Special Events

 

 

Christmas Tree Lighting

Christmas Tree Lighting, Friday, December 5
7 p.m., Civic Plaza

The Christmas Tree Lighting provides a community event for the citizens of Allen to celebrate the upcoming holiday season.  Community organizations and local school groups join in the celebration.  The Christmas tree used for the lighting is a 35 foot artificial tree with more than 20,000 lights.  There are an additional 40,000 lights decorating the Civic Plaza and the buildings surrounding the plaza.

Rudolph Run

Saturday, December 6
7 a.m., Downtown Allen

The Rudolph Run began as a small event in 1995 to promote health and fitness within the community. With the partnership between the City of Allen Parks and Recreation Department and Allen ISD the event has grown from a group of 300 runners, to more than 2,000 runners from all over the North Texas area.

Pictures with Santa

Wednesday, December 10
12-2 p.m., Joe Farmer Recreation Center
Ages: 1-6 years
Cost: $5

Don’t fight the holiday crowd for pictures with Santa! Register today and skip the holiday hustle and bustle. Staff will serve as photographers and give you a holiday frame in which to display it. Call 214-509-4750 to sign up.

Lunch with Santa

Thursday and Friday, December 11-12
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Recreation Hall
Ages: 1-6 years
Cost: $5

Have lunch with Santa as he takes a break from his toy shop and refuels for the day. Children will be provided lunch and parents can bring their camera’s to get a picture of the kids sitting on Santa’s lap. Advanced registration required. Call 214-509-4750 to reserve your spot.

Other Annual Events

The Bunny Hop

Scheduled for March/April every year
Hosted in the Allen Civic Plaza
The Bunny Hop was originally developed as the Easter Egg Hunt for the City in 1996. Since then we have had more than 10,000 kids hunt for more than 125,000 eggs.  In 2006 the Egg Hunt became The Bunny Hop and was held in Civic Plaza.  The idea is to have kids “trick-or-treat” Easter style.  Tables are hosted by local community organizations and businesses and the children visit each table and collect eggs and valuable information for the participating organizations.  There are also opportunities to do crafts, jump in a bounce house and get your face painted.

Arbor Day

Scheduled for March every year
Park location changes each year
Arbor Day is an annual observance dedicated to the planting and conservation of trees.  Together with Keep Allen Beautiful and The Trinity Blackland Urban Forestry Council the City of Allen Parks and Recreation Department hosts an Arbor Day Celebration where many organizations come together to plant trees in one of our parks. 

Youth Fishing Derby

Scheduled for May every year
Bethany Lakes Park
Here fishy, fishy! The entire family will enjoy this event. Prizes given for the most fish caught per age group and the largest fish caught overall. Enjoy one America’s favorite pastimes and give your child have a fishing story that they can tell for years to come. Call Joe Farmer Recreation Center at 214.509.4750 to find out more.

Summer Sounds Concert

Scheduled for May and June every year
7 p.m., Joe Farmer Recreation Center Hillside Amphitheater
The Summer Sounds Concert Series is offered free to the community so that we can provide a family friendly event that exposes everyone to different types of music.  It also creates a true sense of community with Allen residents because they are able to bring their families out for a night in the park where the kids can safely play and dance and the parents can sit and enjoy the music. Call 214-509-4707 to learn more.

Allen USA Celebration

Scheduled for the last Saturday in June every year
Gates open at noon; Celebration Park
Allen USA Celebration honors the birth of our nation and provides a family friendly event by providing something for everyone—food, fun and fireworks. We offer plenty of food provided by more than 20 concessionaires, inflatables and arts and crafts for the kids and lots of great music. Allen USA has become one of the largest Pre-Fourth of July events in North Texas with more than 65,000 attendees. Read More…