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 this weekend!

Thursday, 1/6

Panda Express Ribbon Cutting

When: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: 2230 S Loop 256, Palestine
Cost: Free

Please join the Palestine Chamber of Commerce in welcoming Panda Express to Palestine on Thursday January 6th at 3:00 PM.

LIVE MUSIC: Blaine Hart Acoustic

When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: The Back Porch Stage on Broadway, Kilgore
Cost: Free

LIVE MUSIC: Lee Mathis and Shelia Weaver

When: 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Where: The Barrel House, Winnsboro
Cost: Free

Friday, 1/7

Marshall Public Library Community Blood Drive

When: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: Marshall Public Library, Marshall
Cost: Free

The need for blood has become critical in our community. Please donate blood and urge your friends to donate blood with Carter BloodCare. The need becomes critical when blood donations don’t keep pace with patient transfusion demand. This means the community blood supply can only meet the needs of local patients for less than one day. Please make your appointment to donate with Carter BloodCare today by calling or texting 1-800-366-2834 or online Carterbloodcare.org

LIVE MUSIC: Michael Aaron Olson

When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Rowdy Creek Ranch, Gilmer
Cost: Free

Michael Aaron Olson will be playing LIVE at Rowdy Creek Ranch on January 7th at 6:30pm. Charcuterie Boards, Wine Mocktails, and Food Truck ON-SITE Visit www.rowdycreekranch.com to see our menu! CHECK OUT WHAT EVERYONE IS RAVING ABOUT!

LIVE MUSIC: Matt Fisher

When: 7 p.m.
Where: Craft 64 Burgers & Sports, Canton
Cost: Free

LIVE MUSIC: Travis Bolt

When: 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Where: The Forge Bar and Grill, Ben Wheeler
Cost: Free

LIVE MUSIC: Sean Christopher

When: 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Where: 7th Street Cafe, Cushing
Cost: Free

Gonna be a great time on the patio with great food, drinks & live music!

LIVE MUSIC: The March Divide

When: 8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Where: ETX Brewing Co., Tyler
Cost: Free

LIVE MUSIC: The Hollow Decks

When: 9 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Where: Rick’s, Tyler

It’s TWO nights of the multi-award winning touring sensation The Hollow Decks. Friday AND Saturday, Wear your best ‘90s gear or ‘come as you are’ for a night of ‘90s nostalgia.

Saturday, 1/8

January’s Hit the Bricks

When: 10 a.m.
Where: Downtown Tyler
Cost: Free

Join us in Downtown every Second Saturday for Hit the Bricks! Hit the Bricks is a series of events for you, friends and family to get out and enjoy Downtown Tyler. Visit the Facebook Event’s “Discussion” Tab to see all the events scheduled for this month’s Hit the Bricks. Events will be added periodically through the month, so be sure to check back regularly!

Furr Ever Pets Rescue Adoption Event

When: 10 a.m.
Where: Jake’s Feed, Longview

This is our first adoption event of the new year! Come to Jake’s Feed and meet our adoptable dogs. We will have many nice dogs from puppy to seniors.

Family Day to Go!

When: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: Tyler Museum of Art, Tyler
Cost: Free

For this Family Day to Go the Tyler Museum of Art is collaborating with the Champions for Children of Smith County! The packets will include the museum’s art activities for New Years and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It will also contain a popsicle activity that is organized by Champions for Children. Kiddos can decorate a popsicle stick and return it to the museum by January 24th. The decorated sticks will be assembled into an artwork that will be auctioned to help support Champions for Children of Smith County. Don’t forget that all who come to grab our free Family Day to Go activity bags can also then tour our exhibitions for free!

Texas Hill Country Gospel Jubilee

When: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Where: House of Prayer, Emory
Cost: Free

The Texas Hill Country Gospel Jubilee is a FREE Southern Gospel Concert. It’s happening at the Charles McClanahan Life Center behind the House of Prayer in Emory. For a list of performers, click here.

The WINTERFEST HALF K

When: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Where: Downtown Longview (204 N Center St)
Cost: $25-$100 (Sign up here)

Do you keep telling yourself you’re going to get off of the couch and run a 5K? Well you’re in good company! We will have a crowd of procrastinators lined up to show they may not have what it takes to run a 5K, but they definitely are going to own this .5K! Sign up here.

Yoga & Essential Oils: Vision Workshop

When: 12 p.m.
Where: Yama Yoga Studio, Canton
Cost: $20 (Sign up here)

What is your vision? Does your practice align with that vision? This workshop invites you to practice with curiosity, while seeking more clarity about where you are and where you want to be. Through twists and inversions you must truly be present with their body and breath. Using oils such as peppermint, you will open the airways and uplift the mood, giving you a “breather” from life’s challenges. This workshop asks you to explore within, if your practice is in alignment with your vision or belief. “The life we want is not merely the one we have chosen and made. It is the one we must be choosing and making.” - Wendell Berry Saturday, January 8th 2022 @ 12 PM Cost: $20 per person Sign up here.

