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! For a look at live music around East Texas, check out our Live Music Lineup!

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

THURSDAY, 5/25

Bluegrass Gospel Festival

When: Noon - 10:00 PM
Where: Salmon Lake Park, Grapeland
Cost: See website flyer

ALL GOSPEL Bluegrass Festival Memorial Day Weekend Featuring: The New Tradition Reunion, Chosen Road, The Marksmen, The Gospel Plowboys, The King James Boys, The Purple Hulls, Caleb & Abby Lindsey, The Gent Mtn Grass Burs, The Right Direction, The Blake Brothers, The Paul Family, Lonesome Ridge Bluegrass, Mike Tucker & Friends - Line up subject to chg. Music daily. Bring your lawn chairs!

3rd Annual Walkthrough History: The Dawn of Aquarius

When: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Where: Tyler Public Library, Tyler
Cost: Free

The ‘60s were a tumultuous time, of love, war, music and science. Such can be said about the close of the decade, 1969: Woodstock, the moon landing, the rise of the modern serial killer, and more, all in just one year! Journey back with us with our Third Annual Walkthrough History, as we explore The Dawn of Aquarius, analyzing and detailing all the important things that happened in one of the most important years of the 20th Century.

Women During the Oil Boom

When: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Where: Longview Public Library, Longview
Cost: Free

Come hear the oral history and research from our latest Local History Spotlight: Women During the Oil Boom, or the “gusher age.”

This was the period of the early 20th century (1901 - 1940) when Texas experienced an expansion of urban development, and economic/socioeconomic growth from oil drilling.

The Best of Motown and More

When: 7:00 PM
Where: Liberty Hall, Tyler
Cost: $25-$45

The Best of Motown and More pays tribute to the many R&B and soul greats that defined modern American music. With their eye-catching costumes and stunning choreography, they perform timeless hits from artists like, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Stylistics, The O’Jays, and many more making their signature sound a household name. If you’re a fan of Motown’s great soul era, the sound that defined a generation, then The Best of Motown and More will have you rockin’ in your seats and dancin’ on your feet!

FRIDAY, 5/26

11th Annual Tyler Celtic Festival

When: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Where: The Commons at Chapel Hill, Tyler
Cost: $10 Day Pass | $17 Weekend Pass | Children 12 & Under $1

Celebrate Celtic history & culture with music, artisans, games, vendors, food, & more!

There will be storytellers, musical performances, historical lectures, highland games, bagpipers, and more on five stages!

Plus, there’s wine tasting, a handfasting ceremony, a hot dog roast with storytelling, ghost hunts, games of skill, kids’ crafts, tons of vendors with amazing wares, and lots of yummy food and drink! It’s a four day event for the whole family packed with things to do and see! There’s plenty of land (and shade!) to spread out on and plenty of fun to be had by all!

Memorial Day Ceremony

When: 11:00 AM - Noon
Where: Downtown Square, Tyler
Cost: Free

Join us in remembering our fallen comrades

Hummingbird Day

When: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Where: Longview Arboretum & Nature Center, Longview
Cost: Free

Come and learn about hummingbirds at this FREE event!

Bluegrass Gospel Festival

When: Noon - 10:00 PM
Where: Salmon Lake Park, Grapeland
Cost: See website flyer

92nd Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion

When: Noon - 10:30 PM
Where: Henderson County Courthouse Square, Athens
Cost: Free

Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion is the longest running fiddle competition in the state of Texas and second in the nation. Kids Fair, Car Show, Domino Tournament, Food Vendors and much more happening on the Henderson County Courthouse Square. Bring your family and have lots of fun.

3rd Annual Walkthrough History: The Dawn of Aquarius

When: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Where: Tyler Public Library, Tyler
Cost: Free

Open Taps Downtown on the Square

When: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Where: Downtown Tyler
Cost: Free

There are so many cool things happening downtown in our city - from restaurants to shopping to art galleries to other new businesses. We would love for you to join us in making the Square in Downtown Tyler vibrant and something to be proud of at our monthly OPEN TAPS events!

