It is once again time for holiday festivities with several cities hosting parades and events throughout the first week of December.

This week, on Thursday, Dec. 1, the city of Murphy will host its annual Christmas in the Park from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Municipal Complex. 

The event will feature a tree lighting ceremony at 5:45 p.m., several games and activities and photo opportunities with Santa from 6 to 8 p.m. Children will also be able to drop off letters to Santa in a special drop-off box located at the complex.

At the event, Murphy firefighters will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for their annual toy drive benefitting the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County.

Individuals looking to cross some holiday shopping off their lists can do so for a local cause Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Coventry Reserve Open House and Pottery Sale. A wide variety of hand-crafted pottery, tree decorations, Christmas cards made by adults with disabilities will be available for purchase from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 3 at its facility located at 2004 Parker Rd. in St. Paul.

If running is your sport, the Wally Watkins Elementary School Parent Teacher Association is hosting the Jingle Bell Jog 5K and Fun Run at 8 a.m. Dec. 3 in Founders Park, which is located at 851 Hensley Lane in Wylie.

Runners who dress as Santa or one of his many elves for the race are eligible to win a prize. Check-in for the event begins at 7 a.m. with the fun run starting at 8 a.m. and the 5K beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Attendees looking to warm up following the race can enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or play in a bounce house.

More shopping opportunities are on tap from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. The Wylie Arts Festival at the Cross Church Event Center at 200 N. Ballard Ave. is back with over 160 vendors indoors and outside the facility.

If you have kids in tow, stick around for the 4 p.m. arrival of the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express. The train will stop at the Brown Street Crossing at the corner of Birmingham Avenue and Oak Street in Wylie. The event is free to anyone interested in touring the train and it will stay until everyone has had an opportunity to climb aboard, according to information provided by the city. Look for a special guest on board in a red suit who just might be available for photos.

At 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, the Cross Church will host its annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade along Ballard Avenue. Parade attendees can then make their way to Olde City Park — located at 112 S. Ballard Ave. — for a Christmas tree lighting, followed by a reading of “The night before Christmas” and a performance by Wylie High School’s Tempo choir that will sing songs of the season.

The following week, families can explore Wylie’s City Hall decorated as iconic regions in the popular board game Candy Land. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Dec. 8.

In Sachse, the city will host its annual Christmas Extravaganza at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the Municipal Complex. 

The first part of the event will feature a parade from 6 to 7 p.m. beginning outside Sachse High School.

Recreation Manager Cynthia Wiseman said residents should be mindful of street closures for the parade Dec. 7 including both lanes of Miles Road during the parade and parts of Sachse Road and Salmon Street.

On-street parking along the parade route will also be prohibited, she said.

At 7 p.m., a tree lighting ceremony will take place in front of the Community Center, which will be followed by several other activities. The event will have a petting zoo, train rides, a winter wonderland and a fun area. Attendees should wear winter boots, dress warm and wear gloves for the winter wonderland, Wiseman said.

There will also be free food options including s’mores, popcorn and cookie decorating.

“We want to provide a fun and event-filled night for families free of charge,” Wiseman said.

Additionally, there will be several photo opportunities, including one with Santa Claus at the event.

At the Sachse Public Library, there will be plenty of winter activities to enjoy such as a Pop-Tart gingerbread house activity for teenagers Tuesday, Dec. 6, and an adult craft night Thursday, Dec. 8. There will also be several holiday story times through Dec. 2, Dec. 7-9 and Dec. 14-16.

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