Collin County features a tremendously unique blend of cultures. From Asian culture to Middle Eastern culture, European and Latin American Cultures, Collin County is a beautiful mix of many heritages. Festivals provide a great opportunity for cultures to meet and celebrate together. For some areas of Collin County, music brings these cultures together. Other areas revolve around continued education, sports, automobiles, and even video games.

Collin County residents are in a great area to take a short drive to any of the major cities within the county and enjoy some of these great festivals and events. While every festival and event is different, there is sure to be something for each and every family to enjoy around the county.

Most of the festivals and events have a few things in common. Usually, there is great food present. Typically, some good old Texas BBQ is always on the docket. They will normally have some sort of music that is usually loud enough to hear at any corner of the event. There will always be something for children to do that will make them want to come back again and again. No matter how you slice it, festivals and events in Collin County provide great entertainment and celebration.

 

Anna Glowfest

Slayter Creek Park
425 W. Rosamond Pkwy.
Anna, TX 75409
www.annaglowfest.com

The annual Anna Glowfest is one of the most popular events for the smaller town of Anna. This event happens around Halloween each year. This event is so unique for the overall scope of activities that are provided. There are hot air balloons, a hot-rod car show, trick or treating, goodie bags, shopping vendors, food, and a kid’s zone. What would the cost of something like this be? All free admission, provided by the City of Anna.

Cajun Fest

142 N. Ohio St.
Celina, TX 75009
www.celina-tx.gov

The Cajun Fest is unique to the city of Celina. Celina has a rich Cajun culture. For the past 5 years, Celina has put on the Cajun fest to celebrate the beautiful Cajun culture in the area. This weekend-long festival is marked by amazing Cajun food that included the famous crawfish broil. Other events take place in the Cajun Fest as well such as an antique car show, shopping from local vendors, and a staggering amount of kids’ activities.

Cottonwood Art Festival

1321 West Belt Line Rd.
Richardson, TX 75080
www.cottonwoodartfestival.com

The Cottonwood Art Festival is a massive art event that happens twice each year in Richardson, TX. This event is family friendly, featuring a noteworthy children’s arts and crafts area that is a big hit. The Cottonwood Art Festival features several stages with live bands. The overall festival is a walk around event with countless art vendors, stations, and displays of some of the best art from around the country. This is a great event for those with an artistic soul!

Dickens in Historic Downtown Plano

Downtown Plano
www.plano.gov

Dickens in Historic Downtown Plano is one of the most attended Christmas events in Collin County. This is a free admission annual event that is hosted by the City of Plano. The event features several stages with live music and performances all related to the Christmas holiday. You can write your letter to Santa and put it in his mailbox. Children can meet and greet Santa. The event is capped with the lighting of the Christmas tree. This event provides great family fun!

Frisco Freedom Fest

6101 Frisco Square Blvd.
Frisco, TX 75034
www.friscofreedomfest.org

The Frisco Freedom Fest is an annual festival that happens on the 4th of July each and every year. This festival is a family oriented event that is strict on no alcohol being allowed. For this and many other reasons, this is one of the most popular family events to attend in Collin County to celebrate the independence of the United States. An epic firework show serves as the finale to an incredible event filled with music, food, entertainment, and great shop vendors.

Frisco Rotary Farmers Market

8821 4th St.
Frisco, TX 75034
www.friscorotaryfarmersmarket.com

The Frisco Rotary Farmers Market takes place each Saturday from late spring until mid-October. This has been going on for many years and will likely continue each and every year. While Farmers Markets are not uncommon, the Frisco Rotary Farmers Market is by far the biggest of Collin County. There are fresh fruits and vegetables for as far as the eye can see. Rural arts and crafts as well as numerous shopping vendors dot the landscape. This is a great event.