Flights & Bites

When: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Fresh by Brookshire’s, Tyler
Cost: $7

Join us for a wine tasting tour with expertly prepared food pairings for $7 per person (ages 21+ only)! Complimentary wine glass for samples and to take home.

Open Mic Night

When: 7:30 PM
Where: The Understudy, Tyler
Cost: $10

Our normal Open Mic night is up for you to take advantage of. Come show off your skills or watch someone else brave the waters of stardom.

SATURDAY, 5/27

11th Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

When: 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Where: Town Square (at Tyler & Prairieville), Athens
Cost: Free

The East Texas Crisis Center will be hosting the 11th Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Event Saturday, May 27, 2023 during Fiddlers Festival. This is the International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Violence against Women. A Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Event is a playful opportunity for men in our community to raise awareness about the serious causes, effects and remediation’s to sexualize violence.

Kilgore Farmers Market

When: 8:00 AM - Noon
Where: 100 E North St, Kilgore
Cost: Free

Produce, crafts, food, & more every Saturday morning from April 15th till October 21st 2023.

May 2023 Cars & Coffee Sulphur Springs

When: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Where: Sulphur Springs First Baptist Church, Sulphur Springs
Cost: Free

Join us for Cars & Coffee Sulphur Springs at First Baptist Church, 116 Oak Avenue just off beautiful downtown Sulphur Springs, all makes & models are welcome. Coffee and donuts will be provided.

Mosaic Market

When: 9:00 AM - Noon
Where: Sola Bread Company, Tyler
Cost: Free

The final Saturday of the month means: Music. Market. Mimosas! Come shop and sip with us and our friends True Vine Brewing Company.

We will have our full bake lineup, pastry, sourdough, quiche and more!

Cross Brand’s Car & Bike Show

When: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Where: Cross Brand Cowboy Church, Tyler
Cost: Free

Come join us for Cross Brand Cowboy Church’s 3rd Annual Car & Bike Show!! A great event for the entire family and it is FREE to the public to come see the cars, bikes and trucks!!

E-5 Family Farm Spring Fest

When: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Where: E-5 Family Farm, Henderson
Cost: $12-$18

Sunflower & Wildflower fields, photo ops, zip-line, cow-train, buffalo cannon, races, food, and more!

Whitehouse Farmer’s Market

When: 10:00 AM - Noon
Where: Whitehouse Farmers Market, Whitehouse
Cost: Free

Market and music!

Fun in the Sun Car Show at Splash Kingdom

When: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Where: Splash Kingdom Paradise Island, Canton
Cost: Free

Join us for our first-ever Fun in the Sun Car Show presented by Hazelwood Hot Rods & Mustangs of East Texas!

Rev up your engines and get ready for an unforgettable day at Splash Kingdom Paradise Island in Canton, TX! To help celebrate the waterparks opening day, there will also be a splashtastic car show for guests to enjoy completely FREE of charge.

Fair on the Square

When: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Where: Cherokee County Courthouse, Rusk
Cost: Free

Rich in history and a community filled with parks, historical landmarks, small-town hospitality, visit Rusk, Tx. during Memorial Day weekend as a large presence of arts and craft vendors, food trucks, local businesses, entertainment, and visitors from across the state to participate in the Fair on the Square, Saturday of Memorial Day weekend!

Join us Saturday, May 27th, as the town Square transforms into a fair jam packed with people, vendors, local businesses, and family friendly fun. The Fair on the Square is a “must attend” event to kick off your Summer.

Memorial Day Celebration Quitman

When: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Where: On the Square, Quitman
Cost: Free

On May 27th from 10a-5p we will celebrating Memorial Day on the square in Quitman. There will be vendors, music, raffles, a motorcycle show and a motorcycle fun run by Bikers For Christ.

