A Season of Fun and Reflection in the Upper East Side of Texas
To everything there is a season and autumn in the Upper East Side of Texas is about as good as it gets when it comes for a time to play. This region has long been home to community gatherings in celebration of cooling weather, colorful turning of the leaves, and the rewards of the farmers’ bounty after a long stretch of hard work in grueling temperatures. Over the years, community organizers began many autumn celebrations that have grown and still continue today. Some of the oldest are the East Texas State Fair, Texas Rose Festival, East Texas Yamboree, Autumn Trails, Hopkins County Fall Festival and Stew Contest, Edom Art Festival, Salt Festival, Edgewood Heritage Festival, Great Texas Balloon Race, Hot Pepper Festival, and Sweet Potato Festival.
Other popular events preserve the cultural heritage of the natives and immigrants of this region while integrating elements of the old and new to create fall traditions that foster a sense of continuity, belonging, and innovation. Fusing with a background of fall pumpkins and decorative hay bales are cultural influences of African, Asian, German, Mexican, Scottish, Irish, Czech, and Native American relatives.
Many other celebrations stood the test of time and combined with the growing number of new annual events; pop up fairs; art exhibitions; live music, theatre, and other entertainment; and brews, wine, and culinary gatherings, the region is full of activities that keep things fun.
Start filling up your fall calendars with these events and be sure to check in with each of the region’s individual town visitor websites throughout the season to keep spicing things up.
Dia de los Muertos, Nov. 1, Nacogdoches
Through September 13
Visitation Triptych. Longview. Works by renowned Texas artists and husband/wife team Philana Oliphant and James Pace, in collaboration with their daughter Aza Pace. Longview Museum of Fine Arts. www.lmfa.org.
Through September 20
Women in the Arts. Winnsboro Center for the Arts. www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com
Through November 30
Making a Mark: Women in Early Texas Art. Tyler Museum of Art. www.tylermuseum.org
Through December 20
Six Degrees of Separation. Longview. An art history take on the party game of the same name. Longview Museum of Fine Arts. www.lmfa.org.
September 1
Lee Mathis and The Brutally Handsome. Longview. Labor Day Downtown Live. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com.
September 4
Darrin Morris. Palestine. Acoustic music, cold beer, food trucks, and concessions. Farmers Market Pavilion. www.visitpalestine.com.
September 4-13
Gregg County Fair. Longview. Longview Fairgrounds/Longview Exhibit Center. www.greggcountyfair.com.
September 5
Down Home Band. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com.
September 5-7 and 12-14
The Crucible. Athens. Stage Notes Academy of Performing Arts. www.stagenotesapa.com
September 6
The Great Cardboard Boat Race. Longview. Teague Park. www.visitlongviewtexas.com.
Saturdays on Main. Palestine. Shopping, dining, public art. Downtown. www.visitpalestine.com.
Airplanes and Coffee. Sulphur Springs. Day of aviation fun. www.visitsulphurspringstx.org.
September 11
Open Mic Night. Winnsboro Center for the Arts. www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com.
Septemer 11-20
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Athens. The show is a 1955 three-act play by Tennessee Williams, an adaptation of Williams’ 1952 short story “Three Players of a Summer Game.” One of Williams’ more famous works, the play won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955. Set in a plantation home in the Mississippi Delta of a wealthy cotton tycoon Big Daddy Pollitt, the play examines the relationships among members of Big Daddy’s family, primarily between his son Brick and Brick’s wife Maggie. Henderson County Performing Arts Center. www.hcpac.org.
September 12
Nik Parr & The Selfless Lovers. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com.
September 12-13
Tyler Film Fest. Liberty Hall. www.tylerfilmfest.com.
Old Town Rig Down. Nacogdoches. This family-friendly, one-of-a-kind event is open to the public and features an exciting display of big rigs, show trucks, and custom semis, all polished to perfection, plus live music, food vendors, and more. www.visitnacogdoches.org.
Paris Balloon and Music Festival. Hot air balloons, live music, marketplace, food trucks, and more. Lamar County Fairgrounds. www.parisballoonandmusicfestival.com.
Paris Balloon and Music Festival, Sep. 12-13
September 12-14 and 19-21
Melodies of Broadway. Sulphur Springs. Main Street Community Theatre. www.communityplayersinc.com.
September 13
Band of Heathens. Longview. Longview Museum of Fine Arts. www.lmfa.org.
Dogwood Jamboree. Palestine. Branson-style country music show. Palestine High School Auditorium. www.visitpalestine.com.
Tyler Art Festival. Caldwell Arts Academy. www.visittyler.com.
Kayla Ray and Charlie Stout. Winnsboro Center for the Arts. www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com.