Frisco Starfest

Frisco Commons Park
800 McKinney Rd.
Frisco, TX 75034
www.texasastro.org

The Frisco Starfest is a monthly, recurring event that happens on the second Saturday of each month. This is a unique event that serves to observe the beautiful Texas sky with other people who share the same passion. The mission of the event is to educate and enjoy the gorgeous astronomy opportunities that the North Texas skies offer.

Gaither Fest Texas Homecoming Spectacular

2601 Avenue of Stars
Frisco, TX 75034
www.gaither.com

The Gaither Fest is one of the most popular, faith based tours that will come through North Texas each year. This tour is completely family friendly. The faith based tour is focused around great food, family, and friends. Live music is centered on country, gospel, rock, and alternative rock. This tour has grown each and every year and is quickly becoming one of the biggest live music gatherings in Collin County.

Happy Fall Fest

451 St. Mary Dr.
Allen, TX 75013
www.cityofallen.org
The Happy Fall Fest is a large festival that occurs each fall in Allen Texas. The idea is fairly straightforward. The celebration of cooler weather, beautiful colors of nature around the region, and the approaching holidays is what the Happy Fall Fest is all about. This festival offers an enormous amount of family entertainment, a vintage car show, great foods, and live music. Local products are featured by the many vendors that are available at the festival.

McKinney Classic Film Festival

111 N. Tennessee St.
McKinney, TX 75069
www.mckinneyclassicfilm.com

The McKinney Classic Film Festival goes to serve as one of the most unique events on the list. This is quite a new concept, getting its start in 2015. While this will not feature the massive crowds that some of the other festivals will, the concept of this one is just so unique that it must be mentioned. This is a mix of people that focus on a movie theme for each year. Throughout that year, they meet up to enjoy the films together. The mission is simple: Preserve the history of film while embarking to explore several genres with many different groups of people.

Off the Rails Country Music Festival

9200 World Cup Way
Frisco, TX 75033
www.offtherailsfest.com

Off the Rails Country Music Festival is one of the largest country music festivals in the south. Each year, tens of thousands of people gather to Frisco enjoy great performances by some of the biggest legends of country music. The recent rise in popularity of Red-Dirt County music has brought on a large amount of successful musicians who, often times, get their start at festivals such as this. Off the Rails gets a little crazy. You are in for an entertaining 2 days!

Plano Balloon Festival

Oak Point Park
2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway
Plano, TX 75013
www.planoballoonfest.org

The Plano Balloon fest is one of the largest hot air balloon festivals in Texas. Whether you are a child or an adult, there is always fascination with the enormity that is a hot air balloon. To think about hundreds of these balloons in one location is mind boggling. There is great food, music, rides and entertainment to enjoy here. This annual festival lasts for 3 days every year in September.

Plano Steinfest

Downtown Plano
www.steinfest.org

The Plano Steinfest is not a place for children. This is one of those events where adults can go each year and enjoy beer, culture, and great food. This is a German based cultural celebration. The event encompasses 8 blocks of downtown Plano in a day packed with amazing adult fun. The German culture is in full force during this event, with native German beer and food spread throughout.

Richardson Wildflower Festival

2351 Performance Dr.
Richardson, TX 75082
www.wildflowerfestival.com

The Richardson Wildflower Festival is an extraordinary mix of crafts, music, food, and family. While located just south of the outskirts of Collin County, many Collin County residents flock to this event to enjoy the family atmosphere. The music is typically packed with cover bands, local rock and roll, and a few up-and-coming bands that are absolutely fantastic. This three day event is sure to provide a wonderful experience for the entire family.

Rudolph Run

City of Allen
305 Century Dr.
Allen, TX 75013
www.cityofallen.org

The Rudolph Run is one of the most participated community events in Collin County. This event happens every year. It is a pretty simple idea. The event starts with a non-competitive 1 mile run. Typically, this run is filled with children of all ages. The 5K is an organized, competitive event that sees a winner crowned for the 50+ age group as well as a winner in the 50 and under group. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a great day in the community with happy families and great vendors.