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, 1/8

2026 Mayhem Roller Derby Bootcamp

When: 6pm
Where: Flores Center, Tyler

Kick off the new year with the 2026 Mayhem Roller Derby Bootcamp—an intense 10-week training program designed for skaters of all levels to master the fundamentals, build confidence, and join the thrilling world of roller derby! Starting Thursday, January 8, 2026, and running every Thursday evening from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM for 10 weeks, this boot camp will be held at 11237 FM14, Tyler, Texas. For just $150, you’ll receive expert coaching, skill drills, strategy sessions, and all the gear guidance you need to hit the track running. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to level up, secure your spot now and roll into 2026 with Mayhem Roller Derby!

Bring Your Own Craft

When: 6:30pm
Where: Flourish Nonprofits, Tyler

We want to craft and cahoot with you again! BRING YOUR OWN CRAFT and join us at @flourishnonprofits We’ll be ready to answer questions, accept donations, gush about our #glutenfreebaker , take suggestions and feedback, and help with whatever craft you’ve got on you. Just want to come and commune without the craft? That’s great, too! We’re here for it.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Maples

When: 7pm
Where: SFA Gardens, Nacogdoches

Join SFA Gardens for the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series featuring Jennifer Tucker, sole owner and operator of Jensfarm Maples in Manchester, Tennessee. With over 300 varieties growing on site, Jensfarm has become widely known as a highly reliable source of Japanese maples in the southeast region of the United States. Tucker has over twenty years of self-taught knowledge and experience in horticulture, including grafting Japanese maples. She is a 2012 graduate of the Tennessee Master Nursery Program.

FRIDAY, 1/9

Tai Chi Class at the Library

When: 9:30am-11am
Where: Longview Public Library

New Year means new adventures and experiences. If you’ve never done Tai Chi before, then now’s the best time! Come learn about the ancient Chinese practice that serves as an amazing gentle workout. Led by local Tai Chi pro and martial artist, Paul Gerald. Ages 18+. Free to attend.

An Artsy Evening

When: 5pm
Where: Tyler Fine Art Gallery

Come and join us to celebrate the year in art this Friday (Jan 9) from 5-7pm. Enjoy our 11 resident artists works on the walls and 2 hours of wearable art presented by: Cassie Edmonds, Alicia Stanley, Valery Guignon, & Barbara Miller.

“This is Home Art” Exhibit & Sale

When: 6pm
Where: Downtown Tyler, Texas

Special exhibit featuring 20 Local Artists. This exhibition aims to present a diverse and thought-provoking collection of works that together tell a story of what home means today — especially in a world marked by movement, cultural intersections, and redefined belonging. Curated works examine layers of belonging — comfort and complexity — nostalgia and transformation — architecture or landscape — body or memory — community or identity. Free to the public with special meet the artists even on Friday, January 9 at 6 pm.

Pick-Your-Project Workshop

When: 6pm
Where: Board & Brush Lindale, TX

Let’s all come out and help Celebrate her! Not only is she the owner/instructor; She always wants to be your new “Best Friend”. She always makes sure we have a good time and make great DIY! Let’s do the same for her. We will offer FREE BEER/WINE! ANNNNDD FREE BONUS SIGNS! So come on. Even if you are a stranger, you won’t leave as one! Register nowhttps://boardandbrush.com/.../pick-your-project-workshop.../

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

When: 7pm
Where: The Pines Lufkin, Lufkin

Step back in time and experience the magic of moviegoing the way it used to be — right in the heart of downtown Lufkin at the 100-year-old Pines Theater! Enjoy a nostalgic night out filled with smiling faces you won’t find anywhere else, unbeatable prices, and that cozy, small-town camaraderie we all love.

Jazz Fitness Workshop

When: 7pm
Where: BodywoRx Studio, Quitman

What to expect: A jazzercise based workout that incorporates cardio, strength building and dancing, which includes learning a fun dance combo! Refreshments will be available! $15 admission

Comedy at the Cherokee II

When: 8pm
Where: Cherokee Civic Theatre, Rusk

Comedy returns to the Cherokee Civic Theatre stage! Join headliner Cleto Rodriguez, a hilarious comedian seen on both Drybar Comedy and Comedy Central, along with newcomer Zachariah Rippey and returning comedian Adrian Lucio, as they kick off 2026 with a night of laughs!