Kayla Ray, Sep. 13, Winnsboro Center for the Arts
September 14
Tango Nuevo. Mount Vernon. Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony play Piazzolla — jazz, classical, and tango. Mount Vernon Music. www.mountvernonmusic.org.
September 19
Curtis Grimes. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com.
Piney Woods Evening Dinner Train. Palestine. Enjoy a scenic twilight train ride, followed by a savory catered dinner beneath the stars. Indulge in appetizers, a champagne or cider toast, dessert, and refreshments with Texas State Railroad. www.texasstaterailroad.net.
Red Not Chili Peppers. Tyler. Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue. www.stanleysfamous.com.
September 19-28
East Texas State Fair. Tyler. Beer garden, agriculture, food row, petting zoo, live music, www.etstatefair.com.
September 20
Pints in the Pines. Palestine. A vintage train and beer-tasting adventure. Sample local brews, enjoy appetizers, a catered dinner, and dessert. Alternative drinks are available. Texas State Railroad. www.texasstaterailroad.net.
Andie Kay Joyner. Ben Wheeler. The Forge Bar & Grill. www.theforgebenwheeler.com.
Tyler Songwriters Festival 2025. A day-long dive into what makes a song great and how to write one. The workshop is designed for both beginning and seasoned songwriters, as well as for the song enthusiast, with a desire to examine and explore the building blocks of songwriting, including song structure, lyrical content, melodic composition and rhythm and tempo. Workshop from 9-4 p.m. with Songwriters in the Round at 8 p.m. featuring Songwriters in the Round, 8 p.m. with Lauren Alexander, Dave Sherman, Matt Magill, Caleb Joseph, Connie Mims Pinkerton, Clint Alford, Gary Patrick, and Randy Morrison. The Listening Lounge. www.visittyler.com.
Cotton Patch Challenge Bike Ride. Greenville. Bike ride features six different courses ranging from 12 miles to 74 miles with the two longest routes crossing over nearby Lake Tawakoni. All routes start and finish in Downtown Greenville. www.cottonpatchchallenge.com
Terrell Mural Walk. Downtown Terrell. www.discoverterrell.com.
Stella Cole. Tyler. UT Cowan Center. www.cowancenter.org
Lee Street Jamboree. Greenville. Free, family-friendly street party with live music under the stars. Southall performs Southern rock and Americana starting at 8 p.m. www.travelgreenvilletx.com.
Southall is headlining at this year’s Lee Street Jamboree on September 20 in Greenville.
September 24-November 15
Cowboy Tales. Art Exhibition. Winnsboro Center for the Arts. www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com
September 26
Clint & The Cosmic Wake. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com.
Tyler Halverson. Tyler. Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue. www.stanleysfamous.com.
I’m With Her. Dallas. Majestic Theatre. www.majestic.dallasculture.org.
September 26-27
Winnsboro Cowboy Music and Poetry Gathering. Concerts and presentations by top entertainers, free Western fun activities for the whole family, and a juried cowboy-themed art exhibition. www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com.
September 26-27
Boogie Woogie Marshall. Weekend events include Boogie Woogie influenced music and artist tributes and a documentary for Lead Belly along with visits to his gravesite, plus an unveiling of the Lead Belly Room at the Boogie Woogie Museum. Performing artists for Boogie Woogie Marshall include Carl “Sonny” Leyland, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Dr. Daryl Davis, Liz Pennock & Dr. Blues, Guy Davis, Mark Puryear, Wes Jeans, and Dr. John Tennison. Memorial City Hall Performance Center. www.BoogieWoogie.org.
September 26-October 19
State Fair of Texas. Dallas. The oldest state fair in America, featuring food, carnival rides, livestock shows, concerts, and more. The Art Deco buildings were built in 1936, housing exhibits, museums, and entertainment. www.bigtex.com
September 27
Hard Days Night. Athens. Beatles tribute. The Texan. www.thetexanathens.com
Dutch Oven Contest & Indian Summer. Sulphur Springs. Teams of cooks prepare a meat, vegetable, bread, and dessert on-site. All buildings are open with hosts in period clothing including the blacksmith shop, general store, bakery, and print shop. Hopkins County Heritage Park. www.hopkinsmuseum.org.
Neal McCoy’s Angel Network 2025. Longview. LeTourneau University Belcher Center. www.belchercenter.com.
September 29
Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters. Marshall. Memorial City Hall Performance Center. www.memorialcityhall.com.
October Weekends
Kadee Tree Farm Pumpkin Patch. Greenville. Hay rides, parties, maze, and fall activities. www.kadeefarm.com.
October 2
ArtWalk. Longview. www.artwalklongview.com.
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com.
