Family Friendly Activities in Highland Village, TX

Highland Village, Texas, offers a wealth of family-friendly activities, ranging from lakeside parks and community-built playgrounds to seasonal festivals and indoor entertainment.

The following guide details the best family activities in Highland Village, categorized by outdoor recreation, indoor fun, dining, and annual events.

1. Outdoor Recreation & Parks

Highland Village makes excellent use of its location along Lewisville Lake. The city’s parks are the centerpiece of family life here.

Doubletree Ranch Park
Best For: Splash pad fun, soccer, and nature walks.
Details: This is arguably the “crown jewel” of the city’s park system. It features a large Splash Pad (open seasonally, typically May–September) designed to look like a natural creek with waterfalls, making it a huge hit for toddlers and young kids.
Amenities: There is a large pavilion often used for parties, a 1-mile walking trail, concession stands, and soccer fields. It is also the host site for many major city events.
Location: 310 Highland Village Rd.

Unity Park (Kids Kastle)
Best For: Playground adventures and pickleball.
Details: The main attraction here is Kids Kastle, a massive, community-built wooden playground. It was recently renovated to be more inclusive and safer while keeping its “castle” fort theme. It provides endless hide-and-seek opportunities.
Amenities: The park also features the “K-9 Kastle” dog park, baseball fields, tennis courts, and pickleball courts. There is a fishing pond with a pier where kids can try catch-and-release fishing.
Location: 2200 Briarhill Blvd.

Pilot Knoll Park
Best For: Camping, hiking, and lake activities.
Details: Located on the shores of Lewisville Lake, this is the spot for a “staycation.” It offers overnight camping (RV and tent sites) and day-use areas for grilling and picnicking.
Activities: You can rent kayaks or paddleboards (seasonally), go fishing, or hike the nature trails. It is also one of the few parks with equestrian trails if you have horses.
Location: 218A Orchid Hill Ln.

2. Indoor Entertainment & Learning

When the Texas heat becomes too much, there are several indoor options for families.

Cheeky Monkeys
Details: Located inside The Shops at Highland Village, this is an indoor “edutainment” soft play area. It features slides, climbing structures, a ball pit, and a dedicated toddler zone. It is a popular spot for birthday parties and burning off energy on rainy days.

AMC Highland Village 12
Details: A modern movie theater located within The Shops. It features IMAX screens and signature recliner seating, making it comfortable for families to watch the latest blockbusters. They often host “Summer Movie Camp” or discounted matinees for kids.

Flower Mound Public Library
Note: Highland Village residents have full borrowing privileges at the nearby Flower Mound Public Library (located just minutes away).
Activities: The library offers robust programming, including weekly Story Times (for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers), S.T.E.A.M. workshops, and a “Creation Lab” for older kids and teens interested in 3D printing and crafting.

3. Family-Friendly Dining

Highland Village has a variety of restaurants that are welcoming to children.

Blue Goose Cantina: A lively Tex-Mex spot in The Shops with a loud, energetic atmosphere where you don’t have to worry if the kids are a bit noisy. They offer a solid kids’ menu and fresh tortillas.
Salerno’s Italian Restaurant: A local staple known for its family atmosphere. It feels slightly more upscale than a pizza chain but is very welcoming to families, offering classic Italian dishes.
Snooty Pig Cafe: A popular breakfast and lunch spot. It has a whimsical pig-themed decor that kids find funny, and the menu is full of kid-friendly breakfast staples like pancakes and waffles.
The Shops at Highland Village: Beyond specific restaurants, the center itself is family-friendly. There is a central interactive fountain/splash area where young kids often play while parents sit on nearby benches with coffee or ice cream (from Ben & Jerry’s or Kilwins, both located nearby).

4. Major Annual Family Events

Highland Village is known for its strong community events, most of which are free.

Celebrate Highland Village (June): Held at Doubletree Ranch Park, this event usually features a 5K run, family fish-out (fishing event for kids), live music, and a fireworks show in the evening.
Christmas at the Ranch (December): Doubletree Ranch Park is transformed into a winter wonderland. Activities typically include a real snow hill for sledding, Santa’s workshop, live reindeer, and huge light displays.
Our Village Glows (November): The annual tree lighting ceremony at The Shops at Highland Village. It includes carolers, face painting, cookie decorating, and the arrival of Santa Claus.
Concerts in the Park (Spring/Fall): A series of free outdoor concerts at Doubletree Ranch Park. Families bring blankets and lawn chairs; food trucks are usually on-site, and there is plenty of room for kids to run around on the grass.
TXFallenPD Tribute Event (October): A community event honoring fallen police officers that includes a 5K run/walk, a bike race, and a “Kid Zone” with bounce houses and activities.

Quick Tips for Parents

Library Card: Go to the Flower Mound Library with your driver’s license (showing your Highland Village address) to get your free card.
Splash Pad Season: The splash pads at Doubletree Ranch Park and The Shops usually turn on in May and turn off in late September/early October.
Parking: Parking at Kids Kastle (Unity Park) can fill up fast on Saturday mornings during soccer season; plan accordingly.

