By Maggie Heyn Richardson 

Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, friendly and vibrant Plano, Texas is an outstanding summer getaway. Packed with special events and things to do, this charming North Texas city rolls out the red carpet with its playful sense of adventure. Get your two-step ready because live outdoor music abounds. Savor some sumptuous global and regional cuisine. Shop ‘til you drop at quality vendor markets and explore a massive gem and fossil expo for a piece of natural history. Forget the summer doldrums. There’s so much to do in Plano it’ll make your head spin. 

Salt the Rim  

What do you get when you cross the Texas springtime with a thirst-quenching margarita? Plano’s not-to-be-missed Salt the Rim festival, which also includes great food and live music. The city’s 4th annual gathering of “margaritas, música y más,” takes place at McCall Plaza in beautiful downtown Plano. Prepare to savor a variety of lip-smacking margaritas prepared by Plano’s talented mixologists. Along with traditional lime, sip flavors like coconut mango, strawberry jalapeño, and blood orange. The food is top notch, too, and includes street steak taco plates from Urban Rio Cantina and Grill. Enjoy back-to-back acts on stage delivering high energy performances. This year’s event features mariachi music by Mariachi Fuzion along with gorgeous traditional dance by Mexico 2000 Ballet Folkorico. The Latin dance band, Lara Latin, closes things out, so bring your best Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia and Bachata steps as the music pulses into the night. Free and family friendly, Salt the Rim takes place on Saturday, May 4 from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm in downtown Plano.  

Texas Mineral and Fossil Show  

Calling all rockhounds! The annual Texas Mineral and Fossil Show in Plano is a world-class event for collectors, amateur naturalists and anyone who appreciates the allure of gems, minerals and fossils. From shiny quartz and mysterious geodes, to polished stones and gemstone jewelry, items of all kinds are available for purchase. The show also features fossils of all kinds to appeal to the dino hunter in each of us. Browse the booths of some of the country’s best dealers for an unmatched glimpse into a collector’s heaven. Don’t miss one of the talks given by a mineral or fossil expert. Voucher giveaways are drawn regularly. Held May 17-19 at the Plano Event Center. Free admission and free parking.  

Shopping Days Vendor Market  

Beat the heat with a day of rain-or-shine shopping at Plano’s popular Shopping Days Vendor Market. More than 100 small businesses and boutiques gather at the Plano Event Center, giving shoppers a second-to-none day of retail therapy. Hobnob from booth to booth to find on-trend men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, as well as pet products, candles, housewares, handcrafted jewelry, gourmet foods, artisanal crafts, bath and beauty products, and lots more. It's a great way to support regional small businesses. Refreshments are available for purchase. Shopping Days Vendor Market takes place Saturday, June 29 from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.  

Retro Expo 

Break out the lightsaber and twist your hair into Princess Leia cinnamon buns. Plano’s annual Retro Expo is THE place for toy collectors and sci-fi and comic book fans. Held Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14 at the Plano Event Center, this high energy gathering features a dealer expo loaded with pop culture merchandise, including vintage and modern comic books, action figures, video games, trading cards, vinyl records, VHS tapes, artwork, autographs, posters, Funko Pops, Pokémon, plush, apparel, and much more. The expo includes appearances by voice actors from the Disney+ animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. Grab an autograph and snap a pic with key cast members, including Ashley Eckstein (Ashoka Tano), Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Vanessa Marshall (Hera Syndulla), and other talented actors. General admission and VIP tickets are available. 

Nutcracker Christmas in July Market  

Get a head start on holiday shopping at Plano’s annual Nutcracker Christmas in July Market, a gathering of more than 100 vendors from around the state selling original and eclectic items for the home, closet, and under the Christmas tree. Yes, this is an excellent way to check off all the holiday gifts you plan to buy friends and loved ones while supporting regional businesses and artisans. Explore a wide variety of items, including stylish clothing, home and garden decor, wreaths and other holiday items, handmade and fashion jewelry, gourmet foods, homemade soaps and candles, gifts for the guys, accessories, art, photography, and much more. $5 cash entry fee. Teachers, military, first responders with ID, and children under 13 get in free. Held at the Plano Event Center July 22 from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. 

Legacy Hall Live Summer Music  

The Legacy Hall Live Music Series is one of the most exciting things to do in Plano in the summertime. The perfect fusion of food and music, the event features live acts at Legacy Box Garden, the outdoor stage at Legacy Food Hall. Start off the evening by exploring the more than 20 food vendors serving global and gourmet eats at the food hall, as well as nine bars, then head outdoors to the Box Garden for live music. Ticket options include standing room or VIP seats on the balcony that include cocktail service and stellar views of the stage below. The summer series features a variety of musical genres to fit every preference. Concerts take place from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.  

Havana NRG - May 4 

Blake Shelton Tribute/Blake Nation - May 9 

George Strait Tribute/King George - May 10 

80’s Tribute/Members Only - May 17 

Led Zeppelin Tribute/Battle of Evermore - May 18 

90’s – 2000’s Tribute/Y2K Bank - May 23 

Sebastian Bach/What Do I Got to Lose Tour - June 21 

Baby Bash, Mike Jones - June 22 

Plano is the place to be for easy summer fun, and with so much going on, you can make a weekend of it. Options for accommodation abound and includes spots like the Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West, Hilton Dallas/Plano Granite Park, and the Dallas/Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center at The Shops at Legacy. Plan your trip to Plano today for summer fun you won’t find anywhere else.  

About the Author: A lover of all things Lone Star, Maggie is an award-winning features writer covering the Gulf South and the author of Hungry for Louisiana, An Omnivore’s Journey.