Annual Events in the Upper East Side of Texas

JANUARY-DECEMBER

Farmers Markets. Some markets are year round. Most are from May through October on Saturdays. Go to Farmers Markets for more information.

Art Exhibitions. The region has many art exhibitions going on throughout the year. Go to Art Exhibitions to learn more.

Live Music. Talented local and visiting performers appear in the region five days a week. Explore LIVE MUSIC.

Stage Performances. Community theatre and other stage performances are abundant here. Find STAGE show information.

First Monday Trade Days. Canton. 1850s. Monthly. The largest flea market in the country featuring thousands of vendors and a retail wonderland began in the mid-1800s when the circuit judge stopped in Canton the first Monday of each month. While waiting for court proceedings, the locals starting bringing things to swap or sell with others. That practice expanded from the courthouse square to include more than 450 acres today. firstmondaycanton.com

Bonham Trade Days. 1978. Monthly. Shop antiques, collectibles, and more. Fort Inglish Village Museum. cityofbonham.org

Rhythm in Our Blues. Greenville. Annual concert at Greenville Municipal Auditorium. showtimeatthegma.com

Martin Luther King Jr Citywide Celebration. Longview. longviewtexas.gov

HYPE Annual MLK Celebration. Winnsboro. 2000. January. The nonprofit HYPE (Helping Young People Excel) celebrates each year with a parade and picnic. Martin Luther King Jr Community Park. hypewinnsboro.org

Freeze Your Fanny. Longview. Bike Ride First Saturday in February. WEBSITE

Mardi Gras Up River. Jefferson. 1991. February. Activities include parades, bands, food, vendors, carnival, frosty beverages, and beads. Downtown Jefferson. mardigrasupriver.com

East Texas Oilman’s Chili Cook-off. Kilgore. 1993. October. World’s Richest Acre, Downtown Kilgore. visitkilgore.com

Krewe of Barkus Mardi Gras Dog Parade and Festival. McKinney. 2002. February. artinstituteofmckinney.com

Martin Luther King Jr. Citywide Celebration. Longview. Circa 2004. February. The annual Longview Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration includes a full weekend of activities including a parade celebrating the life, message, and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. longviewtexas.gov

Star Harbor Watercolor Society’s For the Love of Art Show. 2008. The lakeside community of Star Harbor is located just north of Malakoff. The free event includes delicious refreshments, an opportunity to meet the artists, and live music. Examples of the members’ artwork can be viewed at the society website www.starharborws.org.

FEBRUARY/MARCH

Helen Lee Estate Daffodil Gardens. Gladewater. 1985. February/March. Thousands of golden daffodils bloom each year for all to enjoy. FB/The New Mrs. Lee’s Daffodil Garden

Fresh 15 Race. Tyler. 2013. March. This event quickly became a destination race and leading 15K in the United States. It focuses on the runner experience with a spectator-filled course and a post-race party. visittyler.com/business/fresh-15

Motorized Bar Stool Races. Ben Wheeler. 2015. March. The popular races began in Dallas in 1978 and moved to Ben Wheeler a few years ago. The main attraction is the souped up motorized carts racing down Highway 279. Other festivities include artist vendors, street food, green beer, Irish tacos, leprechaun egg rolls, and live music all day. benwheelertx.com

Happy Days in Terrell America / National Mom & Pop Business Owners Day. March. Each year a national day is observed with an event promoting local business owners. The event includes live music, a car show, special sales reflective of decades past, and giveaways.  www.discoverterrell.com/events-calendar/

Sherman Celtic Festival & Highland Games. 2017. March. Live music, Scottish and Irish dance, clan village, highland games. Pecan Grove Park. shermancelticfest.com

Spring Fling. Rockwall. 2018. March. Wine, prizes, and shopping with participating merchants. Downtown Rockwall. rockwall.com/mainstreet

Tribute to Townes Van Zandt. Ben Wheeler. 2019. March. Features singer-songwriters performing and paying tribute to the late Townes Van Zandt, one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the 20th century. The Forge Bar & Grill. theforgebenwheeler.com

Dogwood Arts & Music Festival. Palestine. 2019. March. Showcases Texas artists and musicians and includes food, live street performances, and children’s activities. Downtown Palestine. visitpalestine.com