🥋 Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu Highland Village: A Comprehensive Profile

Gracie Barra Highland Village is a top-tier martial arts academy located in Highland Village, Texas, serving the communities of Highland Village, Flower Mound, Lewisville, and Lantana. As an official franchise of Gracie Barra (GB)—one of the largest and most respected Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) organizations in the world—this academy adheres to high standards of instruction, safety, and curriculum.

Here is a detailed breakdown of everything you can expect from this specific academy.

1. Philosophy and Mission

The academy operates under the global Gracie Barra motto: “Jiu-Jitsu for Everyone.”
This means the school is not an intimidating “fight club” for professional cage fighters. Instead, it is an educational center designed to make BJJ accessible to toddlers, teenagers, working professionals, and seniors alike. The goal is personal development through martial arts, focusing on:

Self-Defense: Real-world protection.
Wellness: Physical fitness and mental health.
Community: Building a positive social environment.

2. Program Structure

Gracie Barra Highland Village utilizes a standardized, week-by-week curriculum. This means a student knows exactly what they are learning, and if they visit another GB school, the instruction remains consistent.

A. Future Champions (Kids Program)

This is a cornerstone of the Highland Village location, given the family-oriented demographics of the area.

Little Champions I (Ages 3–6): Focuses on “mat awareness,” coordination, following instructions, and basic body movements. It is heavily game-based to keep toddlers engaged.
Little Champions II (Ages 7–9): Introduces technical Jiu-Jitsu. Students learn escapes, controls, and the Gracie Barra Anti-Bullying system (verbal de-escalation and non-violent control).
Juniors & Teens (Ages 10–14): A more mature curriculum that prepares students for the adult program. It focuses on fitness, discipline, and complex problem-solving.

B. GB Adult Program

The adult curriculum is split into tiers to ensure safety and proper progression.

GB1: Fundamentals (White Belts): The entry-level program. It focuses on self-defense, safety, and the core principles of BJJ (base, posture, leverage). There is usually no full-contact sparring (rolling) in the first few weeks to prioritize safety.
GB2: Advanced (Blue Belt & Up): Once the basics are mastered, students move to GB2. This class involves more complex techniques, combinations, and live sparring (“rolling”).
GB3: Black Belt Program: Designed for advanced practitioners to refine their style, flow, and transitions.

C. Private Training

For students who want to accelerate their learning or work on specific weaknesses, the professors at Highland Village offer one-on-one private lessons.

3. The Class Experience

A typical 60-minute class at GB Highland Village follows a rigid structure:

1. Line Up: Students line up by rank (belt color) and bow in to show respect.
2. Warm-up: 10–15 minutes of calisthenics and BJJ-specific drills (shrimping, breakfalls).
3. Technique: The Professor demonstrates a technique (e.g., an escape from the mount) and explains the leverage points.
4. Partner Drills: Students pair up to practice the move.
5. Specific Training | Rolling:
Beginners: Positional training (starting from a specific spot and resetting).
Advanced: Free sparring.

6. Bow Out: Class ends with a formal dismissal and handshake line.

4. Facility and Standards

Gracie Barra Highland Village maintains the “Premium School” standards required by the franchise.

Hygiene: The mats are sanitized professionally every day. Personal hygiene (clean Gi, trimmed nails) is strictly enforced.
Uniforms: Students are required to wear the official Gracie Barra Uniform (Gi). This fosters a sense of equality and team unity—on the mats, a CEO and a student are equals.
Atmosphere: The facility is designed to be bright, clean, and welcoming to families. It typically includes a lobby for parents to watch their children train.

5. Instructors and Lineage

The instructors (Professors and Coaches) at GB Highland Village are certified through the Gracie Barra ICP (Instructor Certification Program).

This ensures they are not just good fighters, but trained teachers who know how to handle safety, first aid, and pedagogy.
The Texas region of Gracie Barra is historically very strong, influenced heavily by high-level Brazilian professors who settled in the Dallas/Houston areas. The instruction at Highland Village reflects this high-level lineage.

6. Benefits for Highland Village Residents

Community Connection: It serves as a “third place” (outside of home and work/school) for residents of Highland Village and Flower Mound to socialize.
Bully Prevention: For local school-aged children, the program provides confidence and tools to handle social and physical aggression.
Stress Relief: For working adults, the intense focus required in BJJ acts as a form of “moving meditation,” clearing the mind of work stress.

7. Getting Started

The enrollment process at Gracie Barra Highland Village is standardized:

1. Free Introductory Class: New students are almost always offered a free trial class to experience the culture.
2. Introduction: You will likely meet with a Program Director who will give you a tour, explain the schedule, and discuss membership goals.
3. The “Red Shield”: Upon signing up, you receive your uniform and are welcomed into the team.

Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu Highland Village is a structured, safe, and family-centric martial arts academy. It combines the rigorous physical training of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with a supportive community atmosphere, making it a popular choice for families in the Denton County area.

Gracie Barra Highland Village

Informations
ADDRESS
200 Marketplace Ln, Suite 205, Highland Village, TX, United States, Texas

PHONE
+1 (972) 439-7411

Family Friendly Activities in Highland Village, TX