The East Texas Weekend Preview — 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, 11/21
Crafternoon
- When: 2pm
- Where: Kurth Memorial Library, Lufkin
Adults are invited to join us for our weekly Crafternoon program. Make a craft and perhaps some new friends. All supplies will be provided, and no library card or registration is required.
Mingle & Jingle 2024
- When: 4pm-7pm
- Where: Downtown Jacksonville
Enjoy holiday shopping and great food as you take in all that Downtown Jacksonville has to offer!
Sorelle Farms Market Nights
- When: 5pm
- Where: Bob Wells Nursery, Mineola
Join us starting at 5PM for a chance to source your food locally! Come and linger and enjoy dinner and music or just pop in and grab your groceries and go. Either way we encourage you to take a moment out of your week to feed your family healthy food and support your local farmers and producers.
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Yulefest Christmas Tree Lighting
- When: 6pm
- Where: Gilmer Civic Center
On Thursday November 21st Goudarzi and Young along with the Yulefest committee will be lighting the Christmas tree at the Gilmer Civic Center (time TBD). There will be free items for the first 100 kids ages 2 to 12. There will be drawings for kids gifts and other activities. Kids have to be present to win.
Pool Tournament
- When: 6pm
- Where: VFW Post 1836, Lufkin
Double-elimination tournament. Five players or less - winner take all. Six players or more pays 1st and 2nd, 80/20 split. For more information call (936) 634-4133 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday between 5 - 9 pm.
Music Bingo: One-Hit Wonders
- When: 6:30pm
- Where: Front Porch Distillery, Nacogdoches
Celebrate the unforgettable songs that shot to fame and left their mark with Front Porch Distillery’s Music Bingo: One Hit Wonders edition! Join us for a night dedicated to the tunes that defined moments and brought bands into the spotlight, even if only for one epic hit. It’s a fun-filled evening of nostalgia, excitement, and prizes! What to Expect - Bingo with a Twist: Your bingo card will be filled with the most iconic one-hit wonders across decades. Listen as our DJ plays these classic hits, mark off the songs you hear, and complete a line or full card to win awesome prizes!
Trivia Thursdays (General Trivia)
- When: 7:30pm
- Where: Rose City Draft House & Bar
Hey Y’all! Come join us for Trivia Thursdays at Rose City Draft House and Bar $1 off mules and prizes for the best teams!! *This event is 21+ Only*
FRIDAY, 11/22
Pink Friday Shopping Event
- When: 8am
- Where: Main Street Mineola
Pink Friday is a nationwide event dedicated to celebrating and supporting small and local businesses. Established in 2020, it takes place annually on the Friday before Black Friday, encouraging shoppers to discover and support small retailers first during the holiday season.Pink Friday highlights the value of community, urging shoppers to invest in the vibrancy and diversity of their local economies before turning to big-box retailers.
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Gobble ‘til You Wobble Weekend
- When: 10am
- Where: Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park, Tyler
Grab your family and friends to celebrate the spirit of giving at Jellystone Park™! Stuff your bear belly at the paw-sitively delicious potluck, run the Turkey Trot with your best pals, and give back to your community with our donation drive. This year, we’ll be gobbling up the Thanksgiving fun!
Texas Ranch Horse Championship
- When: 12pm
- Where: Henderson County Regional Fair Park, Athens
Hey Texas! Your local Ranch Horse and Stock Horse Associations have joined together to bring you the Texas Ranch Horse Championship!
DSP on Ice
- When: 1:30pm
- Where: Discovery Science Place, Tyler
Get ready to glide into fun with our brand-new synthetic ice-skating rink!
Opening soon, this exciting addition is perfect for everyone—from beginners to seasoned skaters.
Enjoy public skating sessions, host unforgettable birthday parties, or book after-hour events that will leave your guests buzzing with joy.
Schools can take advantage of our special field trip packages, combining education and fun on the ice!
Lace up your skates and make unforgettable memories!
Admission is $7 per person per hour
Friday Night Dance
- When: 6pm
- Where: Tyler Senior Center
Get those dancing shoes ready for the Friday Night Dance at the Senior Center!
Doors open at 6 p.m.
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For more information, call (903) 597-0781.
Live Trivia + Music Bingo!
- When: 6:30pm
- Where: The Hangout at Lake Hawkins Restaurant
Winning team gets a round of drinks. Music Bingo afterward - winners get a free app/dessert coupon!
