memorable! To our surprise the streets were decorated with holiday lights, every door had a festive wreath, the courtyard had a huge Christmas tree, a merry go round, and so much more (see my pictures!). No matter your age or religion, this is a lovely place to visit. Take advantage of the photo opportunities, and do your best to $$$ support these family owned local businesses during this world wide pandemic. read more

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We just moved to Texas from Kentucky and downtown McKinney has captured our hearts! So many cute shops, excellent dining, and just an overall great vibe. We love going to the seasonal strolls and sponsored events. Keep up the good work Historic Downtown McKinney! read more

We thoroughly enjoyed our brief visit walking and driving and shopping and eating in historic downtown McKinney. We were in town for a couple of days for an unplanned family event -- and had 3-4 hours on a Monday morning to explore our surroundings. We shopped and made purchases in 2-3 boutique shops -- wonderful merchandising and displays. We dined for brunch at Layered and experienced a wonderful breakfast. The downtown area surrounding the County Courthouse is vibrate and thriving -- didn't see a single storefront boarded up like you may see in other outlying counties. The tree lined streets with beautiful old homes made you feel you'd stepped back in time. Our next visit I'm sure will be a planned visit -- and one that lines up with the robust entertainment & cultural calendar that we learned about. read more

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I love the feel to this small quaint historic town. The houses around it are very nice heart and maintained. Definitely a nice place to escape from all the huddle and bustle of a big city. Everyone is very friendly and they have a coffee shop, Filtered that makes the best cappuccino foam! Chicago can learn from them. Seriously, a nice place to live and wine, dine. I see a lot of potential in this area. My wife and I have been e noting this place read more

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Love this quaint quiet town's architecture. Lots of historic buildings and plenty of restaurants and boutique shops. A few options on coffee shops too. I am originally from Dallas Texas and are currently living in Down Town Chicago, so this is a place to unwind and relax. We enjoyed the peaceful pace and the atmosphere. However, the people gave us a look, not sure what that meant or what they were thinking king, but they gave us a look. We for one done dress like the local folks around here, and maybe we just had an aura ( when knows( but one thing I do know is that we are good people and we cause no problems. We are actually quite charming. Anyways, back to the experience. We had 5 nights and stayed at the Sheraton in McKinney right off of Central Express Way and this place was very close by. There was easy access to parking all the time we came here. Which is a blessing, trust me, in Chicago it's tuff to find parking space close by to your destination. Plus you are talking about big bucks for parking too, that's why this is also known as the Second City, aside from New York. Not sure if we would come back here on our next trip, as we were not quite welcomed the way we felt was a but awkward. I mean these Town folks are not discretely, they look at you like an outsider. But you know to each their own it was still nice, and we made the best out of it. Just one thing though, if you are looking for a coffee shop, skip the Snug on the Square if you are looking for high quality lattes or cappuccinos and their breakfast are not tasty. Plus if you sit on their patio, you will be fighting with their pesty flies. read more

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Came here to check out McKinney Oktoberfest. I didn't like how you needed to purchase tickets to pay for things at each booth cause I didn't know how many tickets I would need for the day. Lots of booths had long lines but they moved at decent speeds. Lots of police officers were present--they were approachable and tried their best to answer questions which was nice. It was pretty hot during the day so I recommend stopping by later during the day when it's cooler. read more

Great quaint and cozy city with a lot of great little shops. I stay there when I go to Plano to visit family. I recommend an ABNB near Downtown. read more

Very charming downtown to walk and shop, eat, and drink. Very walkable. Parking is not a problem. Lots of unique shops. Really loved the historic atmosphere. The square takes you back in time. The court house in the middle of the square is cool. When the weather is nice, the total experience is thoroughly enjoyable. I can see why McKinney is considered one of the best places in America to live. Don't forget to check out the historical museum. read more