SATURDAY, 1/10

Pilates & Praise

When: 8am-10am
Where: NW Loop 7, Athens, TX 75751, United States

Get ready to have an amazing morning with Power, Praise, Pilates and great fellowship. Class starts at 8am and ends at 9am with fellowship, prayer, shopping, and refreshments after. Each class slot comes with a Glow drink. Make sure to bring a yoga mat but we will have some for purchase at class. This is a mommy friendly zone so if you are a mom with an infant who can be in a stroller next to you or in a baby sling you are more than welcome to bring your bundles of joy. Class slots are only $15. We are hoping to see you all there!!

Bass University Seminar

When: 8:30am
Where: Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Athens

Bass University Seminars in Athens, TX. Learn from the top Bassmaster and MLF fishing pros at Bass University! Located at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center Jan 10th - 11th. For tickets visit bassu.tv/ticket

Run Tyler 5K - Color Run

When: 9am
Where: 420 Rose Park Dr, Tyler, TX 75702-6859, United States

There’s still time to register for the Run Tyler 5k Color Run. Walk, run, jog, it doesn’t matter. Just come, have fun while being active! Interested in registering? Visit bit.ly/2026RunTyler5k now. #AdventureTyler 🏃🏃‍♀️

January Winter Market

When: 9am-12pm
Where: Winnsboro Farmers’ Market

Join us for our monthly Winter Market! You’ll find your favorite farmers market vendors with fresh produce, baked goods, handmade items, and more. Same great community, just once a month through the winter season!

Gem & Fossil Sale

When: 9am-5pm
Where: 905 E. Hawkins Parkway, Longview, TX 75605

Meteorites. Cabochons. Beautiful Amethyst Cathedrals (5” to 5’) - Request pictures as inventory too large 1000(s) rocks and fossils starting at only $5 each. Crystals Minerals Fossils Gems - literally 1000 of exquisite specimens from around the world.

Dutch Oven Cookin’

When: 10am
Where: Tyler State Park

Bold flavor, one pot — Dutch oven magic! Welcome to the world of Dutch oven cooking — where anyone can master the art of creating delicious meals with just one pot and a little fire. There’s a place for everyone at the Dutch oven table!

Soap Making 101: Valentines Day Edition

When: 1pm-3pm
Where: Peoples Church of Jacksonville, TX.

Join us for this fun, hands-on workshop where you’ll learn the basics of soap making while crafting your own Valentine’s Day–themed artisan soap. Whether you’re gifting it to someone special or treating yourself, this class is perfect for beginners and hobby crafters alike.

Fish, Snail, Plant Meetup & Swap

When: 1pm-4pm
Where: Books-A-Million, Longview

Hey everyone, I’d like to start a small group of us getting together to meet, talk, help each other out, share our knowledge and learn. I’d also like those of us who have something to share from our tanks: plants, fish, snails, shrimp, etc. What I am thinking is that will bring a small tote with some shrimp, snails and plants. I’ll have fish bags to send them home with you and several jugs of treated water to send them home with you. East Texas Aquarium Fish And Plants Group

Quill Script: Writing with Feathers!

When: 2pm
Where: Mission Tejas State Park, Grapeland

Ever wanted to write a poem or a letter with a feather pen? Now you can! Writing with a quill is a tradition over a thousand years old; come to Mission Tejas and experience it for yourself and write your own poem, name or letter at the park group pavilion.

Fireside Chat with Floyd Marsellos

When: 2pm
Where: Museum of East Texas, Lufkin

Kick off 2026 and our 50th anniversary year by spending an afternoon with Floyd Marsellos. He will share his poetry, wisdom, and anecdotes from his 100 years of a beautiful life. Floyd is an accomplished architect, artist, novelist, humorist, and poet. The trees will still be on display and we know this will be a magical afternoon! Always free and open to all!

Passports: New Work by Artists Educators

When: 2pm-4pm
Where: Falling Star Gallery, Nacogdoches

Join us for the opening reception of Passports: New Work by Artist Educators, featuring new work by Amanda Abbott, Mandy Clay, Victoria Perry, and Luke Russell. This exhibition highlights the creative practices of artist educators whose work is shaped by both the studio and the classroom. Through a range of media and perspectives, Passports explores themes of place, movement, learning, and the exchange of ideas across communities. The opening reception offers an opportunity to meet the artists, engage with their work, and celebrate the vital role arts education plays in the Nacogdoches and surrounding areas.