A Night in Birdland
- When: 6:30pm
- Where: Willowbrook Country Club, Tyler
The Tyler ISD Foundation Board of Directors is excited to announce the theme of our 2024 Gala, A NIGHT AT BIRDLAND benefiting the Tyler ISD Foundation.On November 22, we’ll celebrate our rich history of inspiring students and supporting teachers to achieve their dreams and recognize those who’ve joined in that work, with the presentations of the Tab & Bonnie Beall Impact Award and the Dr. Gary Gross Service Award.This special celebration, led by Gala Co-Chairs Nancy Wrenn and Kristina Wrenn, a mother-daughter duo, will be a beautiful evening set in the 1950s New York Jazz Club, BIRDLAND, the Jazz Corner of the World, named in honor of legendary jazz musician Charlie “Bird” Parker.Guests will enjoy the sounds of George “Bird” Faber & His All Stars, a nightclub-inspired menu, signature cocktails, a silent auction, and more while supporting the Foundation’s mission. Come. Eat, Drink & Enjoy the Show.
SATURDAY, 11/23
Downtown Tyler Farmers Market
- When: 8am-12pm
- Where: 221 S. Broadway Ave, Tyler
Open Every Saturday. Free Parking at Fair Plaza Garage. Pet Friendly.
Breakfast With Santa
- When: 9am-10:30am
- Where: Maude Cobb Convention Center, Longview
The Junior League of Longview, Inc is excited to host Breakfast with Santa in conjunction with Christmas in the Pineywoods. Tickets are $40 per person and they include: Breakfast provided by Roost Photos with Santa Flavious Letters to Santa and Raindeer food making Access to the market for shopping! Tickets Here!
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.
Pet Pictures with Santa
- When: 10am
- Where: Peltier Subaru, Tyler
Whether your pet has been naughty or nice, bring them to our annual Pet Pictures with Santa Paws fundraiser for the Humane Society’s Pets Fur People. Santa will be at Peltier Subaru in Tyler Saturday, November 23rd from 10-5 to have his picture taken with your pet. For only $20, you will receive a beautiful 4X6 photo and a digital file of that photo. All proceeds benefit the Humane Society’s Pets Fur People, the oldest no-kill animal sanctuary in East Texas celebrating 56 years of providing services to animals and people.
Sip & Shop
- When: 11am
- Where: The Cascades, Tyler
Join us at our Clubhouse for our Public Sip & Shop A perfect way to kick off holiday shopping with a stunning lakeview featuring 25 local vendors, complimentary champagne, and chances to win raffle and door prizes!
Gumbo Cookoff
- When: 12pm
- Where: Roughneck Harley-Davidson, Longview
Come out and taste some of the best gumbo in the area and vote for your favorite!
DSP on Ice
- When: 1:30pm
- Where: Discovery Science Place, Tyler
Get ready to glide into fun with our brand-new synthetic ice-skating rink!
Opening soon, this exciting addition is perfect for everyone—from beginners to seasoned skaters.
Enjoy public skating sessions, host unforgettable birthday parties, or book after-hour events that will leave your guests buzzing with joy.
Schools can take advantage of our special field trip packages, combining education and fun on the ice!
Lace up your skates and make unforgettable memories!
Admission is $7 per person per hour
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!
Chess Club with Tyler TX Chess
- When: 3pm-6pm
- Where: The Board Room, Tyler
Come join us every Saturday 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!
Longview Christmas Tree Lighting
- When: 4pm-7pm
- Where: Heritage Plaza, Longview
Christmas Tree Lighting celebration! This enchanting event features festive carriage rides, a delightful petting zoo, and live music that will fill the air with holiday cheer. Explore our vibrant local vendors market for unique gifts and seasonal treats. With activities for all ages, it’s the ultimate way to kick off the holiday season in Longview. Don’t miss this magical evening of community spirit and joy
Rumble on the Rooftop
- When: 6pm
- Where: Fair Parking Garage Rooftop, Tyler
Join us on Saturday November 23rd for Rumble on the Rooftop brought to you in partnership with Simpson Helmets, 1836 Texas Kitchen, Mass Connection, and El Frieda’s BBQ. There will be food, drink, fun, music, and bike night games!
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!
SUNDAY, 11/24
Holiday Planetarium Shows
- When: 10:30am
- Where: TJC Earth & Space Science Center, Tyler
Experience the wonders of the universe at the TJC Earth and Space Science Center’s state-of-the-art planetarium! Step inside the dome theater, where immersive shows bring the cosmos to life with stunning visuals and surround sound. Journey through our solar system, witness the birth of stars, explore distant galaxies, and gain a new perspective on our own planet. With shows suitable for all ages and interests, the TJC planetarium is perfect for families, space enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the mysteries of the universe.
DSP on Ice
- When: 1:30pm
- Where: Discovery Science Place, Tyler
Get ready to glide into fun with our brand-new synthetic ice-skating rink!
Opening soon, this exciting addition is perfect for everyone—from beginners to seasoned skaters.
Enjoy public skating sessions, host unforgettable birthday parties, or book after-hour events that will leave your guests buzzing with joy.
Schools can take advantage of our special field trip packages, combining education and fun on the ice!
Lace up your skates and make unforgettable memories!
Admission is $7 per person per hour
*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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