So this place is too cute. Lots of streets to walk down around these old beautiful buildings. It gives you this nice downtown, small town feel. I almost expect the Gilmore Girls cast to walk by. I have only been here twice, but if I had to live in Texas, this place would be on the top of my list. A lot of cute stores, restaurants, and couples walking around holding hands. The people who work in these buildings seem genuinely happy and thoughtful. Again I have only been here twice, but I have had a nice time in both instances. Well dinne McKinney, well done. read more

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If you took downtown Denton, shrunk it down by about a third, and infused it with a somewhat different (Austin-esque) atmosphere...here you go. I'd recommend going along Louisiana and Kentucky Aves to see commercial and residential McKinney. This is probably the most charming Dallas satellite city I've been to. A place where there's art in alley ways, old school architecture, and over-priced (but good) coffee. read more

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I'm all about checking out the heartbeat of an area and quickly dart towards the historic districts, streets and main downtown areas. 2nd time here and went solely to honor and revisit McKinney. Easy parking and who wouldn't enjoy a nice stroll around a pretty town square?! Square is Nicely landscaped with a plethora of flowers and planted containers. Square is lined with eateries, shops, junk shops and a bar or two. In the evening - square has a nice buzz of folks honoring businesses ;-) If you're in the area - worth a visit and stroll... read more

Historic Downtown McKinney - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - McKinney, Texas

Downtown McKinney is such a unique and cultural place to explore. We love coming here to just walk around, sit for a glass of wine, get great food, or stop by for dessert. The clothing boutiques are so fun to shop in, even if you aren't buying. Lots of cute clothes or unique items to decorate your house with. The courthouse is a neat building, that has lots of performances available, plus free public restrooms! Landry's and Rick's are our favorite spots to stop. Rick's you usually need a reservation, because they are so popular, but they have the best brunch buffett, and incredible service. Landry's winery is a great spot to stop and have a glass of wine, with lots of indoor and outdoor seating. The worst thing about the square is the parking. It's almost impossible to find a spot to park actually on the square (even during slow days) and the parking lots around are usually full. We find that the best spots to find parking, are he lots closer to the public library. It's not too bad if you have to park and walk, especially if it's nice outside! Head to the square for a great day! read more

My husband and I were out here in May for a wedding at the United Methodist Church. The town was very quaint and the people super friendly. We visited Spoons Cafe, Gather, the Grand Hotel and tiny toy/hobby shop with great Star Wars collectibles. The one feature of the downtown square @ McKinney that caught my eye were the ceramic frog planters. So my husband and I walked the square and I took a photo of every frog I could find (plus the old tractor). I think the frogs are pretty much in order if you were to walk the square...I found 28. some in great shape and very creative....and some froggies in great need of repair. We never learned the historical significance of the frogs, but I definitely enjoyed finding each and every one! (took away 1 star due to the heat and humidity and thunder/lightening storms -- miserable for a pregnant woman!) read more

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I will NEVER return to downtown McKinney again. I came for lunch @ Rick's, parked along the square. The car next to me was over the line, so I parked barely over the line. On the other side of me was a trash bin (residential size) so I wasn't concerned about blocking another car. When I return from lunch, the trash bin is gone, and I have a citation for parking over the line. It's like pulling teeth just to find a spot and once you do they have freddy flashlight going around giving parking citations. Once again, I will NEVER return as well as I will recommend my friends and family not return either. read more

After grubbing at Hutchin's BBQ nearby, my girlfriends and I walked around here on a nice sunny Sunday afternoon. We found parking at a nearby covered parking structure, which was nice and not too far from the main area. There's also parking in main downtown area itself but it was a little hard to find. The downtown is structured like a square, which took us maybe 1.5 hours to walk around. The atmosphere definitely as an old town charm, definitely family friendly, and is relaxed for the most part. There are plenty of shops and restaurants. We stopped by a interior design store, some boutiques, a dog cookie shop, an antique/gift shop, and a soap/candle store which I am a big fan of now (White Rock Soap). The restaurants vary, including American, pizza, Irish bar, cajun, and a wine bar. Overall, we had a good time strolling around and checking out stores during our lazy Sunday. I'm already planning to come back to eat at one of their restaurants! read more

