McKinney announces inaugural Historic Half to boost downtown activity

McKinney city officials on Jan. 9 announced the inaugural McKinney Historic Half presented by BMW, a multi-distance road-race event set for March 28, 2026. The program will include a half marathon, a 5K and a Kids 100M Dash and is positioned as a community fitness occasion welcoming recreational and competitive runners of all ages.

Organizers are partnering with TUPPS Brewery and the team behind the BMW Dallas Marathon to stage the event. The planned course will highlight McKinney’s historic downtown, surrounding neighborhoods and the park system, routing participants past local landmarks and green spaces. Registration information is available to prospective participants, and organizers say the event is intended to be accessible to families and novice runners as well as experienced racers.

For Collin County residents, the race brings several immediate impacts. Downtown businesses are likely to see increased foot traffic around race weekend as runners, friends and family members visit restaurants, shops and breweries. TUPPS Brewery’s role as a partner suggests on-site activations and hospitality tied to the race, creating direct opportunities for local vendors and service workers. City services will also be involved in coordinating street and park access, so residents should expect traffic pattern adjustments and temporary road closures in and around the historic district on race day.

There are broader economic and community considerations. Events like a half marathon typically concentrate spending in hospitality and retail and can raise the profile of a downtown as a destination for weekend visitors. At the same time, staging a safe, well-run event requires planning around public safety, parking, neighborhood access and volunteer staffing. The partnership with an experienced regional organizer gives McKinney a framework to manage those logistics while promoting the city’s built and natural assets.

The race also feeds local fitness and placemaking goals: offering a range of distances—from a kid’s dash to a half marathon—helps lower barriers to participation and encourages residents to engage with public spaces. For neighborhood groups and nonprofit partners, such events often present fundraising, volunteer and community-building opportunities.

Our two cents? If you plan to run, register early and scope the course; if you live or work downtown, expect intermittent street closures and consider planning errands around the event. Either way, the McKinney Historic Half is a chance to lace up, showcase the downtown, and direct some weekend visitor spending to Collin County businesses.