From learning how to raise chickens to bike rides and 5K races, check out these 12 Denton events happening at the start of the holiday season. This list is not comprehensive.

Alternative Gifts Fair

The annual shopping event hosted by the First United Methodist Church of Denton will have over 30 booths supporting local and international causes. Vendors will offer artisan crafts from around the world.

• Nov. 6-8, various times

• Starting at $5 on Friday, free (admission) on Saturday and Sunday

• 201 S. Locust St., Denton

Theatre Denton presents “The Mousetrap”

The Point Bank Auditorium at the Historic Campus Theatre will feature Theatre Denton’s production of Agatha Christie’s whodunit, “The Mousetrap.” Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. weekend matinees.

• Nov. 6-8 and Nov. 12-15

• Starting at $20

• 214 W. Hickory St., Denton

Coral Reef Coffee Company opened its doors in Denton at the beginning of August after relocating from Lewisville.

The details: The menu includes speciality and seasonal lattes, coffee and espresso drinks and several flavors of refreshers.

The shop also offers tea, frappes and matcha and acai smoothie bowls.

Coral Reef Coffee Company is located within Bad Habits Music and Events, a music and event space in Denton.

• 1807 N Elm St, Denton

Frisco City Council approved the city’s first Trader Joe’s grocery store as part of a proposed mixed-use development, while McKinney’s Sunset Amphitheater project approaches 70% completion. Check out six trending stories from Community Impact’s Dallas-Fort Worth coverage areas.

1. Prosper officials OK development plans at Frontier Parkway, future DNT

2. Frisco City Council approves Trader Joe’s mixed-use district

3. McKinney's Sunset Amphitheater project nears 70% completion as investment rises to $334M

4. Celina officials preview proposed mixed-use development near downtown

5. Plano commission to hold public hearing for Collin Creek redevelopment changes

6. 32-acre townhome, commercial development proposed for northwest McKinney

The Texas comptroller's office is reviewing the finances and spending decisions of four public school districts: Austin, El Paso, Prosper and Barbers Hill ISDs.

The overview: The review was requested by Gov. Greg Abbott in August and will identify whether schools are directing taxpayer dollars toward students, teachers and classrooms over administrative costs, according to information from the two state agencies.

Zooming in: For the 2024-25 school year, the Texas Education Agency gave the selected districts the following financial ratings:

• Austin ISD: B rating; score of 88 (about 69,000 students)

• El Paso ISD: A rating; score of 92 (about 46,000 students)

• Prosper ISD: A rating; score of 94 (about 33,000 students)

• Barbers Hill ISD: A rating; score of 100 (about 8,000 students)

More details: Austin and Prosper ISDs are in Community Impact's coverage areas. According to previous reporting, Austin ISD passed an $887 million general fund budget for fiscal year 2026-27 after making $205 million in gross cuts this summer. Prosper ISD adopted a budget with an expected $42.2 million shortfall.