Raffles will include baskets of goodies from businesses in community and the vendors on the square. ALL proceeds from these raffles and others will go to Heroes Ranch, Helping Heros Hunt.

11th Annual Tyler Celtic Festival

When: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Where: The Commons at Chapel Hill, Tyler
Cost: $10 Day Pass | $17 Weekend Pass | Children 12 & Under $1

Celebrate Celtic history & culture with music, artisans, games, vendors, food, & more!

There will be storytellers, musical performances, historical lectures, highland games, bagpipers, and more on five stages!

92nd Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion

When: 10:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Where: Henderson County Courthouse Square, Athens
Cost: Free

Spring Into Wellness

When: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Where: The Children’s Park of Tyler, Tyler
Cost: Free

The purpose of this event is to showcase small local businesses that offer holistic,natural, alternative options to our local communities.

This is a free event with kids activities, free products and services will be raffled. Food and much more!!

Red, Swine, & Blue Pig Roast/Summer Kickoff Party

When: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Where: Bear Creek Smokehouse, Marshall
Cost: Free

Spend your Memorial Day Saturday with us (May 27) as we honor the fallen, say thanks to our veterans and celebrate the unofficial kickoff of summer! We’ll be roasting a pig and serving our delicious Smokin’ Saturday pit room BBQ lunch. We’ll also have our first “Craftsmen at the Creek” vendor market, featuring 20 local artisans set up right outside of the Bear Creek General Store from 9am-5pm.

Bring the whole family, as the kids can enjoy our bounce house, bubble machines, wagon rides, photos with J.Packley and more! We’ll be handing out souvenir American flags as a reminder of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country free and out of harm’s way. Pig roast will be from 11-4, and our pit room is open from 11-3. Hope to see y’all on Saturday, May 27!

Bluegrass Gospel Festival

When: Noon - 10:00 PM
Where: Salmon Lake Park, Grapeland
Cost: See website flyer

Southern Throwdown 10

When: Noon - Midnight
Where: Yellow Rose Canyon, Mt. Enterprise
Cost: Free

Mini Bike Races, Chopper Drags, Live Music, more TBA… Vendors slinging goods from 12pm till 7pm

1pm Chopper Drags, Mini bike races & games | PARTY POOL on the Ridge front of Red Thorn Bar.

Food at Red Thorn Bar | Insane slip ‘n’ slide!

7pm AWARDS | 8:00pm: Felipe Cordero | 9:30pm: Mo Robson

Midnight wrap it up.

Beyblade in the Park

When: 1:00 PM
Where: Hallsville City Park, Hallsville
Cost: $5 per Player

All ages are welcome to compete, we will be playing 1 on 1 matches with Hasbro and Takara Tomy beyblades only.

3rd Annual Walkthrough History: The Dawn of Aquarius

When: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Where: Tyler Public Library, Tyler
Cost: Free

Tattlefest

When: 1:00 PM - Midnight
Where: Speakeasy Coffeehouse, Quitman
Cost: $30

Speakeasy Coffee and The Tattler Lounge and Listening Room are proud to present the inaugural Tattlefest 2023! This all-day music event is the first of it’s kind in Quitman and will also feature art from award-winning Texas nature artist Billy Hassell!

Skins & Skulls at the Amphitheater

When: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Where: Martin Creek Lake State Park, Tatum
Cost: Free

Come learn about the wildlife that lives in East Texas and have a hands on experience touching the skulls and skins of those animals. Meet at the Twin Oaks Amphitheater.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

When: 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM
Where: ARTrageous Studios & Initiative, Lindale
Cost: $10

“On a Midsummer’s night, four young lovers find themselves wrapped in the dream-like arms of an enchanted forest where sprites lurk and fairies rule. While a feuding Fairy King and Queen are at war, their paths are crossed by Bottom, Quince and their friends presenting a play within a play. Chief mischief-maker Puck is on-hand to ensure that the course of true love is anything but smooth, and games of fantasy, love and dreams ensue in Shakespeare’s most beguiling comedy.”

