On Saturday, November 21, fireworks go up over Watters Creek Village at 6:30 p.m. Forty minutes later, the puck drops at CUTX Event Center. Five days after that, on Thanksgiving Day, the arena is dark between Disney On Ice shows, Allen Premium Outlets is closed, and The Cheesecake Factory at Watters Creek is closed. Then Black Friday arrives with the outlet doors opening at 6 a.m. and three ice shows on the same stretch of Stacy Road.
If family is flying or driving in this week, Allen's public calendar has two busy days with a quiet Thursday in between. That gap is useful. Saturday sets up the visit, Friday is the busiest day out, and Thursday is a day at home.
Saturday, November 21: A Tree Lighting and a Puck Drop 40 Minutes Apart
Watters Creek Village opens its holiday season with Light the Night, a free event for all ages at 970 Garden Park Drive from 4 to 8 p.m., according to the City of Allen community calendar. Santa's visits at Watters Creek start the same day and run through December 24, with reservations booked through the center's Santa page.
Across town, the Allen Americans host the Kansas City Mavericks at CUTX Event Center the same night. The team bills it as "Saturday Night Hockey." It is the Americans' only home game between November 21 and the end of the holiday weekend.
Here is how the evening runs, with times from the Visit Allen listing and the team's schedule:
- 4 p.m.: Light the Night opens at Watters Creek.
- 6 p.m.: The tree-lighting concert begins.
- 6:30 p.m.: Tree lighting and fireworks.
- 7:10 p.m.: Puck drop at CUTX Event Center, 200 E. Stacy Road.
- 8 p.m.: Light the Night ends.
If guests land early in the week, this Saturday is when they would arrive. If they come in for the holiday itself, they will miss it, and the town's next big gathering is two weeks later. Hosts with early arrivals can choose between Watters Creek and the game, or do the first half of Light the Night and leave before the fireworks to make the puck drop.
Thanksgiving Day: Most of the Town Is Closed
Thursday, November 26, is the quietest day of the week. Disney On Ice: Magic in the Stars opens at CUTX Event Center on Wednesday night, has no show on Thanksgiving, and picks back up Friday morning. Allen Premium Outlets lists Thanksgiving as closed.
At Watters Creek, the center lists general hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on November 26 and 27, but each restaurant sets its own holiday hours. The Cheesecake Factory lists Thanksgiving as closed. If your plan includes an outing after dinner or a walk the next morning, check the specific store or restaurant before you get everyone into the car.
The 7 p.m. Disney On Ice show on November 25 is the only performance before the holiday. For a family that drove in Tuesday, it is the one evening out before the kitchen takes over.
Black Friday: Stacy Road Carries Most of the Day
Friday is the busiest day of the week, and much of it happens on one road. Allen Premium Outlets at 820 W. Stacy Road is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on November 27. CUTX Event Center at 200 E. Stacy Road has three Disney On Ice shows that day, more than on any other day of the run.
| Black Friday, Nov. 27 | Allen Premium Outlets, 820 W. Stacy Rd. | CUTX Event Center, 200 E. Stacy Rd. |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Opens 6 a.m. | 11 a.m. show, doors at 10 a.m. |
| Afternoon | Open | 3 p.m. show, doors at 2 p.m. |
| Evening | Closes 9 p.m. | 7 p.m. show, doors at 6 p.m. |
That makes a split day possible. One adult takes the early shoppers to the outlets at opening, and the rest of the house sleeps in and makes the 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. show. The two groups meet up by dinner without either crossing to the other side of town.
Parking at the arena has one rule to know. According to the CUTX Event Center parking page, event-day parking is free in the South Parking Garage, and parking in the surrounding uncovered retail lots is prohibited. On the busiest shopping day of the year, plan to use the garage. Doors open one hour before each show.
The rest of the weekend keeps going. Disney On Ice plays Saturday at 1 and 5 p.m. and Sunday at noon and 4 p.m. If guests head home Sunday evening, a noon show fits before the airport run. Tickets are sold through the official Disney On Ice site.
What's New Since the Last Time Your Guests Visited
Some places in town have changed since last year's visit, and a few of them suit a houseful of guests on the days between the big events.
Super Llama Inflatable Park, at 109 N. Greenville Ave., opened October 19 in a 35,500-square-foot space with inflatables, arcade games and a zipline, Community Impact reported. Super Llama's Allen page lists admission for ages 4 and up at $24.95 for two hours or $28.95 for all day. For ages 3 and under, it's $19.95 or $24.95. Required park socks are sold separately. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. most days, 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. On a holiday week, call ahead. The all-day pass costs $4 more than the two-hour pass for ages 4 and up and $5 more for ages 3 and under, so it pays off for cousins who will stay past the second hour.
New places to eat when nobody wants leftovers:
- Yearby's Barbecue and Waterice, 405 Central Expressway S., is a halal barbecue spot that planned a soft opening for October 24 and 25, Community Impact reported.
- Barrio Burrito Bar, 1480 N. Custer Road, Suite 140, opened September 26 with tacos, burritos and bowls, per Community Impact.
- The Happy Blend, 545 W. McDermott Drive, opened October 4 with smoothies, bowls and cold-pressed juice, Community Impact reported. It's a light option for the morning after the big dinner.
One change at Watters Creek may affect your plans. Vaqueros Texas Bar-B-Q closed its location at 965 Garden Park Drive on October 28, according to Community Impact. If last year's post-holiday barbecue dinner was there, pick a new spot this year.
After the Guests Leave, Downtown Lights Up
The city's own celebration falls the Saturday after the long weekend, which most holiday visitors will miss. The Holly Jolly Celebration & Christmas Tree Lighting, presented by Credit Union of Texas, returns to downtown Allen on December 5 from 4 to 8 p.m. It includes a 5K and fun run, a holiday market and food trucks, with the city tree lighting and a drone show at 6 p.m. A shuttle runs from Allen ISD Lowery Freshman Center starting at 3 p.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m.
The same day, Allen Parks and Recreation turns on the free downtown Holiday Lights at 300 N. Allen Drive, sponsored by the Allen Community Development Corporation and running through January 6, 2027. The city's event listing describes it this way:
"Downtown Allen is glowing with over 100,000 lights of seasonal backdrops and installations!"
The lights stay up for 32 days. If family comes back at Christmas, downtown becomes the place to take them in December.
If hosting this year has you thinking about how your home works when it's full, or about next year's guest room, The Luxe Global Group would love to hear about it. Book a complimentary consultation, and we'll talk through what your home needs for the holidays ahead.