MARCH/APRIL

Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration. Palestine. 1937. March/April. This celebration invites visitors to enjoy the delicate beauty of the dogwood trees in Davey Dogwood Park and the surrounding area. Activities are scheduled each weekend to compliment the celebration including excursion train rides at the Texas State Railroad, the Farm & Flower Market at the Farmers Market, a play at the historic Texas Theatre, and much more. visitpalestine.com/dogwood

Azalea and Spring Flower Trail. Tyler. 1959. March/April. This celebration of blooming azaleas, dogwood trees, and spring flowers was voted one of the Top 100 Events in North America. visittyler.com/azaleatrail

Nacogdoches Pro Rodeo and Steer Show. “The Wildest Show in the Oldest Town.” Annual rodeo presented by the Nacogdoches Expo Center featuring national talent acts, mutton bustin, livestock shows, performances and much more. www.visitnacogdoches.org/events

Rangerette Revels. Kilgore. 1950. April. The high-kicking, world-famous Rangerettes annual spring show features a wide range of dance genres. rangerette.com

Ink Slingers Tattoo Expo. Greenville. Activities take place at Fletcher Warren Civic Center. travelgreenvilletx.com

Derrick Days. Corsicana. 1976. April. Derrick Days Festival commemorates Corsicana’s rich oil history with a four-day event featuring live entertainment, carnival, car show, chili cookoff, historic tours, and games. derrickdays.com

Wildflower Trails of Texas. Hughes Springs. 1970. April. hughessprinigstxusa.com

Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival. 1952. April. The Official Bluebonnet City of Texas is home to more than 40 miles of mapped driving bluebonnet trails, the oldest such trails known in the state. The bluebonnets normally are in view throughout the month of April. During the third weekend of April a festival is held in celebration of the blue beauties that includes arts and crafts, tasty food, kid’s activities, wine tastings, and live music. Downtown Ennis. bluebonnettrail.org

East Texas Gusher Days. Gladewater. 1985. April. Celebrating the nostalgia of the oil boom days, activities include food, arts and crafts, live music and entertainment, and a bass fishing tournament. Downtown Gladewater. gusher-days.com

Avalon Faire Renaissance Festival. Kilgore. April. Step back in time with thrilling jousts, enchanting entertainment, and old-world charm every spring at Kilgore’s Avalon Faire. www.avalonfaire.com/

Athens Old Fiddlers Contest & Reunion. 1932. May. The longest running fiddle contest in Texas features fiddlers of all ages, live music, street dances, car show, a kiddie carnival, and street food. athensfiddlers.com

Dalton Days. Longview. 1994. April. Inspired by the true story of a bank robbery in Longview in 1894, this annual event features Wild West shows, blacksmith demonstrations, children’s activities, live music, concessions, and the famous Dalton Gang bank robbery reenactment. Gregg County Historical Museum. gregghistorical.org/dalton-days-2

East Texas Tractor and Small Engine Show. Henderson. 1995. April. Tractor pulls, large exhibit of antique tractors, small engine displays, corn grinding, horse-drawn equipment, tractor games, rope making, hay baling, antique tools, and a tractor parade. visithendersontx.com

Arts in Bloom. McKinney. 2008. April. Featuring more than 120 juried artists and renowned Texas wineries. Downtown McKinney. mckinneytexas.org/687/Arts-in-Bloom

Brew Fest. Nacogdoches. 2011. April. Presented by Nac Brew Club, guests are invited to taste home brewed beer, wine, and mead. visitnacogdoches.org

Empty Bowls McKinney. 2011. April. Enjoy samples of gourmet soups prepared by local restaurant chefs and choose from hundreds of event bowls made by local artists. Proceeds go to local charities that provide food to those in need. McKinney Performing Arts Center. emptybowlsmckinney.com

SFA Garden Gala Day. Nacogdoches. April. Shop from a wide variety of Texas tough plants, grown by students and staff at Stephen F. Austin State University. Get there early for the “Running of the Wagons” where patrons dash to get the best pick.  www.visitnacogdoches.org/events

Kite Fest. Nacogdoches. April. Family friendly annual event at the Nacogdoches airport. Bring a kite or buy one to support the Helping House! Free admission, carnival style tickets for rides and bounce houses, local vendors and tons of fun. www.visitnacogdoches.org/events

DoDat BBQ. Nacogdoches. April Annual BBQ Cookoff Competition at the Nac Expo Center benefitting the Nacogdoches United Way! Live Music , Kids Areas, Free Samples, and so much more! www.visitnacogdoches.org/events

