The sun is out, the temperatures are up, and the kids are out of school, which means that it’s finally summer in Plano. Now that the days feel a bit lazier and the whole family is looking for things to do, you might be wondering what’s going on in town. Well, search no more, because we compiled a list of some of the coolest summer events happening in the Plano area, so you can start looking forward to some serious summer fun.
Art and Drama Summer Camp for Kids
If you have children between the ages of 6 and 18 who are interested in art, theater, dance, and music, they may want to spend a couple of weeks of their summer at the free art and drama summer camps sponsored by the City of Plano. The two-week camps take place from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and end with a production for friends and family. There are two camps offered throughout the summer.
The camp organizers separate the children into different groups by age, so don’t worry about your child’s relative maturity or experience level. The groups include the 6-8 age group, 8-11, 11-13, and lastly, the over 13 group. This opportunity is only open to Plano residents. You can find more information and enroll your child at the Art Center Theatre website.
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Help Your Children Connect With History at Pioneer Camp
Perhaps your children prefer to be outside in nature than up on a stage, or like learning about animals and the cool history of the Plano area. In that case, send them to Pioneer Camp at the Heritage Farmstead Museum. This 4.5-acre historical site hosts camps throughout the summer where children can explore the natural world, experience life on the prairie as settlers did in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and even learn how to take care of farm animals.
The camps are open to children entering kindergarten through sixth grade, and take place on Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Though the camps often sell out early, you can always sign up for the waitlist and hopefully grab a spot if one opens up. The camp costs $250 per week and includes a daily snack given to the children each morning.
If your child would rather focus a little less on history and a little more on the water creatures and bugs around them, as well as the science experiments the programs offer, try signing up for Creek and Critter Camp instead, which is also offered by the Heritage Farmstead Museum.
Celebrate Independence Day at Plano’s All-American Fourth
Plano residents who haven’t yet made plans for July 4 are always welcome to celebrate Independence Day at Plano’s All-American Fourth, which takes place at Collin College Spring Creek Campus. The event goes on from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and is completely free to all members of the public.
Take blankets, lawn chairs, and coolers with you, and set up a place to relax and enjoy the festivities. Make sure to stay for the fireworks display, which starts at 9:30 p.m. Don’t worry about what your children will do if you bring them with you, as the event provides a free kids zone. You can also purchase a bunch of all-American food and beverages from the vendors at the site. However, keep in mind that the All-American Fourth isn’t pet-friendly, so please leave your furry companions at home.
Parking is also available, but it often fills up quickly. For live updates on the parking situation on the day of the event, follow @cityofplanotx on Twitter.
Go to the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson 2023
Even if you can’t head to the beach this summer, now that the temperatures have warmed up, it’s the perfect time for the kids to learn how to swim so you can all have fun in the water together. Why not do so at one of the biggest and most exciting events of the summer, the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson? Taking place on June 22, the swimming lesson is an all-day event at the Oak Point Recreation Center pool.
Older Plano residents who still haven’t mastered their backstroke don’t need to worry about getting embarrassed, as the event is open to students of all ages. Not only will you finally learn how to swim, but you can be part of a momentous occasion, as swimming pools across the country unite to break the record for most swim lessons taught simultaneously. The event is completely free to attend and will also give you a chance to cool off from the Texas summer heat, while learning a useful and life-saving new skill.
Cabaret Comes to Plano
Even if you don’t really follow musicals, you’ve probably heard of the absolute classic, “Cabaret.” Well, in the summer of 2023, “Cabaret” is coming to Plano. Come and experience the songs and lively music, and enjoy the romance, drama, and humor that combine through an incredibly talented cast to transport you to a seedy yet exciting Berlin nightclub of the 1920s.
The show takes place at the Art Centre Theatre from June 16 through July 2. Showtimes are on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. You can either pay $15 for tickets online or pay $20 at the door. This isn’t the most family-friendly of musicals, so it’s probably best to leave the kids at home.
Whether you’re a fan of theater, music, sports, or just good old-fashioned American celebrations, Plano has a lot of exciting summer events to offer its residents this year. If you want to make sure you get to them all, stop by at our Service Center at Huffines Chevrolet Plano to make sure your car is in tiptop shape for whatever activity you choose.