If you’re looking for fun things to do in East Texas this weekend, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s our rundown of some fun things happening around the area!

If you know of another event, or see an inaccuracy below, please let us know here.

THURSDAY, 9/12

Tyler Film Festival - Night One

• When: 7pm
• Where: Liberty Hall, Tyler

The Tyler Film Festival is a celebration of storytelling through film in East Texas and across the world from September 12-14. Each night, we will have a Q&A with our judges and attending filmmakers. Stick around after the movie showings to vote for your favorite film to win Audience Favorite. At the end of Night 3, we will announce our winners! TICKETS HERE!

FRIDAY, 9/13

4th Annual Friday the 13th

• When: 11am-3pm
• Where: The Studio Tattoo, Tyler

Doors open at 11 and we will close when the last tattoo is done. Lots of fun things going on that day. Also a little give away is in store.. Tattoos start at $50 dollars and there is OVER 100 designs to choose from . So mark your calendar and bring a friend.

Old Town Rig Down 2024

• When: 5pm
• Where: Downtown Nacogdoches

Old Town Rig Down is the 3rd Annual Big Rig Truck Show taking place in Downtown Nacogdoches, September 13-14th 2024! The biggest, baddest rigs in the country will be on display in Downtown Nacogdoches, on the beautiful brick streets! Food, games, live auction, live music, and more! Friday Night: Concert featuring 2109 Band at 7:30pm on Pilar St. (CVB Stage) Tony Justice at 9pm on Pilar St. (CVB Stage). Saturday Night: Concert featuring Neal McCoy at 7pm in Festival Park. Randy Houser at 8:30 pm in Festival Park. No tickets needed, free community event.

New Gymnastics Class - Neurodivergent Friends

• When: 4:30pm-5:30pm
• Where: GymTyler Gymnastics & Fitness

This class is sure to be the highlight of your child’s week as well as yours! As parents of a neurodivergent kiddo ourselves, we know first hand how life-giving a class like this can be. Smiles all around. While also watching them have to overcome challenges. This will be an exploration class where parents are on the floor. Kids will be able to explore sensory items in the gym and figure out equipment. Gymnastics concepts will be introduced very informally—different from our other classes, but at a pace that allows kids to get comfortable with their environment. Cost is $30/mo. Registration @ GymTyler.com

Paris Balloon & Music Festival

• When: 5pm-9pm
• Where: 570 E Center Street, Paris

Festival starts at 5pm Friday and Saturday September 13th & 14th. We can’t wait to Glow with you! Grab a lawn chair and bring the family out to the CUTX Paris Balloon and Music Festival at the Lamar County Fairgrounds. Gates open at 5:00pm. We will have a wide variety of really cool market vendors, food vendors, live music, kids fun zone with games and petting zoo, tethered balloon rides, and we will have a beautiful balloon glow at dusk each night.

Tyler Film Festival - Night Two

• When: 7pm
• Where: Liberty Hall, Tyler

The Tyler Film Festival is a celebration of storytelling through film in East Texas and across the world from September 12-14. Each night, we will have a Q&A with our judges and attending filmmakers. Stick around after the movie showings to vote for your favorite film to win Audience Favorite. At the end of Night 3, we will announce our winners! TICKETS HERE!

Chicago (2002)

• When: 7pm
• Where: The Pines Theater, Lufkin

Murderesses Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago. Tickets Here

Deadgood Productions Take Over

• When: 8pm
• Where: Rose City Comedy, Tyler

Exavier Poole & Bridget Tooley. Tickets: $10 Presale / $12 Door. TICKETS HERE! Doors 8:00p / Show 8:30p. This event is BYOB. Experience our Preferred Seating option for ultimate comfort and convenience at our events. With Preferred Seating, you get to choose from available seating options and enjoy four complimentary refreshments of your choice per ticket.

SATURDAY, 9/14

Farmers Market

• When: 8am-12pm
• Where: 221 S. Broadway Ave, Tyler

Open Every Saturday. Free Parking at Fair Plaza Garage. Pet Friendly.

Indoor Moneyball Pickleball Tournament

• When: 9am
• Where: Maude Cobb Convention Center, Longview

Are you tired of the heat? Indoor pickleball (and cornhole) tournament coming to Maude Cobb Convention Center! Benefits the Boys and Girls Club.

DFW Swing Out Tyler - New Beginners Class

• When: 10am
• Where: 1116 W Bow St, Tyler

Join us for an extraordinary dance like no other! New Beginner’s Classes: Dive into the smooth world of DFW Swing Out every Saturday from 10:00 am-12:00pm, dancers who has mastered the 6 basic steps 1. Basic 2. Full Turn 3. Half turn 4. Walk 5. Transition 6. Step 2/ Behind the back. Weather you come with a partner or fly solo our classes offer a fun easy learning environment. Discover the joy of Swing Out as you learn the 6 basic steps, master lead follow techniques, perfect your turns, groove to the rhythm, and embrace dance floor etiquette. Connect with a vibrant community: as a member, you’ll have the opportunity to host and attend social dance events within the DFW Swing Out. Let’s come together and grow the Tyler East TX community a 50-member group, creating a strong support system for our own sensational social event.