Terrell Jubilee. 1981. April. Features a carnival, food vendors, arts and crafts, 5K run and fun walk, live music and entertainment, and more. Ben Gill and Lion’s Club Parks. Terrelljubilee.com

Tatum Pecan Pie Festival. Tatum. 2012. April. Behind every pecan pie, corndog, funnel cake, handmade bow, antique car, and bounce house, is a mission to bring free or low cost mammograms to the underserved. Crystal Farms Road. tatum.texas.gov

Nacogdoches Wine Swirl. 2013. April. Features Texas wines, food trucks, local restaurants and downtown merchants along the old brick streets of Texas’ first city. Enjoy sipping wine, shopping, live music, and historic sites. Downtown Nacogdoches. visitnacogdoches.com

Winefest. Paris. 2013. April. Sample Texas wines, dine in local restaurants, and shop with participating retailers, and enjoy an evening of entertainment. Downtown Paris. pariswinefest.com

Claws for a Cause Crawfish Boil. Sulphur Springs. 2013. April. All you can eat crawfish and fixings, plus live music. Downtown Sulphur Springs. FB.com/clawsforacause

Caddo Culture Day. Alto. 2015. April. Activities include a live performance of Caddo Indian cultural music. Activities include clay bowl making, corn husk dolls and natural dyes, flint knapping, atlatl throwing, guided tours, American Indian exhibits, Native American jewelry, and beadwork and other fun activities for the children. Caddo Mounds State Historic Site. visitcaddomounds.com

Everything Texas Ranch Run. Mount Pleasant. 2015. April. 15K and 5K trail races, and a 1K Mutton Buster for kids. Other activities include inflatables, climbing wall, and ranch breakfast. Priefert Ranch. mtpleasanttx.com

Wine Swirl. Longview. 2019. April. Wine tastings. visitlongviewtexas.com/wine-swirl

Texas Hot Links Festival. Pittsburg. 2019. April. The Hot Link Capital of Texas celebrates each year with entertainment, chili cook-off, cooking competitions, farmers’ market, vehicle shows, artisan alley, craft vendors, food, and plenty of hot links. Downtown Pittsburg. texashotlinkfestival.com

APRIL/MAY

East Texas Wildflower Trails. Henderson. Itineraries provide self guided tours of the area with East Texas wildflowers and museums, shops, and history along the way. visithendersontx.com

Scarborough Renaissance Festival. Waxahachie. 1980. April/May. A Renaissance themed festival set in a re-created 16th Century English village celebrating the visit of King Henry VIII, his Royal Court and other dignitaries. Entertainment includes full combat armored jousts, Birds of Prey exhibitions, the Mermaid Lagoon and unique, interactive Renaissance entertainment on 20+ stages. There is also a 100+ member performing company that brings Scarborough to life through their portrayals of the royal court, dignitaries, villagers and peasants alike. One-of-a-kind handmade crafts are found in 200 village shoppes. Find artist demonstrations, food, and pubs with wine and beer. srfestival.com

Downtown Live. Longview. 2012. April/May and Sep/Oct. Annual outdoor music series with food trucks. Heritage Plaza, Downtown Longview. visitlongviewtexas.com

Historical Pilgrimage. Jefferson. 1947. May. Includes home and garden tours, Diamond Bessie Murder Trial theatre performances, parade, artisan craft fair, quilt exhibit, and area attractions. jefferson-pilgrimage.com

National Polka Festival. Ennis. 1967. May. Celebrating Czech heritage and traditions with dances, polka music, King and Queen Dance Contest, parade, and delicious food. nationalpolkafestival.com

Founders Day Festival. Rockwall. 2003. May. Concert, food trucks, and family fun activities. rockwall.com/mainstreet

Piney Woods Wine Festival. Lindale. 2010. May & October. Held in Mount Vernon for several years, it moved to Lindale in 2016 and expanded to include a second fall event a couple of years ago. Activities include a wine garden with tastings offered by wineries of the Piney Woods Wine Trail, artisan vendors, tasty food trucks, and live music. Picker’s Pavilion at Blackberry Square, Downtown Lindale. visitlindale.com

Cinco de Mayo Celebration. Sulphur Springs. May. 2013. Live music, authentic Mexican cuisine, artisans, and colorful crafts. Downtown Sulphur Springs. visitsulphurspringstx.org

Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival. Tyler. 2014. May. Features the best of Texas and Red Dirt music and celebrated barbecue. Downtown Tyler. reddirtbbqfest.com

Red Brick Bluegrass Festival. Nacogdoches. 2015. May. Formerly called the Blueberry Bluegrass concert, the event features top Bluegrass performers. Festival Park. redbrickbluegrass.com

Taco Festival. Terrell. May. Showcases the restaurants in the Terrell area and their signature tacos. In addition, there is a kids play zone, arts and craft vendors, food vendors, and live music and entertainment.   www.discoverterrell.com/events-calendar/

Run for the Wall. Terrell. May. Features bikers from across the U.S. who ride from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. with a stop in Terrell. They ride to promote healing among veterans, their families, and friends. www.discoverterrell.com/events-calendar/

Winnsboro Festival of Books. 2018. May. Winnsboro Center for the Arts presents a celebration of all things literary. Event includes panel discussions, author readings, a children’s performance, and writers’ workshops. Published adult and children authors in attendance. Bowery Pedestrian Park, Downtown Winnsboro. winnsborocenterforthearts.com

Fiesta De Mayo. Mineola. May. 2018. Street festival with a Latin flavor with live music, vendors, food, beer garden, and entertainment. Downtown Mineola. mineolachamber.org

Eiffel in Love with Quilts. Paris. 2019. May. Presented by the Red River Valley Quilt Guide. parisquiltshow.com

Hunt County Festival of the Arts. Greenville. 2022. May. Experience the talents of regional artists and a day with games, vendors, food, and music. Downtown Greenville. travelgreenvilletx.com

Cinco de Mayo. Longview. 2022. May. Celebrates Hispanic culture, food, and entertainment. Longview Arboretum and Nature Center. longviewarboretum.org

Sale on the Trail. Nacogdoches. May. Ready to “shop ‘til you drop”? Make plans to drive the 100-mile trail between Nacogdoches, TX and Natchitoches, LA for yard sale bargains. Along the trail, shoppers find new and used items sold by local businesses and private individuals. www.visitnacogdoches.org/events

MAY-SEPTEMBER

San Jacinto Music Series. Rockwall. 2014. May-September. Friday and Saturday evenings guests enjoy live music by regional talented singer-songwriters. rockwall.com/mainstreet_music.asp

MAY-OCTOBER

Sail With Scott. Rockwall. Embark on the perfect date night or family adventure aboard The Seawolf, a breathtaking 40-foot sailing catamaran taking off from the scenic Harbor in Rockwall, gracefully gliding along the water of Lake Ray Hubbard. A variety of options include 5:30 p.m. Family Daytime Sail; 7 p.m. Sunset Sail, and 8 p.m. Starlight Cruise. Feel free to bring beverages and snacks and unwind while witnessing the tranquil beauty on Lake Ray Hubbard. sailwithscott.com

Hopkins County Dairy Festival & Balloon Fest. Sulphur Springs. 1959. June. Hot air balloon festival, parade, Texas State Championship Ice Cream Freeze Off, carnival, street dance, museum and learning center, and a variety of dairy-related events. hopkinscountydairyfestival.com

Gingerbread Trail Tour of Homes. Waxahachie. 1970. June. Tour includes historic homes, historic courthouse, Sims Library, and Ellis County Museum. Guests meet history enthusiasts and architecture aficionados. gingerbreadtrail.org

Salt Festival. Grand Saline. 1974. Normally held in June with a full week of activities in conjunction with the local Athena Club’s Salt Pageant with a queen, duchesses, and little salt girls and their escorts, for their 50th anniversary in 2024 it moved to September with three days of concerts featuring WhiskeyFish, Billie Jo Jones, T Graham Brown, T.G. Sheppard, Moe Bandy, and Glen Templeton. facebook.com/GSSaltFest

Antique Tractor Show. Terrell. June. The North Texas Antique Tractor and Engine Club antique tractors of various models. The event includes an antique tractor “sled pull” and a tractor parade. www.discoverterrell.com/events-calendar/

Great Texas Balloon Race. Longview. 1978. June. The largest sanctioned hot air balloon race in Texas, this three-day world-class competition also includes concerts, a balloon glow, and drone show. gtbr.net

