At 6 p.m. on August 19, The Home Depot at 3245 S. Preston Road opened its doors to shoppers, a day before its grand opening. A week later, on August 26, Costco Wholesale opened at 3445 S. Preston Road, gas station included. Two days after that, Academy Sports + Outdoors held its official opening at 3525 S. Preston Road in The Village at Ownsby Farms.
All three opened in the span of about ten days, and that makes this Celina's first holiday season with a full errand run available inside city limits. The events on the Downtown Square follow their usual calendar. What's new is that you can pick up the supplies for each one on South Preston Road.
Ten days in August that redrew the errand map
The Celina Economic Development Corporation called it "a transformational week for retail." It framed the openings as part of Celina's shift toward "a more complete community where residents have greater access to shopping, dining, services and employment opportunities close to home."
Here's what each store adds to a holiday to-do list:
- The Home Depot, 3245 S. Preston Road. Tools, appliances, building materials, paint and gardening supplies. Community Impact reported the store opened with 149 associates, and 124 of them were new to the company.
- Costco Wholesale, 3445 S. Preston Road. Opened August 26 with a gas station on site, according to Community Impact and the Celina EDC.
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 3525 S. Preston Road. About 64,000 square feet of sporting goods, apparel, footwear, fitness equipment and youth and team sports gear. Community Impact reported the store was open by August 23, and the EDC marks August 28 as the official opening.
One more store is on the way. Community Impact reported on October 13 that Discount Tire is coming to 4250 S. Preston Road, with a tentative opening in late November. That's just ahead of the busiest stretch of holiday driving.
The city also has a stake in where those holiday dollars go. Celina City Council approved an incentive agreement for The Home Depot in December 2024: a sales tax grant of up to $1.4 million over ten years, split between the city and the EDC. Previous reporting expected the city to earn back the investment in five years. So every holiday run that used to head south now stays in Celina's sales tax base.
The Square's season is built around evenings and shuttles
Most of the Square's big nights are set up for people who come by shuttle and stay after dark. Here's the 2026 calendar from this week through Christmas:
| Date | Event | Time | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., Oct. 24 | Beware! of the Square | 4–9 p.m. | Free park-and-ride from Celina High School, 4–10 p.m. |
| Mon., Nov. 2 | Celina Gift Tour tickets go on sale | Through the Celina Chamber | |
| Fri., Nov. 6 | Celina Friday Night Market | 6–9 p.m. | Downtown Square |
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Celina Turkey Trot | 7:45–10 a.m. | Starts at 127 N. Ohio St. |
| Dec. 1–24 | Countdown to Christmas | Varies | Downtown Square |
| Wed., Dec. 2 | Christmas on the Square | 5–9 p.m. | Free shuttles from GA Moore Middle School and Celina High School, 5–10 p.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Celina Gift Tour | 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Downtown Square |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Coffee with a Cop, Photos with Reinsteer | 10 a.m.–1 p.m.; 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Downtown Square |
| Sat., Dec. 19 | Photos with Santa | 11 a.m.–1 p.m. | Downtown Square |
The shuttle windows run an hour past each event's end time, so there's time to linger once the program wraps up. For Christmas on the Square, the city's event page says the downtown parking garage will be open and parking near the Square will be limited.
Saturday is Beware! of the Square
The first big night is this Saturday. Beware! of the Square runs Saturday, October 24, from 4 to 9 p.m. It's free and includes trick-or-treating, a haunted manor, a free Kid Zone, a pumpkin-decorating contest and more than 60 vendors.
The headline act is Cirque du Beware, with balancing, juggling, aerial acts, a Wheel of Death and fire performances. There are two showings, from 5:30 to 6 p.m. and from 8:15 to 9 p.m. Families with younger kids can catch the early show while it's still light out and trick-or-treat afterward. The late show closes out the night right as the festival ends.
Since Home Depot carries gardening supplies and paint, a pumpkin entry and its decorating supplies can come from the same stretch of Preston Road that now has a Costco gas station. After that, the Celina High School shuttle lot starts loading at 4 p.m.
Thanksgiving morning starts on North Ohio Street
The Celina Turkey Trot starts at 127 N. Ohio Street on Thanksgiving Day. The 1-mile Family Fun Run/Walk goes off at 7:45 a.m., and the 5K and 10K both start at 8:30 a.m. Registration is listed at $32.50 for the mile, $42.50 for the 5K and $57.50 for the 10K. Part of the proceeds benefits Lovepacs, and the race page promises music, awards and Thanksgiving-themed costumes.
That price spread is worth weighing for families. Four people walking the mile together cost $130, while a single 10K runner costs $57.50. Either way, the race is done well before noon. Last-minute running shoes or kids' athletic wear are now a few minutes away at Academy instead of a drive to a neighboring city.
December has two dates you need to plan ahead for
Christmas on the Square is Wednesday, December 2, from 5 to 9 p.m. Performances start at 5 p.m., and the tree lighting is at 8. It falls on a weeknight, so the shuttles from GA Moore Middle School and Celina High School are the easiest way in after work.
The Celina Gift Tour is the date that needs the most lead time. The Celina Chamber of Commerce is hosting it on Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ticket holders get a shopping tote and a map, plus special gifts at participating downtown "Gift Stops," photo opportunities and other festive extras. Tickets go on sale November 2, and the Chamber expects the event to sell out.
The rest of December is quieter. On December 12 there's Coffee with a Cop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Photos with Reinsteer from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Photos with Santa follows on December 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where to eat between events
Any of these dates can include a meal downtown, and the Square's restaurant lineup has grown since last holiday season.
- LSA Burger Co., 218 W. Walnut St. Opened August 13, 2026. Community Impact reported it's the company's third restaurant.
- Nowhere Bar, 501 W. Walnut St., Ste. 100. A locally owned burger-and-beer spot that opened in July 2025 in the former Jimbo's Pizza space.
- Mangiamo Market Deli & Pizzeria, 203 W. Pecan St. An Italian restaurant, deli and market that opened in January 2025.
The official Discover Downtown Celina dining guide also lists Lucy's on the Square, Toasted Walnut Table & Market, Granny's Bakery, Heyday, Tender Smokehouse and Valley Vines Tasting Room. The shopping guide covers boutiques like Terramania, Willow House Boutique and Honeysuckle Rose Boutique, which is a useful head start for Gift Tour day.
One project that won't be wrapping up this season is Wilson Creek Park, a roughly 100-acre park at the future Sunset Boulevard and Roseland Parkway. Community Impact reported on October 6 that the city originally planned to finish Phase 1 construction in fall 2026. Installing turf on the multi-use athletic fields is taking longer, and that work will likely finish in 2027.
If you're curious how three new Preston Road stores and a full downtown calendar might show up in your home's value, Mendez RE Group is happy to walk you through it in English or Spanish. Get Your Free Home Valuation, and enjoy the tree lighting on December 2.
