Editing McKinney, Texas (section)

== Culture ==
===Events===
The city hosts several large events throughout the year, many of which cover several blocks of historic downtown, to include:

* Krewe of Barkus - a pre-Mardi Gras festival held downtown focused on dogs with a parade, costumes, awards, and vendor booths.<ref>{{cite web|title=20 years later, McKinney Krewe of Barkus event is an annual Mardi Gras staple downtown|url=https://starlocalmedia.com/mckinneycouriergazette/20-years-later-mckinney-krewe-of-barkus-event-is-an-annual-mardi-gras-staple-downtown/article_a35c43e0-a259-11ed-9315-93d23546af71.html|publisher=McKinney Courier-Gazette|date=February 1, 2023|access-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref>
* Arts in Bloom - a downtown-wide arts festival, with local and visiting artists, as well as local wineries and food vendors, usually held the second weekend in April.<ref>{{cite web|title=McKinney prepares to host 2023 Arts in Bloom festival|url=https://starlocalmedia.com/mckinneycouriergazette/mckinney-prepares-to-host-2023-arts-in-bloom-festival/article_305a182a-c457-11ed-b09a-637b9463b260.html|date=March 17, 2023|publisher=McKinney Courier-Gazette|access-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref>
* Texas Music Revolution - in June the entire downtown area shuts down for two days for concerts from over 90 country performers on 20 different stages across the area, along with food and drinks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spring in McKinney Features Music, Art … & Golf!|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/sponsored/spring-in-mckinney-features-music-art-golf/|date=February 23, 2023|publisher=Texas Monthly Magazine|access-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref>
* Red White and Boom Parade & Fireworks Festival - a 4 July parade is held downtown in the morning and a large fireworks display and festival usually takes place in western McKinney.<ref>{{cite web|title=Here's what to know about McKinney's Red, White and BOOM!|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2022/06/27/heres-what-to-know-about-mckinneys-red-white-and-boom/|publisher=The Dallas Morning News|date=June 27, 2022|access-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref>
* Oktoberfest - in late September a large German-themed festival takes place for several days on the downtown square with authentic German food, beer, live music, games, and vendors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Prost! 16th annual McKinney Oktoberfest brings a weekend of fun and frolic|url=https://starlocalmedia.com/mckinneycouriergazette/news/prost-16th-annual-mckinney-oktoberfest-brings-a-weekend-of-fun-and-frolic/collection_b47502b0-5bb9-11ee-a8e8-77552f85fcc1.html#1|publisher=McKinney Courier-Gazette|date=September 26, 2023|access-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref>
* Home for the Holidays - the weekend after Thanksgiving the downtown area shuts down for Santa with Christmas attractions, a large tree lighting ceremony, games, and shopping at the local stores.<ref>{{cite web|title=McKinney Welcomes Everyone Home for the Holidays|url=https://www.countylinemagazine.com/life-style/mckinney-welcomes-everyone-home-for-the-holidays/article_7f94d694-50f5-11ed-a937-e3b9715445c4.html|publisher=Country Line Magazine|date=October 26, 2022|access-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref>

===Arts===
The McKinney Performing Arts Center (MPAC) is housed in the [[Old Collin County Courthouse|historic Collin County courthouse]] in the square in historic downtown and was built in 1876 and remodeled in 1927.<ref>{{cite web|title=Initial MPAC: Performing Arts Center opens today|url=https://starlocalmedia.com/mckinneycouriergazette/news/initial-mpac-performing-arts-center-opens-today/article_bfda08a8-45ec-57c7-80f7-be36c5630041.html|publisher=McKinney Courier-Gazette|date=March 29, 2006|access-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref> The MPAC has seating for 427 and regularly hosts live entertainment such as off-Broadway theater, comedy shows, and concerts, and is also the centerpiece for most large events, festivals, and other attractions that take place downtown.<ref>{{cite web|title=McKinney Performing Arts Center|date=September 23, 2017 |url=https://collincountymagazine.com/venues/mckinney-performing-arts-center/|publisher=Collin County Magazine|access-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref>

===Museums===
[[File:McKinney April 2017 012 (Historic U.S. Post Office).jpg|thumb|Collin County History Museum]]
Located in the historic 1911 McKinney Post Office in McKinney historic downtown, the Collin County History Museum has free admission several days a week and displays an extensive history of the Collin County area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Collin County History Museum prepares new exhibit|url=https://eaglenationonline.com/50153/news/collin-county-history-museum-prepares-new-exhibit/|publisher=Eagle Nation Online|date=May 11, 2023|access-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref> This include an exhibit called "Created in Collin" that showcase the people, ideas, and products that began in Collin County.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Shelbie |date=2024-02-09 |title=New 'Created in Collin' exhibit on display at the Collin County History Museum in McKinney |url=https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/mckinney/business/2024/02/09/new-created-in-collin-exhibit-on-display-at-the-collin-county-history-museum-in-mckinney/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Community Impact |language=English}}</ref>

The Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is a 289-acre wildlife sanctuary with a museum building that has exhibits on natural history, fossils, rocks and minerals, and live animals.  The wildlife sanctuary has 6.5 miles of trails through various types of terrain and is home to more than 240 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians and 15o species of wildflowers and other plants.  It contains a 50-acre wetlands with an outdoor learning center, observation deck, and boardwalk as well as an outdoor amphitheater with seating for 500 guests.<ref>{{cite web|title=Heard Museum to host Spring Plant Sale & Heritage Day|url=https://blueribbonnews.com/2014/03/heard-museum-to-host-spring-plant-sale-heritage-day/|date=March 15, 2014|publisher=Blue Ribbon News|access-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref>

The Collin County Farm Museum is located at the Myers Park & Event Center in rural McKinney and has exhibits reflecting the early settlers in the area and the farming and agricultural history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Live the Farm Life at the Collin County Farm Museum|url=https://dfwchild.com/live-the-farm-life-at-the-collin-county-farm-museum/|date=December 17, 2019|publisher=DFW Child|access-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref>

===Nature===
Erwin Park is a city owned park on 212 rural acres in northern McKinney.  The park has designated overnight campsites and picnic pavilions as well as 10 miles of mountain bike trails maintained by the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mountain Bike Skills Area Now Open at Erwin Park, McKinney|url=https://www.localprofile.com/community/mountain-bike-erwin-park-mckinney-7505247|date=May 26, 2023|publisher=Local Profile|access-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref>

The McKinney Farmers Market is held every Saturday morning in the historic Chestnut Square Heritage Village and in 2023 it was named the #1 Farmers Market in the Southwest United States by the American Farmland Trust.<ref>{{cite web|title=American Farmland Trust Announces Winners of the 15th Annual America's Farmers Market Celebration|url=https://markets.farmland.org/news/american-farmland-trust-announces-winners-of-the-15th-annual-americas-farmers-market-celebration/|publisher=American Farmland Trust|date=September 21, 2023|access-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref>
[[File:McKinney April 2017 043 (Roy & Helen Hall Memorial Library).jpg|thumb|Roy & Helen Hall Memorial Library in 2017]]

===Libraries===
The city has two full-service libraries, the Roy & Helen Hall Memorial Library on the north end of the historic downtown and the John & Judy Gay Library on Eldorado Parkway in western McKinney, that together lent out 1.6 million items during fiscal year 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=McKinney libraries continue implementing new features, programs amid growth|url=https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/mckinney/city-county/2023/03/09/mckinney-libraries-continue-implementing-new-features-programs-amid-growth/|date=March 9, 2023|publisher=Community Impact|access-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref>