Wednesday, Nov. 11 McKinney National Airport sends off its first passenger flight. Avelo Airlines flies to Fort Myers, Florida that day. Las Vegas and Orlando flights start Thursday, Nov. 12, and Fort Lauderdale and Tampa follow on Nov. 19. Six more cities, including Atlanta, Denver and Nashville, join in mid-December.

Here is the checklist I would screenshot. The airport asks you to arrive 90 minutes before takeoff, and Avelo needs checked bags at the counter at least 40 minutes before the flight. The terminal is at 1910 FM 546 (FM means Farm to Market, a type of Texas road). On boarding passes and bag tags, look for the airport code DTX.

Parking is one lot with 980 spaces across from the terminal, and there are no paper tickets. Cameras read your license plate and you pay by scanning a QR code. The first 30 minutes are free, then it is $5 up to 1 hour, $10 up to 2 hours and $15 up to 24 hours. Spots are first come, first served, and you cannot reserve one. Cars with a disabled veteran license plate park free, a nice nod on Veterans Day.

Once inside, TSA (the federal airport security team) screens everyone, and you need a REAL ID (the driver's license with a star on it) or a passport. Expect a snack kiosk and vending machines for now, with a full restaurant and bar still to come. Enterprise rents cars at a counter in the terminal, and Uber and Lyft pick up outside. Your next Florida trip can now start right here in McKinney.

Source: McKinney National Airport travel guidance, flydtx.com, November 4, 2026

McKinney finally has its own drive-in movie theater, and it held its grand opening weekend Nov 6-8. The 4-acre spot has lawn games like gaga ball and cornhole, an 18-hole mini golf course ($6 extra), and snacks, sodas, beer and wine served from a century-old barn. Movie nights and ticket prices are on waybackdrivein.com.
📍 3964 Co Rd 168 · Opened Nov 6

The North Texas Municipal Water District, the agency that supplies water to McKinney and nearby cities, filed plans with the state on Friday, Nov. 6 for a new pump station building at 3701 Redbud Blvd. The 17,340-square-foot building will hold the pumps and controls that move water around the system, and it is scheduled to be finished in June 2027.

Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing, November 6, 2026

Go to the Farmers Market in style with our original McKinney canvas tote bag. $9.99 OFF automatically applied at checkout to cover shipping & more.

💃 Line Dance Lessons
Boot-scootin' for beginners: learn a brand-new dance from scratch in the first 40 minutes, then stay for the next level up.
Senior Recreation Center, 1400 S College St · Mon Nov 9, 4-5:30PM ($20 members / $28 non-members, registration required)

🏆 Ultimate Challenge Nights
Team games, obstacle courses and mystery challenges inspired by viral internet contests. Bring your competitive streak and your sense of humor.
Old Settler's Recreation Center, 1201 E Louisiana St · Mon Nov 9, 5-6PM ($20 residents / $28 non-residents)

🏓 Beginner Pickleball
Learn the rules, techniques and strategies of America's favorite paddle sport, with drills and real games. Dink responsibly.
Old Settler's Recreation Center, 1201 E Louisiana St · Mon Nov 9, 6-7:30PM ($50 residents / $70 non-residents)

🤝 Lunch Bunch - What Does Resilience Mean? The NonProfit Edition
A midday conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Searing of UT Dallas on how nonprofits stay strong when funding and community needs keep changing.
MillHouse McKinney, 610 Elm St Ste 1000 · Tue Nov 10, 11:30AM-12:30PM (Free)

🎨 Creative Arts Studio (Adults)
A grown-ups-only art night at the library. Find your inner Picasso, no judgment about the stick figures.
John & Judy Gay Library, 6861 W Eldorado Pkwy · Tue Nov 10, 6:30-8PM (Free)

🎸 Colin Boyd at Harvest
Dallas-based singer-songwriter with six albums and plenty of stage time, playing downtown McKinney's cozy Masonic lounge.
Harvest at The Masonic, 215 N Kentucky St · Tue Nov 10, 6:30-9:30PM (Free)

🎭 The Yes, And Improv Jam
No experience needed. Jump in and play improv games, or just watch the chaos. Saying yes has never been this funny.
The Comedy Arena, 305 E Virginia St · Tue Nov 10, 7-9PM (pay what you can, $0-$15)

🎵 Video Music Bingo at The Lion & Crown
Music bingo night at McKinney's British pub. Mark your card, win bragging rights, and sing along when you know the song.
The Lion & Crown, 7951 Collin McKinney Pkwy · Tue Nov 10, 7-9PM (Free)