Tomato Fest. Jacksonville. 1984. June. First created during the Great Depression to celebrate Jacksonville’s agricultural heritage, Tomato Week was revived in the 1980s and continues strong now each year. Activities include a tomato eating contest, farmers’ market, salsa contest, tomato opening contest, and car show. Jacksonville is designated the Tomato Capitol of the World. jacksonvilletexas.com/tomato-fest

Texas Blueberry Festival. Nacogdoches. 1990. June. Celebrating the harvest of the blueberries, it features live music, blueberry picking, auto exhibits, shopping, and restaurant specials. texasblueberryfestival.com

Junebug Music, Makers & Art Show. Ben Wheeler. 2012. June. Art by professional and up-and-coming artisans, live music, Lyra performances, craft cocktails, and kids arts and crafts area. The Forge Bar and Grill. theforgebenwheeler.com

Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom. Terrell. Music, games, water slides, food trucks, and more. Breezy Hill Park. www.abhpterrell.com

JUNE/JULY

Texas Shakespeare Festival. Kilgore. 1986. June/July. High quality, professional theatre productions. texasshakespeare.com

Tour De Paris. Paris. 1985. July. Features multiple routes tailored to riders of all skill levels, including 14 and 24 mile off-road on the Northeast Texas Trail and five county routes. paristexasbiking.com

Duwali Memorial Pow Wow. Ben Wheeler. 1994. Held annually to honor Cherokee Chief Duwali Bowles, who was killed in the Battle of the Neches on July 16, 1839. aics1839.com

July Fest. Gun Barrel City. 2010. High profile concert and drone show. Gun Barrel City Park. gunbarrelcity.gov

Freedom Fest. Nacogdoches. Annual Fourth of July Celebration featuring fireworks, food trucks, vendors and more in Festival Park. www.visitnacogdoches.org/events

Terrell FreedomFest. July 4.Annual celebration of freedom with pyrotechnic show and more.  No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum has food vendors and live music. Activities take place at Terrell Municipal Airport.  The No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum hosts AMRR motorcycle riders who journey to Terrell to honor the 20 fallen heroes from the United Kingdom, U.S. and Canada who died while training at the No. 1 British Flying Training School during WWII. www.discoverterrell.com/events-calendar/

East Texas Sacred Harp Convention. Henderson. 1983. August. Although held in Henderson for just a few decades, this annual gathering of shape note singers has a continuous history from 1868, the earliest year noted in its minutes, having missed a few years of meeting because of the American Civil War. Re-established after the war, a large influx of Georgia and Alabama settlers added to its strength. Many are attracted to its folk music aspect using acappella and four part harmony. The convention is the oldest known singing convention in Texas, and the second oldest Sacred Harp Convention in the United States. Henderson Civic Center. easttexassingings.net

AUGUST-FEBRUARY

Dinosaurs Live. McKinney. 2005. August-February. Seasonal annual exhibit featuring life-size animatronic dinosaurs along nature trails. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary. heardmuseum.org

Lee Street Jamboree. Greenville. travelgreenvilletx.com

Bois D’Arc Bash. Commerce. 1986. September. Celebrating heritage as Bois D’Arc Capital of Texas. Live music, parade, vendors, and pancake breakfast. commerce-chamber.com/bois-darc-bash

Terrell Mural Walk. September. Participants are invited to enjoy a self-paced tour of the city’s existing historic  and other murals including the Jamie Foxx mural in the 100 block of South Alley.  Guests get to become mural artists themselves by joining in and helping with a “paint-by-number” mural. www.discoverterrell.com/events-calendar/

Family Fun Fest & Denny Rohe Memorial BBQ Cook-Off. Terrell. September. Activities taking place at the Terrell Municipal Airport and No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum include the Annual Denny Rohe Memorial BBQ Cook-off, along with a wide range of activities designed for the entire family. www.discoverterrell.com/events-calendar/

Iron Horse Heritage Days. Mineola. 1990. September. Honoring the railroad heritage of the town, the event features live entertainment, baking contests, and a weenie dog race. mineolachamber.org

Cotton Patch Challenge Bicycle Rally. Greenville. 1997. September. Bike routes range from 12 to 75 miles with rest stops, scenic views. cottonpatchchallenge.com

Paris Balloon and Music Festival. 2016. September. Hot air balloons, live music, marketplace, food trucks, and more. Lamar County Fairgrounds. parisballoonandmusicfestival.com