Lucas Nelson. Dallas. Majestic Theatre. www.majestic.dallasculture.org.
October 2-5
Texas Sounds International Country Music Awards. Marshall. Memorial City Hall Performance Center. www.memorialcityhall.com.
First Monday Trade Days. Canton. www.firstmondaycanton.com
October 3
Night at the Movies. Greenville Chamber Music Society. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com.
Probable Cause. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com.
Sunny Sweeney. Tyler. Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue. www.stanleysfamous.com.
Sunny Sweeney, Oct. 3, Stanley’s, Tyler. Photo by Christina Feddersen
October 4
Saturdays on Main. Palestine. Shopping, dining, public art. Downtown. www.visitpalestine.com.
Paint Palestine Pink. 10.5 mile, 5k, and 1 mile fun run. www.paintpalestinepink.org.
Taste of Winnsboro. A celebration of small-town charm and big-time flavors. Local businesses are joining together for an evening of tastings, live music, and entertainment in the Bowery Pedestrian Park of downtown Winnsboro. www.facebook.com/tasteofwinnsborotx.
Oktober Fest. Eagle’s Nest Mini Golf. www.eaglesnestminigolf.com.
Moo Moos and Mimosas. Gilmer. Hand crafted mimosas and brunch with music by Drifted Harmony. Moo moo attire encouraged. Rowdy Creek Ranch. www.rowdycreekranch.com.
Great Pumpkin Roll. Longview. Downtown. www.visitlongviewtexas.com.
October 4-26 Weekends
Autumn Trails. Winnsboro. Activities include trail rides, tractor pull, rodeos, games, contests including pie eating and beard and mustache, parades, arts and crafts, car shows, pet show, and much more. Get the full schedule on www.winnsboroautumntrails.com.
October 7
Rob Lowe. Tyler. UT Cowan Center. www.cowancenter.org
October 9
“Boob Tube” Bras for the Cause. Greenville. Annual fundraiser for Hunt Regional Hospital. www.b4tchuntcounty.com.
October 9-25
Hopkins County Fall Festival. Sulphur Springs. Carnival, parade, crafts, kids’ zone, exhibits. Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. www.visitsulphurspringstx.org.
October 10
Alex and Liv Music. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com.
October 11
Fire Ant Festival. Marshall. One of America’s most unusual festivals, 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. www.marshalltexas.com/fireant-festival
Believers of Worship. Mount Vernon. Vocal ensemble Believers of Worship with Devotional String Quartets. Mount Vernon Music. www.mountvernonmusic.org.
Masterpieces and Martinis. Longview. An evening of refined indulgence with expertly crafted cocktails, dinner, live auction and music by Endolena. Longview Museum of Fine Arts. www.lmfa.org.
Gene Watson. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com.
Little Texas. Marshall. Memorial City Hall Performance Center. www.memorialcityhall.com.
Main Street Uncorked Wine, Art, & Music Festival. Sulphur Springs. Celebration Plaza. www.uncorkedsstx.com.
Foo Fighters Tribute. Athens. The Texan. www.thetexanathens.com.
Oktoberfest. Kilgore. www.visitkilgore.com.
Randy Rogers Band. Tyler. UT Cowan Center. www.cowancenter.org
Randy Rogers Band, Oct. 11, Cowan Center, Tyler. Photo by Kurt Ozan
October 11-12
East Texas Cultural Fest. Longview. Entertainment, food, beer garden, costume contests, petting zoo, arts, crafts, cultural dances. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com.
Edom Art Festival. www.edomarts.com
Edom Art Festival, Oct. 11-12. Photo by Craig D Blackmon, FAIA
October 14
Crystal Gayle. Marshall. Memorial City Hall Performance Center. www.memorialcityhall.com.
October 15-18
East Texas Yamboree. Gilmer. Queen’s coronation, carnival, parades, live music, barn dance, car show, fiddler’s contest, exhibits, livestock show and sale, arts and crafts. www.yamboree.com
October 16
Crystal Gayle. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com.
October 16-19
Texas Rose Festival. Tyler. This 91st annual event is rich in heritage and tradition with ceremonial events including the Queen’s Coronation, Rose Presentation, the Queen’s Tea, and the Rose Parade. www.texasrosefestival.org.
October 17
Ruthie Foster. Longview Museum of Fine Arts. www.lmfa.org.
Rick Brown and the Lonestar Bootleggers. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com.
October 17-18
Piney Woods Wine Festival. Lindale. Picker’s Pavilion at Blackberry Square. www.visitlindale.com.