✍️ Creative Writers Workshop (Adults)
An afternoon at the library for writers of all levels. Bring a draft, a notebook or just a good first line.
John & Judy Gay Library, 6861 W Eldorado Pkwy · Wed Nov 11, 1-2:30PM (Free)

🤾 Dodgeball Nights
A mix of classic games and fast-paced matchups for all skill levels. Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge.
Old Settler's Recreation Center, 1201 E Louisiana St · Wed Nov 11, 5-6PM ($20 residents / $28 non-residents)

🎸 Buzz Andrews at Harvest
Sixty years of experience playing classic rock, blues and country around North Texas. Catch him live in the Masonic lounge.
Harvest at The Masonic, 215 N Kentucky St · Wed Nov 11, 6:30-9:30PM (Free)

🃏 Euchre Night at Barro's Pizza
A fast-paced card club that starts dealing at 7 sharp, with cash prizes for first and second place. Stick the dealer, and maybe a slice of pizza.
Barro's Pizza, 2730 S Central Expy · Wed Nov 11, 7-9PM ($5 into the prize pot)

🎶 Erick Fayard - Live at The Lion & Crown
Live music with a mix of favorites and feel-good vibes. Grab a drink, find your spot and let Wednesday unwind.
The Lion & Crown, 7951 Collin McKinney Pkwy · Wed Nov 11, 7-10PM (Free)

🀄 Beginner American Mahjong Hour (Adults)
New to the tiles? This beginner session at the library is the perfect place to learn the game without feeling like you're getting played.
John & Judy Gay Library, 6861 W Eldorado Pkwy · Thu Nov 12, 1-3PM (Free)

🎲 Tabletop RPG Nights
Build a character, explore imaginary worlds and solve challenges together. All skill levels welcome, from brand-new to seasoned adventurer.
Old Settler's Recreation Center, 1201 E Louisiana St · Thu Nov 12, 5-8PM ($2 residents / $3 non-residents)

🧠 Trivia Night: Veterans Day / Military Trivia
A themed trivia night to honor Veterans Day. Play on your own or in teams of up to six. Registration is encouraged but not required.
Senior Recreation Center, 1400 S College St · Thu Nov 12, 6-8PM (Free)

🀄 Mahj for a Mission
An evening of mahjong for a good cause, supporting Princess Promise and vulnerable girls in Sierra Leone. Grab your crew, space is limited.
Gray Branch Ranch, Gray Branch Rd · Thu Nov 12, 6-9PM (ticket info on Facebook)

🎸 Aaron Hendra at Harvest
Thursday night live music in the Masonic lounge to close out Harvest's three-night run this week.
Harvest at The Masonic, 215 N Kentucky St · Thu Nov 12, 6:30-9:30PM (Free)

🎶 Music Bingo at The Brass Tap
Bingo with a soundtrack: name that tune, cover the square and win prizes, with no cover charge and no fee to play.
The Brass Tap, 4030 W University Dr Ste 100 · Thu Nov 12, 7-9PM (Free)

🎶 Aidan Berlioz - Live at The Lion & Crown
Live music at McKinney's British pub. Settle in with a pint and let Aidan do the rest.
The Lion & Crown, 7951 Collin McKinney Pkwy · Thu Nov 12, 7-10PM (Free)

😂 The Comedy Mix
Three live comedy acts and one wildly unpredictable night of improv, with no scripts and no safety nets.
The Comedy Arena, 305 E Virginia St · Thu Nov 12, 7:30-8:30PM (tickets at thecomedyarena.com)

Long before McKinney had a nature museum, it had Bessie Heard. Born in McKinney in 1886, she called herself a pack rat and collected shells, minerals, butterflies and bird and flower prints. She showed them off in an informal "sun-porch museum" at her home, the kind of display where the neighbors popped by to look.

Then, in her 80s, she decided that wasn't enough. McKinney was growing, and she wanted a place where future generations could still experience real nature. On October 1, 1967, the Heard Natural Science Museum opened on 207 acres south of the McKinney Country Club, built to house her collection.

The sanctuary has since grown to 289 acres. A wetland beside Wilson Creek and 8,000 square feet of new museum space were added in 1991. Miss Bessie lived past 100, long enough to see her sun-porch hobby become one of the city's best-loved green spaces. The next time you walk its trails, thank the woman who saved the land before it became a subdivision.

(Sources: Texas Highways; Wikipedia)

Mon: ☁️ Turning cloudy, high 71°F
Tue: 🌦️ A shower in places in the morning, then partly sunny, high 74°F
Wed: ☀️ Mostly sunny and very warm, high 80°F
Thu: ☀️ Pleasant with plenty of sunshine, high 73°F

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