North Texas, October 2, 2025
News Summary
The McKinney Wine & Music Festival and the Plano Food + Wine Festival are set to delight attendees with tastings, live music, and culinary experiences. The McKinney festival features 16 wine sampling stations and performers including tribute bands, while the Plano festival showcases over 100 wines and dishes from top local restaurants. Both events support community charities and provide various ticket options for food and drink enthusiasts.
McKinney and Plano
Two major fall festivals in North Texas set dates, locations, hours and ticket options
The 9th Annual McKinney Wine & Music Festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at District 121. The 8th Annual Plano Food + Wine Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Legacy West. Both festivals will run from noon to 6 p.m., offering tastings, entertainment, and local culinary experiences. Ticket prices and tiers vary by event and include options for general admission and VIP access, with proceeds from the McKinney event directed to local nonprofit organizations.
Top-line details
The McKinney Wine & Music Festival will feature 16 wine sampling stations with one-ounce pours highlighting diverse wine styles. Live music performances at the McKinney festival will include Downtown Fever, Penny and the Flamethrowers, and Traveller (a Chris Stapleton tribute band). McKinney restaurants will serve complimentary bites to ticketed guests from their patios during the festival, and attendees can explore local vendors and partake in interactive stations for photos.
VIP guests at the McKinney festival can access the Wild Fork VIP Area, which includes shaded seating, signature cocktails, and gourmet food offerings. The VIP pass for the McKinney festival costs $85 and includes a 20-ticket wine tasting pass and a commemorative wine taster. A standard wine tasting pass for the McKinney festival is available for $45. Proceeds from the McKinney Wine & Music Festival will benefit One Heart McKinney and The Warrior’s Keep, supporting local families and veterans.
The Plano Food + Wine Festival will feature over 100 wines, premium spirits, and participation from more than 30 local restaurants. Guests at the Plano festival can sample dishes from 15 top restaurants, including Toulouse Café & Bar, KĀI, and True Food Kitchen. Ticket options for the Plano festival include a $125 VIP Pass with food and wine access, an $80 Food+Wine tasting pass, a $45 Wine Tasting Only pass, and a $55 Food Tasting Only pass.
What attendees can expect
Both events are day-long celebrations that combine beverage tastings with live entertainment and local food offerings. Attendees at the McKinney event should expect one-ounce wine pours across multiple sampling stations and a music lineup spanning tribute acts and local bands. Plano’s festival emphasizes a wider selection of wines and spirits paired with dishes from a cross-section of area restaurants. VIP access at both locations provides added amenities and a more spacious, served experience.
Community and charity focus
Organizers of both festivals emphasize community support and local business participation. The McKinney festival specifically directs proceeds to nonprofit groups, and both events are designed to showcase the area’s culinary craftsmanship and cultural heritage while providing business for local restaurants and vendors.
Registration and logistics
Each festival offers multiple ticket tiers to accommodate different preferences, including combinations of food and wine access as well as wine-only or food-only options where noted. Attendees should verify festival-specific rules regarding ID, responsible consumption, and whether food and drink are included with each ticket tier. Event locations—District 121 in McKinney and Legacy West in Plano—are both in established mixed-use districts with nearby parking and pedestrian access.
FAQ
Q: When will the McKinney festival take place?
A: The 9th Annual McKinney Wine & Music Festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at District 121.
Q: When will the Plano festival take place?
A: The 8th Annual Plano Food + Wine Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Legacy West.
Q: What are the hours for both festivals?
A: Both festivals will run from noon to 6 p.m., offering tastings, entertainment, and local culinary experiences.
Q: How many wine sampling stations will the McKinney festival feature?
A: The McKinney Wine & Music Festival will feature 16 wine sampling stations with one-ounce pours highlighting diverse wine styles.
Q: Who is performing at the McKinney festival?
A: Live music performances at the McKinney festival will include Downtown Fever, Penny and the Flamethrowers, and Traveller (a Chris Stapleton tribute band).
Q: What food will be available at the McKinney festival?
A: McKinney restaurants will serve complimentary bites to ticketed guests from their patios during the festival.
Q: What VIP benefits are available at the McKinney festival?
A: VIP guests at the McKinney festival can access the Wild Fork VIP Area, which includes shaded seating, signature cocktails, and gourmet food offerings.
Q: How much does the VIP pass for McKinney cost and what does it include?
A: The VIP pass for the McKinney festival costs $85 and includes a 20-ticket wine tasting pass and a commemorative wine taster.
Q: How much is a standard wine tasting pass for McKinney?
A: A standard wine tasting pass for the McKinney festival is available for $45.
Q: What are the offerings at the Plano festival?
A: The Plano Food + Wine Festival will feature over 100 wines, premium spirits, and participation from more than 30 local restaurants.
Q: How many restaurants and which dishes can guests sample at the Plano festival?
A: Guests at the Plano festival can sample dishes from 15 top restaurants, including Toulouse Café & Bar, KĀI, and True Food Kitchen.
Q: What are the ticket options for the Plano festival?
A: Ticket options for the Plano festival include a $125 VIP Pass with food and wine access, an $80 Food+Wine tasting pass, a $45 Wine Tasting Only pass, and a $55 Food Tasting Only pass.
Q: Who benefits from the McKinney festival proceeds?
A: Proceeds from the McKinney Wine & Music Festival will benefit One Heart McKinney and The Warrior’s Keep, supporting local families and veterans.
Q: What is the purpose of both festivals?
A: Both festivals are designed to celebrate community and support local businesses and charities, showcasing the area’s culinary craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
| Festival | Date | Location | Hours | Wine / Spirits | Restaurants | Key Ticket Prices | Beneficiary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinney Wine & Music Festival | Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 | District 121 | Noon to 6 p.m. | 16 wine sampling stations with one-ounce pours | McKinney restaurants serving complimentary bites to ticketed guests | VIP $85 (20-ticket wine tasting pass + commemorative wine taster); Standard wine tasting pass $45 | One Heart McKinney and The Warrior’s Keep |
| Plano Food + Wine Festival | Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 | Legacy West | Noon to 6 p.m. | Over 100 wines and premium spirits | Participation from more than 30 local restaurants; sample dishes from 15 top restaurants including Toulouse Café & Bar, KĀI, and True Food Kitchen | $125 VIP Pass; $80 Food+Wine tasting pass; $45 Wine Tasting Only; $55 Food Tasting Only | Local businesses and charities (event designed to support local businesses and charities) |
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Additional Resources
- Dallas News: Food Festivals in North Texas
- CultureMap: McKinney Wine and Music Festival
- Local Profile: Top Things to Do This Weekend
- Community Impact: Halloween Live Music and Events in McKinney
- Texas Monthly: Make McKinney Your Springtime Destination
- Wikipedia: Food Festivals
- Google Search: North Texas Food Festivals
- Google Scholar: Culinary Festivals North Texas
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Wine Festival
- Google News: Music Festivals McKinney
Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