Black-Eyed Pea Jamboree. Athens. 1971. September. Music, food, and contests. Uncle Fletch Hamburger Cook-off. visitathenstexas.com

Winnsboro Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering. 2019. Fall. Missing two years due to COVID restrictions, this event is going strong consistently now, with exciting performances of music and poetry and fun activities celebrating cowboy culture. winnsborocenterforthearts.com

State Fair of Texas. Dallas. 1886. September/October. The oldest state fair in America, it lasts for a whole month featuring amazing food, carnival rides, livestock shows, concerts, and so much more. The Art Deco buildings were built in 1936, housing exhibits, museums, and entertainment. bigtex.com

East Texas State Fair. Tyler. 1912. September. Closed for three years in World War II, the fair celebrated 100 years in 2015. Attractions, food, entertainment, and livestock. The Park of East Texas. etstatefair.com

Downtown Live. Longview. 2012. April/May and Sep/Oct. Annual outdoor music series with food trucks. Heritage Plaza, Downtown Longview. visitlongviewtexas.com

Old Town Rig Down. Nacogdoches. Big Rig Truck Show featuring the “biggest, baddest” rigs in the country lined up on the brick streets of Nacogdoches.The two-day event brings food, games, live auction, and live music. www.visitnacogdoches.org/events

State Fair of Texas. Dallas. 1886. September/October. The oldest state fair in America, it lasts for a whole month featuring amazing food, carnival rides, livestock shows, concerts, and so much more. The Art Deco buildings were built in 1936, housing exhibits, museums, and entertainment. bigtex.com

East Texas Yamboree. Gilmer. 1935. October. Queen’s coronation, carnival, parades, live music, barn dance, car show, fiddler’s contest, exhibits, livestock show and sale, arts and crafts. yamboree.com

Texas Rose Festival. Tyler. 1933. October. Celebrating the role of the rose-growing industry in Tyler, the Texas Rose Festival features a queen and her court in elaborate, museum-quality gowns, a Queen’s Tea, and the Rose Parade amidst a backdrop of thousands of vibrant roses. texasrosefestival.org

Autumn Trails. Winnsboro. 1958. October. A full month of scheduled activities take place with self-guided driving tours of the beautiful fall foliage surrounding Winnsboro, Texas. Events include car parades; horse and wagon trails; contests for pets, beards, pies, cakes, chili, and hot pepper eating; beauty pageant, live music, trade days, arts and crafts, and mule rodeo. winnsboroautumntrails.com

Hopkins County Fall Festival. Sulphur Springs. 1969. October. Parade, crafts show, kids zone, carnival, exhibits, and hay bale contest. Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. visitsulphurspringstx.org

World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest. Sulphur Springs. 1969. October. Teams compete in a campsite atmosphere with gingham, denim, and calico-clad men and women stirring simmering pots and stoking glowing campfires. Buford Park. sulphursprings-tx.com

Edom Art Festival. 1972. October. The late potter Doug Brown started this artists-run two-day event soon after he made Edom his home and a hamlet for creativity. It features 60 plus artists with original clothing, paintings, pottery, and mixed media, as well as live music, wine, and food trucks. edomarts.com

Van Oil Festival. 1979. October. A celebration of the Oil Boom days of Van includes music, vendors, parade, and queen’s pageant. vanareachamber.com

Hot Pepper Festival. Palestine. 1979. October. Features a parade, food and merchandise vendors, and a hot pepper eating contest. Downtown Palestine. visitpalestine.com

Sweet Potato Festival. Golden. 1982. October. Celebrating the sweet potato harvest in the Sweet Potato Capital of the World with activities benefiting local charities. goldensweetpotatofestival.org

Fire Ant Festival. Marshall. 1982. October. Gaining popularity as being one of America’s most unusual festivals, the FireAnt Festival’s entertainment includes a Diaper Derby, Chicken Chunking contest, FireAnt Calling contest, as well as Tour De FireAnt bike ride, scavenger hunt and dozens of vendors. marshalltexas.com/fireant-festival

Indian Summer Days and Dutch Oven Cook-Off. Sulphur Springs. 2004. October. Native American dancers, music, candle making, quilt show, butter curing, soap making, blacksmithing and gristmill operation. Dutch oven cooking contest. Heritage Park. hopkinscountymuseum.org

