This Week's Hot Headlines

Coca-Cola's immersive light show dazzles Dallas and more top stories

Coca-Cola will bring the holiday spirit to Dallas.

Photo courtesy of Coca-Cola's Classic Christmas

Editor's note: The top Dallas news of the week gets into the holiday spirit with a national light show coming soon. Plus, Blue Bell has something free for Dallas residents, and six local universities ace a national ranking. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then find the best things to do this weekend right here.

1. Coca-Cola's immersive Christmas tour to skate into Dallas Midtown. A national holiday light show is coming to Dallas in an unlikely location. Called Coca-Cola's Classic Christmas, it's an immersive attraction with lights, sparkle, and Santa, stopping in Dallas Midtown — the former Valley View Mall — from November 21 to December 28.

2. Blue Bell hosts extravagant freebie to get Dallas to try new ice cream. Texas ice cream company Blue Bell has released a new ice cream flavor and is going the extra mile to get Dallas residents to try it. The new flavor is Classic Pecan Pie Ice Cream, and it's officially in stores as of September 4.

blue bell classic pecan pie ice cream Classic Pecan Pie ice cream is here. Photo courtesy of Blue Bell

3. Dallas' animal shelter is still not accepting stray dogs and cats. In early August, Dallas Animal Services, the city's municipal animal shelter, announced that it would no longer accept dogs from the public due to an outbreak at the shelter of Canine Distemper Virus, a contagious and often fatal viral disease that affects dogs. The city is now a month into the Distemper outbreak, and the shelter remains closed to all but sick, injured, and dangerous dogs and cats.

4. Pumpkin cinnamon rolls return in this Dallas restaurant news roundup. This end-of-summer edition of dining news around Dallas feels transitional, even a little wistful, with early hints of fall — aka pumpkin — in the air.

5. Ultimate guide to Dallas' best black-tie balls and bashes of fall 2025. Dallas is in for a star-studded social season this fall. Beyond being fun and fabulous galas and luncheons, these high-ticket events raise crucial monies for local nonprofits. Grab your date book (and your check book), and RSVP ASAP for these must-attend fall fetes.

Surfing News

Surf and adventure resort Cannon Beach to break ground in McKinney

Courtesy rendering

Cannon Beach McKinney

A surf and adventure resort is set to break ground in McKinney: Called Cannon Beach, it's a $200 million project that represents one of the most innovative recreation and entertainment developments, and will break ground at the northeast corner of Stacy Road and SH-121 on December 15.

The 35-acre project will introduce a three-acre surf lagoon, lazy river, mineral hot springs circuit, full-service resort hotel, and a mix of dining, entertainment, and business spaces designed to transform the region’s leisure and tourism landscape.

“We are proud to bring the intersection of lifestyle and adrenaline to McKinney,” says developer Cole Cannon in a release. “In partnership with the City, we’re creating a place where families build indelible memories, visitors explore, and businesses thrive, all centered around a surf experience you won’t find anywhere else in the state.”

At the center of the development will be a resort-style hotel featuring best-in-class accommodations, event and wedding venues, and a sandy beach. Guests will enjoy cabanas and lounge areas with food service, directly connecting them to the surf lagoon and water attractions such as cliff diving and a stationary surf wave. Plans also include a skateboard park, movie theater, bowling alley, health club and indoor recreation facilities.

“This groundbreaking marks an important moment for our city’s future. The project brings new energy to McKinney, supporting growth that provides residents with more activities to enjoy while opening new avenues for local businesses to serve visitors and benefit from the increased activity this destination will attract,” says Mayor Bill Cox.

The development is a partnership between the City of McKinney, the McKinney Economic Development Corporation, and the McKinney Community Development Corporation, which have worked tirelessly to make this project a reality for McKinney. The parties executed development agreements in May 2025 — including infrastructure assistance, tax reimbursements and land acquisition. The first phase could open as soon as mid-2027.

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