For as it is said, “The course of true love never did run smooth.”

Brazilian BBQ & Beer Pairing

When: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Where: True Vine Brewing Company, Tyler
Cost: $50

Join us for a Summertime Brazilian Barbecue & Beer Pairing Event in the Brewery! We’ll eat, drink & also have a brewery tour.

Kilgore Cruise Night

When: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Historic Downtown Kilgore
Cost: Free

Cars! Trucks! Motorcycles! If it’s got wheels it’s welcome to our ‘Shine & Show’ every Last Saturday of Every Month in Historic Downtown Kilgore, Texas. 3-6pm in the winter, 5-8pm in the summer Daylight Savings Time. It’s always a fun time and 50 - 250 cars arrive every Last Saturday.

Movie Night at the Barn

When: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Where: The Barn of Emory, Emory
Cost: Free

Join The Barn for our 2023 Movie Series. The perfect date night. Movies will vary and a surprise each week. Concessions available for purchase!

Josh Mandreger & Matt Smith: Musical Comedy

When: 8:00 PM
Where: The Understudy, Tyler
Cost: $20

Josh and Matt are a musical duo who put on a fantastic show with music, musical comedy, and musical improv comedy. The Understudy is proud to welcome its first musical group to the stage. Don’t miss this show.

Movies in the Park - Luca (PG)

When: 8:30 PM
Where: Fun Forest Pool, Tyler
Cost: Free

The Movies in the Park program is a free movie for families and individuals to enjoy!

SUNDAY, 5/28

E-5 Family Farm Spring Fest

When: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Where: E-5 Family Farm, Henderson
Cost: $12-$18

Sunflower & Wildflower fields, photo ops, zip-line, cow-train, buffalo cannon, races, food, and more!

Sunday Market in Quitman Park

When: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Where: Gov. Jim Hogg City Park, Quitman
Cost: Free

Sunday Market is a once per month event. Come on the last Sunday of every month to help support our local businesses and vendors.

11th Annual Tyler Celtic Festival

When: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Where: The Commons at Chapel Hill, Tyler
Cost: $10 Day Pass | $17 Weekend Pass | Children 12 & Under $1

Celebrate Celtic history & culture with music, artisans, games, vendors, food, & more!

There will be storytellers, musical performances, historical lectures, highland games, bagpipers, and more on five stages!

Fireworks Show at Lake Palestine

When: 9:00 PM
Where: Lake Palestine Resort, Frankston
Cost: $5 per Vehicle

$5 per vehicle. No outside food or drink. On site food and drinks available for purchase. Launch aprox 30 min after sunset.

MEMORIAL DAY, 5/29

Memorial Day Ceremony

When: 8:00 AM
Where: Teague Park, Longview
Cost: Free

Join the City of Longview for a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Veterans’ Memorial Plaza at Teague Park.

The ceremony will begin at 8 a.m. and will include an invocation, flag retirement ceremony and remarks commemorating the day.

11th Annual Tyler Celtic Festival

When: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Where: The Commons at Chapel Hill, Tyler
Cost: $10 Day Pass | $17 Weekend Pass | Children 12 & Under $1

Celebrate Celtic history & culture with music, artisans, games, vendors, food, & more!

There will be storytellers, musical performances, historical lectures, highland games, bagpipers, and more on five stages!

Memorial Day at True Vine

When: 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Where: True Vine Brewing Company, Tyler
Cost: Free

Country music, burgers & tots & good craft beer...what more could want this Memorial Day?! We are having a full on American celebration here at True Vine to honor and remember those that served and paid the biggest price for our freedoms. Join us and bring your friends & family!

*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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Stay up to date on all things The East Texas Weekend!

Things to do in East Texas this weekend: May 25-29

THURSDAY, 5/25

FRIDAY, 5/26

SATURDAY, 5/27

SUNDAY, 5/28

MEMORIAL DAY, 5/29

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Jade Allen