Oktoberfest. McKinney. 2007. October. Authentic German food, domestic and imported beer, live music, and games. Downtown McKinney. mckinneytexas.org/664/oktoberfest

Kilgore SAFFE Day. October. Celebrate safety, fun, and community connections with interactive activities, demonstrations, and family-friendly entertainment. https://saffeday.com/

SFA Homecoming. Nacogdoches. October. SFA’s annual Homecoming is one of the university’s most popular and spirited traditions. Activities include a concert, bonfire, fireworks, downtown parade, 5K race, Homecoming Court elections, football game, and tailgating. www.visitnacogdoches.org/events

Fall Feral Hog Festival. Ben Wheeler. 2008. October. The official Wild Hog Capital of Texas holds an event each year with a hog queen’s pageant, parade, live music, cook-off, kids zone, pig races, hog calling contest, and more. FB/FallFeralHogFestival

Rib Rub Run & Roll. Rockwall. 2009. October. Barbecue cooking competition with live music, 5K run, and more. Harry Myers Park. rockwall.com/parks

Piney Woods Wine Festival. Lindale. 2010. May & October. Held in Mount Vernon for several years, it moved to Lindale in 2016 and expanded to include a second fall event a couple of years ago. Activities include a wine garden with tastings offered by wineries of the Piney Woods Wine Trail, artisan vendors, tasty food trucks, and live music. Picker’s Pavilion at Blackberry Square, Downtown Lindale. visitlindale.com

Tobaccodoches Cigar Festival. Nacogdoches. October. The ultimate cigar experience in the form of an annual festival provides a unique opportunity to indulge in the finest cigars, spirits, and cuisine. The event takes place in Commerce St. Alley in the heart of Downtown. www.visitnacogdoches.org/events

Kilgore Oktoberfest. 2014. October. Authentic German-meets-Texas experience with food, music, drinks, and family activities. Downtown Kilgore. visitkilgore.com/kilgore-oktoberfest

Main Street Uncorked. Sulphur Springs. 2016. October. Wine and music festival featuring Texas wineries, shopping with local vendors, and live music. mainstreetuncorkedss.com

Great Pumpkin Roll. Longview. 2022. October. Participants of all ages roll pumpkins down a hill to win up to $500 in prizes. The cost is $2 per roll and a limited supply of pumpkins are available for purchase. In past years pumpkins have rolled up to two city blocks. The festival also features a maze, outdoor games, and vendors, food trucks, and a pumpkin pie eating contest. visitlongviewtexas.com/pumpkin

Crossroads of Texas Country Festival. Waxahachie. 4th Saturday of October. Longtime host of Texas Country Reporter Bob Phillips along with his wife Kelli, host this annual festival spotlighting ordinary people doing extraordinary things in Texas. More than 200 booths are around the courthouse square with artist, craftspeople, and festival food. texascountryfestival.com

Downtown Live. Longview. 2012. April/May and Sep/Oct. Annual outdoor music series with food trucks. Heritage Plaza, Downtown Longview. visitlongviewtexas.com

British Bash. Terrell. November. Held annually on the Saturday closest to Remembrance Day the event celebrates the shared history of the British Royal Air Force and the citizens of Terrell. Activities include arts and craft vendors, food vendors, live music, and all things British.  www.discoverterrell.com/events-calendar/

BFTS Remembrance Day Activities. Terrell. November. Each year around Veterans Day, the No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum hosts a remembrance ceremony at Oakland Cemetery to honor the 20 fallen heroes from the United Kingdom, U.S., and Canada who died while training at the No. 1 British Flying Training School during WWII. The service is followed by tea at the museum. www.discoverterrell.com/events-calendar/

Edgewood Heritage Festival. 1977. November. In a backdrop of 19th century buildings, the festival celebrates regional heritage with an artisan village, classic cars, antique tractors, model train, blacksmithing, print shop, barber shop, bake sale, jams and jellies, and live music. Heritage Park Museum of East Texas, Downtown Edgewood. edgewoodheritagefestival.com

Heritage Syrup Festival. Henderson. 1989. November. Ribbon cane syrup making takes center stage with other activities including folk art and sawmill demonstrations, carousel rides, antique tractors, storytelling, live music, square dancing, pony rides, chili cook-off, and children’s section. Henderson. Depot Museum, Downtown Square. hendersontx.us/14/Heritage-Syrup-Festival