Fiddle Zoo for Kids

• When: 10am-11:30am
• Where: Fine Arts at First Presbyterian Church, Tyler

Fiddle Zoo for Kids is a fun and exciting instrument petting zoo for children of all ages and their families. Come and go anytime from 10-11:30 am to enjoy music themed games and activities, orchestra storytime, a meet and greet with New Texas Sinfonia performers, and numerous live performances. Refreshments provided.

10yr Anniversary - Tyler Music Academy

• When: 10am-1pm
• Where: Tyler Music Academy

Come join us for some FREE indoor FUN! We are celebrating 10 Years of being in Tyler and want to have some fun with you all! We’ll have Karaoke, Drum Circle, Crafts, Coloring, Photo Booth, Snow Cones, Prizes and more!

Community Plant Swap

• When: 10am-3pm
• Where: Euphoria Botanicals, Kilgore

Please join us for our community plant swap. A Plant Swap is an event where fellow plant owners can come together and swap their plants and or gardening accessories! Please bring your plants and pots.

20th Anniversary Celebration of the Children’s Park

• When: 10am-4pm
• Where: The Children’s Park of Tyler

For one weekend only we are transforming The Children’s Park of Tyler into a Mini Golf Paradise with 18 unique mini golf holes! Attend our FREE public celebration on Saturday where there will be mini-golf, a vendor market, food trucks, and fun!

Pumpkin Painting Party

• When: 10am-4pm
• Where: The Platform, Longview

Hey kids and parents! Get ready for a spooktacular time at our Kids Pumpkin Painting Party! Bring your creativity and excitement as we transform plain pumpkins into colorful masterpieces! We’ll provide all the supplies, including pumpkins, paints, brushes, and fun decorations. Register here!

Remeber 9/11 Tribute Fest

• When: 10am-5pm
• Where: The Old Foundry, Rusk

Car, Truck & Bike Show at The Old Foundry! Live music, food, kiddos play area, tons of vendors & literally something for the entire family!! Spectator entry is FREE, parking is $5.

Tyler Art Festival

• When: 11am
• Where: Downtown Tyler Square

Tyler Art Festival is a free community event designed to increase our local artists’ visibility and attract people to downtown Tyler.

Longview Bonsai Society Summer Exhibit

• When: 11am | 3pm
• Where: Hilton Garden Inn, Longview

The Longview Bonsai Society will be hosting a formal Bonsai Exhibit that will display bonsai featuring a variety of plant species. This event will be at the Hilton Garden Inn in Longview, Texas. On Saturday, September 14th there will be two walkthroughs by LBS President Hunter Hilburn, one at 11:00 am and one at 3:00 pm. Julian is a bonsai professional based out of Los Angeles. He spent 2 years apprenticing under his Oyakata, Keiichi Fujikawa, at Fujikawa Kouka-en located in Osaka Japan. There will be some bonsai plants, pots, tools and supplies available for sale at this event.

East Texas Psychic Fair

• When: 11am-5pm
• Where: Maude Cobb Convention Center, Longview

Join us for a day of fun!

Globe of Death

• When: 12pm-4pm
• Where: Roughneck Harley-Davidson, Longview

Come see the Globe of Death Squad at Roughneck Harley-Davidson as part of our 6 store tour opening weekend!

Faire of Champions Invades Longview, TX

• When: 12pm-4pm
• Where: Varying Locations around Longview.

Worlds come together for a taste of fantasy faire Saturday, September 14th. This is an open invitation, and everyone is invited to join us! You can join us for our evening activities at Outlaws or meet us along the way any time during the day! More info & schedule here!

Sword Seminar

• When: 2pm
• Where: 5914 Old Highway 80, Longview

Special Instructor Bob Hallmark will teach a seminar about swordsmanship. Participants will need a katana/sword or bokken. The seminar is free, but donations are accepted.

Backdrops - Sell or Swamp

• When: 2:30pm-3:30pm
• Where: Postmasters Coffee Co., Jacksonville

Bring your backdrops to sell or trade with other Photographers in the area. Please have them labeled so that you know what the size and value is. Come and go as you like.

The Chadderbox Master League

• When: 2pm-8pm
• Where: The Chadderbox Hobby Shop, Lufkin

Come out and compete in The Chadderbox Master League! Earn points towards your first gym badge by participating and competing in Pokémon battles and trade sessions!

