Old Settlers Park
Collin County held annual fairs until the 1950s. Up until the mid 1920s they also held Old Settlers/Ex- Confederate Veterans Picnics.
OLD SETTLERS' PARK
SITE OF ALL COLLIN COUNTY FAIRS AND EX-CONFEDERATE-
OLD SETTLERS' PICNICS, THIS LAND FIRST HOSTED A FAIR IN
1858. THE FAIR WAS HELD EACH YEAR, USUALLY IN AUTUMN,
EXCEPT DURING THE CIVIL WAR YEARS. IN 1883, THE EX-CON-
FEDERATE-OLD SETTLERS' PICNIC ASSOCIATION BEGAN TO
HOLD THEIR ANNUAL PICNIC ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE
OLD FAIR GROUNDS. THEY CONTINUED TO MEET ON THIS SITE,
BUYING THE LAND FOR THEMSELVES IN 1912 AND 1924.
THE COUNTY FAIR WAS A SHOWCASE FOR AGRICULTURE, LIVE-
STOCK, HANDICRAFTS, AND CULINARY DELIGHTS. RIDING COMPE-
TITIONS WERE HELD IN THE GRANDSTAND; IT IS SAID THAT
FRANK JAMES ONCE WON FIRST PRIZE.
AS MANY AS 15,000 PEOPLE A DAY VISITED THE PICNICS IN
THE 1910s AND 1920s, MANY CAMPING AROUND THE PARK.
POLITICAL SPEAKERS WERE SCHEDULED ALL DAY, AND CON-
TESTS INCLUDED THREE-LEGGED RACES AND STORYTELLING.
IN EARLY YEARS THERE WERE BALLOON ASCENSIONS; LATER,
AN AIR SHOW ASTONISHED THE CROWDS. LIKE THE FAIR, THE
PICNIC FEATURED A MIDWAY OF RIDES AND GAMES.
THE LAST PICNIC WAS HELD IN 1941, WHEN THE LAST CON-
FEDERATE VETERANS IN COLLIN COUNTY WERE TOO OLD
TO ATTEND. THE LAST COUNTY FAIR WAS HELD IN 1965, BUT
THE PARK CONTINUES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS A PART
OF THE McKINNEY PARKS DEPARTMENT.
Texas Historical marker, 1997
SITE OF ALL COLLIN COUNTY FAIRS AND EX-CONFEDERATE-
OLD SETTLERS' PICNICS, THIS LAND FIRST HOSTED A FAIR IN
1858. THE FAIR WAS HELD EACH YEAR, USUALLY IN AUTUMN,
EXCEPT DURING THE CIVIL WAR YEARS. IN 1883, THE EX-CON-
FEDERATE-OLD SETTLERS' PICNIC ASSOCIATION BEGAN TO
HOLD THEIR ANNUAL PICNIC ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE
OLD FAIR GROUNDS. THEY CONTINUED TO MEET ON THIS SITE,
BUYING THE LAND FOR THEMSELVES IN 1912 AND 1924.
THE COUNTY FAIR WAS A SHOWCASE FOR AGRICULTURE, LIVE-
STOCK, HANDICRAFTS, AND CULINARY DELIGHTS. RIDING COMPE-
TITIONS WERE HELD IN THE GRANDSTAND; IT IS SAID THAT
FRANK JAMES ONCE WON FIRST PRIZE.
AS MANY AS 15,000 PEOPLE A DAY VISITED THE PICNICS IN
THE 1910s AND 1920s, MANY CAMPING AROUND THE PARK.
POLITICAL SPEAKERS WERE SCHEDULED ALL DAY, AND CON-
TESTS INCLUDED THREE-LEGGED RACES AND STORYTELLING.
IN EARLY YEARS THERE WERE BALLOON ASCENSIONS; LATER,
AN AIR SHOW ASTONISHED THE CROWDS. LIKE THE FAIR, THE
PICNIC FEATURED A MIDWAY OF RIDES AND GAMES.
THE LAST PICNIC WAS HELD IN 1941, WHEN THE LAST CON-
FEDERATE VETERANS IN COLLIN COUNTY WERE TOO OLD
TO ATTEND. THE LAST COUNTY FAIR WAS HELD IN 1965, BUT
THE PARK CONTINUES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS A PART
OF THE McKINNEY PARKS DEPARTMENT.
Texas Historical marker, 1997