Bridal Spectacular

When: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: 300 Tuttle Cir, Longview
Cost: $10 (Get tickets here)

Come shop the best of the best in wedding vendors. You can plan your whole wedding in one place! Get tickets here.

Subjects From the Shelves: Game Development w/ Sadicon Labs

When: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Longview Public Library
Cost: Free

Sadicon Labs is an immersive game development academy focusing on XR development (Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality) and 3D games. They’re locally based here in Longview, and teach high-tech and in-demand skills that allow students to kick start their careers in the tech industry, and game development. They’ll offer a free workshop at the library on January 8, from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Ages 16+. Learn more about what game development and AR/VR are. The kind of technology and equipment used to develop 3D games/apps. And get some hands-on demonstration of how that equipment works.

LIVE MUSIC: Open Bluegrass Jam

When: 4 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Kilgore Mercantile & Music, Kilgore
Cost: Free

Everyone is invited. Sit and listen or take a turn leading a song. Always a great time!

LIVE MUSIC: Matt Fisher

When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Roma’s Italian Bar & Grill, Sulphur Springs
Cost: Free

LIVE MUSIC: The Darrin Morris Band

When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Rowdy Creek Ranch, Gilmer
Cost: $5

Texas Country Music Award winner Darrin Morris will be playing LIVE at Rowdy Creek Ranch on January 8th at 6:30pm. $5 COVER Charcuterie Boards, Wine Mocktails, and Food Truck ON-SITE Visit www.rowdycreekranch.com to see our menu! Come visit Gilmer’s Hidden Gem!

LIVE MUSIC: Caleb Boles

When: 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Where: The Forge Bar and Grill, Ben Wheeler
Cost: Free

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LIVE MUSIC: Sean Christopher

When: 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Where: 579 Crawfish, Gladewater
Cost: Free

Crawfish are here! Y’all come getcha some and listen to some great music.

LIVE MUSIC: Scott Hampton and River Road

When: 7 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Where: REO Bar & Grill, Longview
Cost: Free

LIVE MUSIC: Covy Middleton

When: 8 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Where: Legends Social Club, Marshall
Cost: Free

Covy Middleton will be making his Legends debut on Saturday January 8th. No cover charge. Please come out and support an up and coming young country music talent.

LIVE MUSIC: Lone Hiway Band

When: 8:30 p.m.
Where: Neon Moon Restaurant & Club, Yantis
Cost: $7 (waived with any dinner purchase before 9 p.m.)

A new band makes their debut Moon Landing kicking off our 5th year! Lone Hiway Band goes on at 8:30pm. $7 Cover waived with any dinner purchase before 9pm.

LIVE MUSIC: Wheelhouse

When: 8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Where: ETX Brewing Co., Tyler
Cost: Free

LIVE MUSIC: Bryan Smith Band

When: 9 p.m.
Where: VFW POST #4133 Trinidad, TX
Cost: $10

LIVE MUSIC: Tyler Ross

When: 9 p.m.
Where: Moore’s Store, Ben Wheeler
Cost: Free

Tyler Ross takes the stage on Saturday night, January 8th at 9:00 PM. Join us for $2 Coors Light and another FREE COVER WEEKEND!

Sunday, 1/9

Roller Derby - Rules & Conditioning

When: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Where: Gun Barrel City Park
Cost: Free

Meet at the pavilion! Look for the Cedar Creek Lake Roller derby League’s flag! We will be learning the rules of roller derby on and off skates, at the end of our practice we will also do a work-out. All skill levels and curiosities welcome! We’d love to see your support

Tinkering Club

When: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Where: Longview World of Wonders, Longview
Cost: $8 General Admission (View other admission prices here)

Ages: 3rd grade & up Cost: Free with Admission Join us for a different theme every month, January’s is Woodcrafts (hammers, nails, wood burning, sanding)

3rd Annual Chili Cook-off

When: 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Oakland Heights Baptist Church, Longview
Cost: Free

Get ready to bring your best batch of chili and compete in the annual Chili Cook-off, Sunday, January 9, at 5 p.m. in the Center. Compete individually or get together with a group to win prizes and bragging rights. This is a free event. To cast a vote, bring your loose change and prepare your taste buds to judge the best. The entry with the most ‘votes’ (weight in change) will be the winner! Prizes will be given not only for the best chili, but the best decorated booth as well. The proceeds will benefit all of our foreign mission efforts in 2022. *Please note that each competing person/team will be responsible for all of the sides that go along with your chili (cheese, onions, sour cream, Tabasco, Frito’s, etc.) as well as table decorations. Having great table decor and sides will all be a part of the competition. OHBC will provide all paper goods.

Rose City Swing’s Weekly Dance

When: 8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Where: Mangos Dancesport & Event Center, Tyler
Cost: $8

A Swing and Jazz dance experience, 8$ cover charge (Cash and virtual only)Includes social dance & lesson

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