Symphonic Shakespeare

• When: 3pm
• Where: Fine Arts at First Presbyterian Church, Tyler

$20 adults / students and children free admission. Widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language, William Shakespeare inspired countless great musical scores through his plays and poetry. His words flow tunefully off the page and the lives of his characters are brimming with melody. New Texas Sinfonia opens its fourth season with works that realize the drama and excitement of ‘The Immortal Bard.’ From the gripping revenge of Coriolanus in Beethoven’s overture to the jovial comedy of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as brought to life by Mendelssohn, this musical journey through the human passions will doubtless have you captivated.

Chess Club with Tyler TX Chess

• When: 3pm-6pm
• Where: The Board Room, Tyler

Come join us every Saturday from 4-6 pm (or whenever!) for some Red-Hot chess action! We have plenty of boards, seats, clocks, or whatever you need to get your game on. Come meet some new members of the TBRT community and let’s build the best chess club in East Texas!

Old Town Rig Down 2024

• When: 5pm
• Where: Downtown Nacogdoches

Old Town Rig Down is the 3rd Annual Big Rig Truck Show taking place in Downtown Nacogdoches, September 13-14th 2024! The biggest, baddest rigs in the country will be on display in Downtown Nacogdoches, on the beautiful brick streets! Food, games, live auction, live music, and more! Friday Night: Concert featuring 2109 Band at 7:30pm on Pilar St. (CVB Stage) Tony Justice at 9pm on Pilar St. (CVB Stage). Saturday Night: Concert featuring Neal McCoy at 7pm in Festival Park. Randy Houser at 8:30 pm in Festival Park. No tickets needed, free community event.

Learn to Play: Gnome Hollow

• When: 5pm-9pm
• Where: The Board Room, Tyler

Come learn how to play, or come meet others who want to play! It’s a great time to enjoy this great game and get some first-hand instruction; it’s better than watching videos! As a special deal on this Learn to Play Night, we offer the featured game(s) at 20% off MSRP! If we don’t have any more in-stock, we’ll special order you a copy at 20% off MSRP! Also, you can enter a drawing for a free copy of the game for only $5 at the Event!

Tyler Film Festival - Night Three

• When: 6pm
• Where: Liberty Hall, Tyler

The Tyler Film Festival is a celebration of storytelling through film in East Texas and across the world from September 12-14. Each night, we will have a Q&A with our judges and attending filmmakers. Stick around after the movie showings to vote for your favorite film to win Audience Favorite. At the end of Night 3, we will announce our winners! TICKETS HERE!

Haunted Walking Tours of Mineola, TX

• When: 8:30pm
• Where: 117 N Johnson St, Mineola
• Cost: $15 (TICKETS)

Find out what goes bump in the night, and whole bunch of history, in Mineola, TX! Every Saturday night at 8:30PM we meet in front of the Historic Select Theater at 114 N. Johnson (or across the street at Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe - 117 N. Johnson) and begin a two hour (sometimes longer) walking journey through the haunted streets and buildings of this historic town! Travel with a professional paranormal investigator! Use the equipment as seen on TV! Go inside some places and participate in experiments designed to communicate with the departed! It’s a tour and a hunt combined and it’s a heck of a fun way to spend a Saturday night! Tickets are $15 per person. Please, no children under 10yrs because it can get quite spooky. No inebriated customers please. We keep it family friendly!

Saturday Night Stand Up Comedy

• When: 8:30pm
• Where: Rose City Comedy, Tyler

Tickets: $15 Presale / $17 Door. TICKETS HERE! Doors 8:00p / Show 8:30p. This event is BYOB. Experience our Preferred Seating option for ultimate comfort and convenience at our events. With Preferred Seating, you get to choose from available seating options and enjoy four complimentary refreshments of your choice per ticket.

SUNDAY, 9/15

Longview Bonsai Society Summer Exhibit

• When: 9am | 12pm
• Where: Hilton Garden Inn, Longview

On Sunday, September 15th between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm, Julian Tsai, a professional bonsai artist will be hosting a workshop for LBS members. This workshop is open to the public to view and listen only. This workshop will be inside the Exhibit area. Julian is a bonsai professional based out of Los Angeles. He spent 2 years apprenticing under his Oyakata, Keiichi Fujikawa, at Fujikawa Kouka-en located in Osaka Japan. There will be some bonsai plants, pots, tools and supplies available for sale at this event.

Cake Decorating Class

• When: 3pm-5pm
• Where: The Board Room, Tyler

Hosted by La Dolce Marianne here at The Board Room Tyler, no experience is necessary to attend! Marianne will teach you tips and techniques to decorate beautiful cakes. All supplies will be provided, and you’ll get to take your creation home! Registration for the Event is $45 per person, and includes your first beverage from The Mark. Payment can be made in advance at : https://paypal.me/ladolcemarianne

*All dates and information are subject to change. Contact us if there are changes to the schedule or if we left anything out

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