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Checked Nov 6, 2026 source how we check
Free three-day Christmas festival on McKinney's historic square over Thanksgiving weekend: tree lighting, artisan marketplace, Ferris wheel and Santa.
Over Thanksgiving weekend, McKinney's historic downtown square becomes a Christmas festival. The town Christmas tree is lit on Friday at 6:15 pm, a carousel and a Ferris wheel go up over the square, and Santa and costumed characters walk the streets. There is a marketplace of artisan vendors, food and drink stands, and a kids' zone with a petting zoo, a train and crafts.
Entry is free; some rides and attractions cost extra. Saturday is also Small Business Saturday, and the 180-plus shops around the square are open.
Streets around the square are closed to traffic. Free shuttles run every 15 minutes from First McKinney Baptist Church and from City Hall, which beats circling for parking.
Good to know
- Free admission
- Food on site
- Petting zoo
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