Bless your heart, how cute! With up-and-coming as well as established restaurants (Spoons, Square Burger, Rick's Chop House, Gregory Bistro, and the ZAGAT rated Harvest) Mickinney Square is becoming a brunch & Saturday / Sunday afternoon destination for nearby towns. I have visited a few times and most recently made the trek after church in Plano just for brunch. The square offers plenty of afternoon diversion from food and drinks, to a number of great pubs, tons of artsy-fartsty decor stores, art galleries, fine furniture shops, clothing stores, boots, antiques, craft markets, candy & games - you name it. It's like a mini Fredericksburg. Minus the wineries. While, for those who are traveling in to visit Dallas, I don't recommend this detour - this is a great spot that locals should open their weekend adventures up to! I also highly recommend Cadillac Pizza Club off Louisiana Street. Oh my, good pie. read more

***While lacking the great dining boutiques of other quaint small town downtown areas like Ann Arbor and Frederick, Maryland, this small town square in a suburb of Dallas has a nice look and the right approach with several local boutiques; it is also an alternative to the more planned and new communities that are abundant in this part of Texas*** Free street parking is available. read more

This was my first time visiting the square and I absolutely love it! It felt like you were downtown in a small town. There's a ton of cute shops with clothing and furniture for sale. Many of the shops have a shabby chic theme. There's also a ton of restaurants and bars. Many of them are organic, gluten free and all natural! Parking can be a pain but be patient and you'll find a spot. This is definitely a great place to wander around and spend the afternoon! read more

Loving the vibe of historic downtown McKinney. What a great way to spend your Saturday browsing around the shops. They have since put a few new shops and restaurants in the area but there's also some fun antique places to browse around in. I used to love stopping by the Pantry for a delicious lunch (they have the best tortilla soup) then going and spending some money or do a little window shopping. Great for families or a fun mother/daughter or girls day! read more

Been there twice now one with Daughter from Michigan & once with Daughter from Oklahoma was great both times will be back as i live in Blue Ridge. read more

So after binge watching all of Hart of Dixie and Fixer Upper on Netflix, Mckinney square has become a new found love for me. I am so in love with all the historic charm this place has on every single corner. The little antique shops (which keep an eye on, the hubby and I have found some great things at a really good price), the food, the people... I love it all! I would recommend coming early in the morning, it seems to get a bit crowded as the day goes by. Lot's of charm! read more

I'll admit... i used to be a hater of mckinney.... Never really thought there was anything there but i was wrong. Downtown McKinney is filled with precious shops and good artisan products. The area is nice to just stroll around and take a look at the various places. Anyone who is a steak aficionado needs to check out Local Yocal... they got that wagyu bro. read more

Downtown Mckinney has a lot of charm and character as well as history. While walking down in this small downtown you can see that you're in Texas. It's almost a different part of time when you walk around here. It's great to see a downtown that supports local businesses. Lots of great places to hang out and sit down, and many awesome places to eat as well. I hope Downtown mckinney stays this way for many years to come. read more

Such cute stores I could spend hours here. My daughter and I had a lovely time exploring all the cool shops. read more

Historic Downtown McKinney - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - McKinney, Texas

I love the Downtown McKinney area. Rick' Chophouse, Sauce, and Square Burger are my favorites. I love a family owned or mom and pop restaurant versus a chain. The square has many to choose from. read more

What's not to love?! Tons of cute, independently owned shops with great bargains, unique finds, and stylish digs. I love it. Downtown manages to be both family friendly while also catering to an adult crowd. There are niches for sophisticated dining and wine tasting, as well as chomping down on pizza. Service providers are also welcome...from masseuses and psychotherapists to law offices. Park your car and get out for a stroll through this lovely little place. read more