No city in the Southwest throws a street party better than Grapevine, Texas. There is great fun to be had on Main Street in Grapevine, TX at the 24th Annual Main Street Days Outdoor Adventure, May 16th – 18th. The entire family will enjoy a variety delicious festival food, beverages and Texas wine. Grapevine’s entertainment includes six stages of music, a variety of shows and demonstrations, 21 food vendors, business expo vendors and a multitude of interactive activities.

For three full days, Main Street Days will offer Grapevine, TX residents and visitors an opportunity to watch and participate in many exciting adventure including: the Royal White Tiger Discovery Exhibit from Zoo Dynamics, United Freestyle BMX Professional Stunt Bike Shows, a Fishing Tank, Grapevine Vintage Railroad Excursions, the Heritage Gunfighters show, Kayaking, the ever-popular Lumberjack Show, a Quad Jump, a Rock Climbing Wall, Scuba Boats, the Ridin’ Rails Wakeboard Slider exhibition, a Winery Shuttle and a 10K walk on Saturday, May 17th.
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It’s time to mark your calendars for Keller Texas’ most anticipated hometown celebration, KELLERfest! 2008. Keller Town Center is the designated site for this year’s event taking place on May 30th – June 1st, 2008. Offering Free Admission to residents of Keller, TX and guests from surrounding areas, an anticipated 6,000 Keller, TX residents and friends are expected each day!

The fun begins Friday evening and will feature music entertainment by several local bands and solo artists throughout the three days of FUN, FUN, FUN! Make plans now to spend your time with the family, enjoying the weekend’s festivities on Friday, May 30th /5pm - 11pm, Saturday, May 31st/10am - 11pm and on Sunday, June 1st 1pm - 7pm.

This year’s KELLERfest! will feature a Battle of the Bands youth talent competition. The competition is limited to bands/vocal groups with a maximum of 5 members (solo acts welcomed) and all participants must be age 20 or younger. Only 6 bands will be selected to compete, so visit www.Kellerfest.com for entry information. The winning act will be awarded a free recording session from 103.7 KVIL and Jinglebank.com! Saturday’s band lineup will include, Outlet, the 2006 KELLERfest! Battle of the Bands winner.
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McKinney, Texas will be host to Habitat for Humanity’s annual “Taste of Collin County” on Feb. 25th at Collin County Regional Airport in McKinney. This year’s theme will be “Beach Party” and guests will sample amazing dishes from several premium Collin County restaurants — each vying for bragging rights as a celebrity-judged competition will crown the year’s winner.

In addition to the delicious food, McKinney residents and their guests will be treated to excellent entertainment provided by nationally-known artists Troy Allen, Ian Dickson and Jimmy Barcus; plus a live and a silent auction.

Churches, organizations and individuals are invited to partner with North Collin County’s Habitat for Humanity by donating creative baskets for raffle. Proceeds will exclusively benefit the McKinney Texas and North Collin County area. Donations are also welcomed for the live and silent auctions. Please list items and their approximate values, wrap up in plastic and drop off at the Habitat for Humanity office by Feb. 21st.

This McKinney TX annual event raises thousands of dollars to benefit Habitat’s mission of building decent affordable housing for God’s people in need. With the money raised from the event, Habitat plans to build six to ten more homes in the North Collin County area. The organization recently dedicated its 32nd home in the area and has two more under construction.

For more information on the “Taste of Collin County” event, contact event chair Sharon Weideman at 972-542-5300 or visit www.ncc-habitat.com.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home anywhere in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex to include McKinney Real Estate please call us at 800-326-9011 or email us by clicking here.

Each holiday season, we celebrate all of the blessings in our lives. We look down at our children and feel warm pride swell as we watch them decorate the Christmas tree and sip their warm apple cider. That warmth quickly fades when we have to scold them for peeling back the corners of their gifts to see what is inside.

It’s fun to give our family and friends gifts to show them how much we love and cherish them. When you are shopping for gifts or preparing the holiday feasts, I hope that you will also remember the families in our local communities that do not have the food or money that we have been so blessed with.

Every year, Texas Home Central works with CCA (Christian Community Action) to collect food for our local communities. We go door to door with our friends from Texas Mortgage Team collecting cans from our wonderful neighbors and set up signs and boxes in many of our local businesses in Flower Mound, Southlake, Keller, Frisco and McKinney.

We hope that you will share the blessings with others in your community. There are so many ways to help and giving a handful of canned food is such an easy way to do just that. I hope that God will continue to bless your life. Have a happy and safe holiday season and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. -2 Corinthians 9:7

Tis season to spend time with family… okay, so that should be every day of the year, but the holidays always provide a lot of excuses to get out and really bond with the ones you love. Below is a wonderful list that was compiled by Norma Cavazos and Bindu Varghese.

CHRISTMAS IN THE SQUARE A nightly light show at the Frisco Square urban complex is synchronized to holiday music. Nov. 23 through Jan. 2 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Dallas North Tollway and Main Street, Frisco. Free. 469-633-1721. www.friscosquare.com

DOWNTOWN VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS City of Waxahachie festival includes arts and crafts fair, outdoor ice-skating rink, music and photos with Santa. Nov. 23 through Nov. 25 and Dec. 1-2, 8-9 from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Ellis County Courthouse Square, West Main and North College streets, Waxahachie. Victorian Christmas admission is free; prices for specific activities vary (check Web site). 972-937-2390. www.waxahachiechamber.com
• Candlelight Christmas Home Tour: Waxahachie Downtown Merchants Association presents tour Nov. 23 through Nov. 25 and Dec. 1-2, 8-9 from 2 to 8 p.m. $15 per weekend. For ticket locations and addresses of homes, call or visit the Web site above.
• Enchanted Pines: Outdoor ice-skating rink opens Nov. 23 and runs Fridays through Sundays through Dec. 30 (call for schedule). South Rogers and Madison streets. $6 plus skate rental.