Songwriting Workshop with Yellowstone’s Isaac Hoskins & Stefan Prigmore

When: 3pm
Where: Mineola Beckham Hotel

Yellowstone: Isaac Hoskins is on the soundtrack to the famous Season 5 Yellowstone brawl and another Hoskins tune, “H-Town Turnaround,” shows up a few weeks later in Episode 6 of Season 5. Country musician Isaac Hoskins is making his mark on the soundtrack of the West. An Oklahoma native, Hoskins grew up in southern Kansas and briefly attended WichitaState University before dropping out and moving south to become a Texas songwriter in the tradition of Jack Ingram, Guy Clark and Robert Earl Keen. STEFAN PRIGMORE, a Fort Worth, Texas native now based in far east Texas, has been writing and performing music for over 30 years across the United States and Europe. Known for his rustic and approachable blend of Americana, folk, and roots, Prigmore’s music draws from influences like Bob Dylan, Guy Clark, Leonard Cohen, and John Prine.

Stories 2 Year Anniversary Cigar Dinner

When: 5pm
Where: 122 S. First Street, Lufkin, TX, United States, Texas 75901

Join us as we celebrate two unforgettable years of Stories Cigars + Lounge — East Texas’ premier cigar destination. We’re gathering under the lights of Cotton Square in beautiful Downtown Lufkin for an evening of live music, great food, fine cigars, and even better company. This private celebration will feature special guests from the cigar industry, brand owners, and the community that made Stories what it is today. Tickets are available now!Learn more and purchase tickets at:https://www.storiescigarlounge.com/anniversaryevent

Release + Renew & Cacao

When: 5pm
Where: French Riviera Wellness, Longview

Release + Renew & Cacao: A Liberation & Manifestation Ceremony. Reserve your spot to join Fernanda Odum of Sacred Terra for a liberating and heart-centered gathering at French Riviera Wellness in Longview, TX. This is more than just a ceremony, it’s a sacred community space where we will drink ceremonial-grade cacao, a gentle yet powerful plant medicine that has been revered by Indigenous Mesoamerican cultures for centuries. The Mexica (Aztecs) considered cacao sacred, a gift of the gods, and used it in ceremony to open the heart, connect with spirit, and bring people together in unity.

15yrs of Serenity

When: 5:30pm
Where: 103 Birdie Place, Longview, TX

Join us as we celebrate 15 years of recovery, hope, and changed lives at Serenity Church of Longview. 🌮 Street tacos before the concert 🎶 Live concert by Levi Kitchen 🎤 Guest speaker Adam Bradley.

Paint Your Pet

When: 6pm
Where: 134 W Dallas St, Canton, TX

Paint your own pet! All supplies are provided & you will be guided by a professional pet portrait artist! Just send us a photo of your pet, & we will transfer it to canvas for you. A portion of every ticket purchase will go to Delilah’s Hope Rescue

Stich a Story Quilt Square Workshop

When: 6:30pm
Where: Flourish Nonprofits, Tyler

Come create a #storyquilt square with us. A single, hand-stitched quilt square commemorating a memory you never you want to forget. We’ll teach you about the history of story quilts, time capsule quilts, and the modern messages of quilts. As well as showing you how to create your square with our selection of fabric scraps, yarn, beads, bobbles, buttons, ribbons, threads, and more! Batting, scissors, and needles will be provided for use as well. Feel free to bring something special for your memory square to incorporate. Pre-Registration is requested - space is limited.https://www.zeffy.com/.../tic.../story-quilt-square-workshop

Soar Wrestling Paris

When: 7:30pm
Where: Sir Mo’s Sportatorium, Paris

Next Paris Texas wrestling event at Sir Mo’s Sportatorium is January 10th. Bring the kids free! We’re starting our Anti-bully program where all kids get a chance at the kids championship belt!

50’s Theme Party

When: 7:30pm
Where: Redbone Magic Brewing Company, Texarkana

Attend the 50’s themed party at Redbone Magic Brewery on Saturday, January 10, featuring Preston Barrett and the Haze. Don your favorite 50’s attire or come as you are. The festivities commence at 7:30. Kindly make your reservations by texting 9032442342 or take a chance at the door.

SUNDAY, 1/11

Gem & Fossil Sale

When: 9am-5pm
Where: 905 E. Hawkins Parkway, Longview, TX 75605

Recraft Your Story Writing Group

When: 12pm
Where: Flourish Nonprofits, Tyler

We’re introducing a writing group at recraft! Come #recraftyourstory with co-founder Amanda Nail– TJC English Professor and MA in Creative Writing from Johns Hopkins University. Bring your laptop, your pen, your pencil, your notebook, or crayons, your napkins... whatever you use to write, brainstorm, or word.

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

LOOKING FOR MORE?

Our mission at The East Texas Weekend is to show you that you’re never too far from FUN!

Things to Do - Special places to visit and activities to do around East Texas.

Live Music - Each month we show you where all the East Texas concerts are.

Food + Drink - Try some of these wonderful places to eat!

*Download our App on Apple & Google!