Nature Fest. Mineola. Campfires, Creature Teacher, Promise of Peace Gardens, Tribes of Tejas ceremony, Native American hoop dance, nature photography. www.mineolanaturepreserve.com
October 17-26
Bonnie & Clyde the Musical. Palestine. Texas Theatre. www.thetexastheater.com.
October 18
Prowl-O-Ween. Tyler. Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary. www.tigercreek.org
ASCO Tyler Fall Festival. Supporting the fight against human trafficking. Games, food, fun. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. East Texas State Fair Grounds. (903) 593-0201, egolshadi@ascoeq.com
October 19
The Melodies of Nature. Greenville Chamber Music Society. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com.
October 21
The Addams Family: A Musical Comedy. Tyler. UT Cowan Center. www.cowancenter.org
October 24
Tuxedo Cats. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com
NEEDTOBREATHE. Tyler. UT Cowan Center. www.cowancenter.org
Wine in the Pines. Palestine. An adults-only train journey through the Piney Woods of East Texas while enjoying local wine samples, a moonlit ride, and dinner under the stars at the Rusk Depot. Complimentary appetizers, a keepsake wine glass, and a variety of beverages available onboard. www.texasstaterailroad.net.
John Conlee. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com.
October 24-25
Fall Feral Hog Festival. Ben Wheeler. The official Wild Hog Capital of Texas with a hog queen’s pageant, parade, live music, cook-off, kids zone, pig races, hog calling contest, and more. This year’s them is Sow Wars: The Pork Awakens. FB/FallFeralHogFestival
Herrington Memorial Rodeo. Palestine. The Herrington Memorial Rodeo brings thrilling rodeo action, live music, and exciting contests. Anderson County Youth Livestock Arena. www.andersoncyla.com.
Hot Pepper Festival. Palestine. The 46th annual event brings live music, food vendors, car show, chili cook-off, and the famous pepper-eating contest. www.palestinechamber.org.
October 25
Royal Women of Country. Marshall. Memorial City Hall Performance Center. www.memorialcityhall.com.
Uncorked Food & Wine Festival. Mount Pleasant. Caldwell Park. www.mtpleasanttx.com.
Fall Fantasy Faire. Greenville. A Library Renaissance Festival. W. Walworth Harrison Public Library. www.facebook.com/greenvilletxlibrary.
The Spooky Special. Palestine. Adults-Only Halloween Costume Party on the Rails with appetizers, a champagne/cider toast, a catered dinner, dessert, and dancing to a live DJ at the Rusk Depot. Costume contests, spooky tunes, and drinks available for purchase. Texas State Railroad. www.texasstaterailroad.net.
Corvette Show. Sulphur Springs. www.facebook.com/sulphurspringscorvetteclub.
World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest. Sulphur Springs. Teams compete in a campsite atmosphere with gingham, denim, and calico-clad men and women stirring simmering pots and stoking glowing campfires. Buford Park. www.sulphursprings-tx.com.
October 30
Disney’s Moana Live-to-Film Concert. Tyler. UT Cowan Center. www.cowancenter.org
October 30-November 2
First Monday Trade Days. Canton. www.firstmondaycanton.com
October 31
Jenn Ford and Wide Eyed Devils. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com
October 31-November 1
Bob Wills Fiddle Festival & Contest. Greenville. Fiddle contest, concerts by Red Steagall and The Boys in the Bunkhouse, Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys under the direction of Jason Roberts, Dave Alexander Band with the Bob Wills Fest Western swing Orchestra. Outdoor concerts with The Western Flyers, The Soda Crackers, Georgia Parker Swing Band, and The Last Band Standing. An associated pre-event takes place October 30 with a documentary movie, The Birth & History of Western Swing. Events are at Market Square, Greenville Municipal Auditorium, and Texan Theater. www.bobwillsfest.com.
November 1
Dia de los Muertos. Nacogdoches. live music, dazzling dance performances, delicious food and drink, and a variety of local vendors. Festival Park. www.visitnacogdoches.org
Wesley Pruitt Band. Athens. The Texan. www.thetexanathens.com
Wesley Pruitt Band, Nov. 1, The Texan, Athens
November 4
Texas Shakespeare presents Julius Caesar. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com
November 7-8
Winnsboro Art & Wine Festival. Juried artists, award-winning wines, specialty foods, and live music. www.winnsboroartandwinefestival.com
November 8
Dueling Pianos: The Eighty Eights. Athens. The Texan. www.thetexanathens.com
Eldred Marshall. Virtuoso pianist takes the stage for solo evening. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com
Heritage Syrup Festival. Henderson. Syrup making, blacksmiths, tractor show, broom makers, storytellers, and folk musicians. www.visithendersontx.com
48th Edgewood Heritage Festival. Heritage Park Museum of East Texas. www.heritageparkmuseumofetx.org