“ICE!” Exhibit features a winter wonderland hand-carved from 2 million pounds of ice by artisans from Harbin, China. New to the exhibit this year are a three-level ice slide, a gingerbread family, a walk-through Nativity scene and penguins. Through Jan. 5. Sundays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine. Weekdays: $20, $18 for military and seniors 55 and older, $10 for children 4 to 12. Weekends: $23, $20 for military and seniors 55 and older, $12 for children 4 to 12. 817-778-1000. www.gaylordtexan.com

PRAIRIE LIGHTS Illuminated drive-through theme park features two miles of holiday exhibits with 3 million lights. Make a stop at the holiday village for refreshments, souvenirs and a 10-minute holiday theater light show (for an extra charge of $2 for adults, $1 for kids). Through Dec. 31. Sundays through Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m.; Fridays, Saturdays and Dec. 24-25 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Lynn Creek Park, 5700 Lake Ridge Parkway, Grand Prairie. $12 per car Mondays through Thursdays, $15 per car Fridays through Sundays; prices vary for larger vehicles such as limos and small buses. 972-237-4569. www.prairielights.org

THE TRAINS AT NORTHPARK The exhibit’s miniature trains will ride along 2,500 feet of track, going past miniature versions of America’s national landmarks. Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. Through Jan. 1 at NorthPark Center (near the Boedeker Street entrance between Neiman Marcus and Barneys New York, Level Two), North Central Expressway at Northwest Highway. Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sundays noon to 6 p.m. Early closings on Dec. 24 at 4 p.m., Dec. 31 at 6 p.m., Jan. 1 at 6 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. $5, $3 ages 2 to 12 and 65 and older, free for children under 2. www.rmhdallas.com

THINGS TO PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR FOR NEXT YEAR (dates and times may change slightly)

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY The Shops at Starwood salutes the holidays with a ceremony featuring carols, Santa and more. Nov. 23 at 6:30 at the shopping complex, Lebanon Road and Dallas North Tollway, Frisco. Free admission. 972-335-3330. www.theshopsatstarwood.com

DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS McKinney’s 27th annual Victorian Christmas festival features horse-drawn carriage rides, strolling carolers, a tree-lighting ceremony and visits with Santa. Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Nov. 25 noon to 6 p.m. in downtown McKinney. Free. 972-547-2660. www.downtownmckinney.com

GALLERIA DALLAS Olympic skating legend Dorothy Hamill kicks off the Galleria’s holiday ice show series with two performances this weekend. Ms. Hamill was the featured skater at the Galleria’s first Thanksgiving weekend ice show in 1982. The Grand Tree Lighting ice show also features Missile Toes the skating Santa performing his pyrotechnic stunts. Nov. 23 at noon, Nov. 24 at 5 p.m. Grand Tree Lighting shows continue through Dec. 22. Check the Web site for featured guests, dates and times. Galleria Dallas, LBJ Freeway at Dallas Parkway. Free. 972-702-7100. www.galleriadallas.com

HOLIDAY TREE-LIGHTING Santa rides into town on a fire truck at the city of Rowlett’s annual tree-lighting party. The event will feature performances by school bands and choirs, the mayor’s reading of The Night Before Christmas, photo ops with Santa in his vintage sleigh, hot chocolate and other treats. Visitors are invited to bring lawn chairs and a new unwrapped toy for the Rowlett police and firefighters’ toy drive. Nov. 26 at 6:30 p.m. City Hall lawn, 4000 Main St., Rowlett. Free. 972-412-6192. www.rowlett.com

LIGHT UP LEE PARK The fourth annual event features the illumination of Lee Park and the exterior lighting of the park’s Arlington Hall. Festivities include fireworks, photos with Santa, children’s activities, musical entertainment, an outdoor movie screening and an auction of decorated wreaths created by local and national artists. Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. (lighting ceremony at 7 p.m.) at Lee Park, 3333 Turtle Creek Blvd. Free. 214-521-2003. www.arlingtonhallatleepark.com

CANTON IN THE CITY The fifth annual holiday gift market includes holiday and home decor items, kitchenware, clothing, candles, cosmetics and purses. Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 25 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Grapevine Convention Center, 1209 S. Main St., Grapevine. $4, $1 for students, free for ages 11 and younger (tickets are good for both days). 972-471-0601. www.cantoninthecity.com

CAROL OF LIGHTS Grapevine illuminates its historic downtown with holiday lights in this event featuring a sing-along with community choirs. Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Main Street gazebo, 325 S. Main St., Grapevine. Free. 817-410-3185. www.grapevinetexasusa.com

CHRISTMAS IN CELINA Holiday event, hosted by Celina’s Main Street Program, features ice skating, Santa’s workshop, carolers, shopping, food, local bands and more. Nov. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m., Nov. 30 from noon to 9 p.m., Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on North Ohio between Pecan and Walnut in downtown Celina. Free admission. 972-382-8949. www.considercelina.com

*Compiled by Norma Cavazos and Bindu Varghese