Wassail Fest. Nacogdoches. 2000. November. Enjoy tasting delicious spiced wassail while shopping with participating merchants. Downtown Nacogdoches. visitnacogdoches.org

McKinney Art Studio Tour. McKinney. 2009. November. A self-guided tour featuring more than 60 artists in 20 locations across the community. mastmckinney.org

Winnsboro Art & Wine Festival. 2010. November. This popular, juried festival attracts talented participating artists from around the country. In addition to the variety of art, Texas wineries show off award-winning wines by providing tastings and bottles for sale. Specialty foods and other vendors attend as well. Live music provides entertainment on both Friday and Saturday. winnsboroartandwinefestival.com

Dia De Los Muertos Festival. Nacogdoches. November. A colorful cultural event that has become a Nacogdoches tradition. Expect excellent music, dance, food, drink, and lots of vendors.  www.visitnacogdoches.org/events

 Holiday in the Pines. Nacogdoches. November. More than 60 specialty stores and shops from coast-to-coast gathered for holiday shopping. Sample tasty food items, mingle with friends, and shop for Christmas all while walking around in a holiday wonderland. www.visitnacogdoches.org/events

Bob Wills Fiddle Festival & Contest. Greenville. 2014. November. Honors the life and music of Bob Wills with fiddling contest, concerts, dance, and more. bobwillsfest.com

REEL East Texas Film Festival. Kilgore. 2016. November. Celebrating a slate of indie film projects with live screenings, filmmaker Q&As, and other activities. Texan Theater, Texas Broadcast Museum. reeleasttexas.com

Kilgore Derrick Lighting. November. Witness the magical transformation of Kilgore’s iconic derricks into a twinkling wonderland, marking the start of the holiday season. www.visitkilgore.com

Small Business Saturday. Region. November. Saturday following Thanksgiving. Local shops provide giveaways and hold special sales on this national day created by American Express to encourage shopping in small businesses for the holidays.

Wonderland of Lights. Marshall. 1987. November/December. A magical site with millions of white lights and activities that include an outdoor ice-skating rink, vintage carousel, train, and a collection of tiny houses making up Santa’s village with the backdrop of the 1901 historic Harrison County Courthouse. visitmarshalltexas.com

Wonderland of Lights. Marshall. 1987. November/December. A magical site with millions of white lights and activities that include an outdoor ice-skating rink, vintage carousel, train, and a collection of tiny houses making up Santa’s village with the backdrop of the 1901 historic Harrison County Courthouse. visitmarshalltexas.com

Parade of Lights. Greenville. December. First Friday. ci.greenville.tx.us

Christmas in a Small Town Tour of Homes. Terrell. December. Social Science Club of Terrell hosts this annual tour of select Terrell homes beautifully decorated for the holidays. www.discoverterrell.com/events-calendar/

Christmas in Historic Terrell. December.  Christmas is in full motion in Historic Downtown Terrell featuring a tree lighting, photos with Santa, live music, Christmas story readings, shopping, food vendors and everything to get even Grinch into the spirit of the season. www.discoverterrell.com/events-calendar/

Annual Stanley Ballard Senior Christmas Parade. Terrell. December. The parade boasts more than 100 floats and entries, including local bands, drill teams, churches, local businesses, elected officials, horse and motorcycle groups. The Hella Shriners join the parade each year as well to entertain the crowds. www.discoverterrell.com/events-calendar/

Magical Mineola. December. 1st Weekend. League of the Arts Bazaar, snow hills, hot chocolate, mini train rides, community tree lighting, live music, and visits with The Grinch. www.mineola.com

Nine Flags Christmas Celebration. Nacogdoches. December. Downtown Nacogdoches turns into a scene from a Hallmark movie. The streets are lined with families, Christmas lights sparkle, and local organizations put on a show with decorated floats. www.visitnacogdoches.org/events

Christmas Tour of Homes. Nacogdoches. December. Tour the beautiful homes and structures of Nacogdoches this Christmas season. www.visitnacogdoches.org/events

 Millard’s Crossing Old Fashioned Christmas. Nacogdoches. December. Christmas like the good ol’ days with photos with Santa, a special Christmas tree lighting, petting zoo, pony rides, Christmas hayrides, face painting, music, and more. www.visitnacogdoches.org/events

Check our PARTNERS links on our HOME page for holiday events ranging from small town charm to elaborate productions.