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, 10/29

First Monday Trade Days

When: Sunup to Sundown
Where: 800 1st Monday Ln, Canton, TX, United States, Texas 75103

Looking for Fall décor, early Christmas finds, boutique clothing, handmade gifts, furniture, plants, or your favorite fair-style foods? You’ll find it ALL at First Monday Trade Days! Bring your wagon, grab your crew, and make it a full weekend of treasure hunting!

Tyler’s Old Rose Dress Display

When: 10am-4pm
Where: Goodman-LeGrand House, Tyler

Step back in time and experience the elegance of Tyler’s rose-growing heritage through a stunning display of vintage-inspired gowns and floral fashion. The Old Rose Dress Display celebrates the beauty, tradition, and history that helped make Tyler the Rose Capital of America.

Mom’s Fall Escape

When: 6pm-8pm
Where: Adventure Zone, Mineola

Moms, take a little time for you and join us at Adventure Zone for a cozy fall night of crafting, relaxing, and connecting with other moms — while the kids enjoy supervised play!

Thursday Trivia

When: 7pm-9pm
Where: Brisket Love Barbecue & Icehouse - Lindale Texas

Don’t get smoked by the competition. Come prove you’re the whole rack of ribs when it comes to random knowledge!

FRIDAY, 10/30

First Monday Trade Days

When: Sunup to Sundown
Where: 800 1st Monday Ln, Canton, TX, United States, Texas 75103

Trunk-or-Treat

When: 3pm-5pm
Where: Angelina Mental Health Clinic, Lufkin

Burke staff will showcase creative trunks for viewing and provide treats for school-aged children and their families to enjoy. There will also be games with prizes for everyone to participate in!

Hot Pepper Fest

When: 4pm
Where: Downtown Palestine

Get ready for TWO DAYS of cars, horsepower, and fun in Palestine, Texas! We’re kicking things off Friday with a Cruise-In, then coming back Saturday for the Hot Pepper Festival and The Journey HQ Car Show! FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 • CRUISE-IN • 4:00 PM. We’re starting the weekend with a Cruise-In at the Farmers Market and Palestine Visitor Center! Bring your ride out, hang out with us, and help us kick off Hot Pepper Festival weekend. Cars, trucks, classics, hot rods, customs, and everything in between are welcome!

Fall Festival

When: 4pm-6pm
Where: Journeys of the Heart Childcare, Tyler

Join us for a fun-filled day for the whole family! Enjoy delicious food, games, exciting activities, a costume contest, and so much more for kids and parents

Chess Club

When: 4:45pm
Where: Paris Public Library

Calling all budding chess players! Whether you’re new to the game or looking to sharpen your skills, join us for our Chess Club! This non-competitive club is all about learning and improving your game in a fun, relaxed environment.

Ghouls Night Out & Grand Opening

When: 5pm-8pm
Where: 130 S Fourth St Suite 500, Wills Point, TX

Grab your favorite ghouls and join us for a SPOOK-tacular evening celebrating the GRAND OPENING of Renewed Wellness & Aesthetics! Come enjoy a fun girls’ night out, meet some amazing vendors, and take advantage of exclusive grand opening specials!

Among Us Parent’s Night Out

When: 6pm-9pm
Where: Code Ninjas, Tyler

Costume Contest! You deserve a night on the town. Meanwhile, your kids want to play and have fun. That’s why we offer Parent’s Night Out - a win-win evening for families. Drop off your kids at Code Ninjas, where they’ll have pizza, play games, watch a movie, and more! Kids can bring their own devices and dress up as their favorite superhero!

River Road Spook Trail

When: 7pm
Where: 720 RIVER RD S, BIG SANDY, TX 75755

Ready for a scream? The River Road Haunted Trail is the scariest event in East Texas this Halloween. Gather your bravest friends and prepare for a night of heart pounding fright around every corner. $25 per person- ages 10 and under $15

Discover Haunted Houses around East Texas, here!

SATURDAY, 10/31

First Monday Trade Days

When: Sunup to Sundown
Where: 800 1st Monday Ln, Canton, TX, United States, Texas 75103

Halloween Car Show

When: 7am-3pm
Where: Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Tyler

Trunk-n-treat. Costume contest. And tons of vintage cars!

Fall Heritage Festival

When: 7am-4pm
Where: 108 E. Broadway, Big Sandy, TX 75755

Start your day with crisp waffles before visiting vendors, games, contests, and special events. Enjoy food trucks for lunch while exploring downtown Big Sandy. Don’t miss out on the evening activities this Halloween!

Hot Pepper Fest

When: 7:30am-4pm
Where: Downtown Palestine

Get ready for TWO DAYS of cars, horsepower, and fun in Palestine, Texas! We’re kicking things off Friday with a Cruise-In, then coming back Saturday for the Hot Pepper Festival and The Journey HQ Car Show! SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 • THE JOURNEY HQ CAR SHOW • 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM Due to construction downtown, the Car Show will be in a NEW LOCATION this year, but that puts us even closer to all the action at the Hot Pepper Festival! We’ll have W. Crawford Street and the Palestine Church parking lot for the show, with cars lining Crawford Street in front of Home Grill Steakhouse and Double Tap, plus additional parking in the church parking lot.

Wheels for Warriors Car Show

When: 8am
Where: Ray’s Drive In, Lufkin

Come out to our first ever Wounded Warrior Benefit Car Show!

Walk to End Alzheimer’s

When: 8am
Where: UT Tyler Patriot Plaza Circle Drive

Join the fight against Alzheimer’s and help to raise awareness and funds for care, support, and research in our local community by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®.

Bear Creek Fest

When: 10am-2pm
Where: Bear Creek Smokehouse, Marshall

Face painting. Pumpkin pie painting — $4.99Photo booth. Wagon rides — $5Bounce house. Pet costume contest. Candy corn guessing game. Goodie bags for the first 100 kids

Fall Festival Market

When: 10am-3pm
Where: 7505 FM-1650, Gilmer, TX

We will have fun family friendly activities throughout the day!Over 60+ Vendors, wheel thrown pottery demos, wool spinning demos, aerial acrobatics, face painting, balloon twisting, pumpkin bowling, photo opportunities and more! Wear a costume and enter a fun give away!

Piney Woods Spooktacular Pride 2026

When: 11am-6pm
Where: 360 Charlton Rd, Lufkin Tx

Join us for a day of celebration and community as we come together on Halloween and show our Pride of East Texas! This event will be in the same location as last year and will go from 11am to 6pm!

SFA Football vs. Houston Christian Huskies

When: 1pm
Where: Homer Bryce Stadium, 2299 Jim Hayter Rd, Nacogdoches, TX 75965, USA

Houston Christian meets Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, Oct 31, 2026 at 1:00 PM at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches, Texas. With contrasting styles and a lively game-day setting in East Texas, this matchup offers a solid midseason snapshot of where both teams stand and who can control the tempo when it matters

Boo-Nanza

When: 3pm
Where: The 8five Center, Wills Point

Come celebrate Halloween at The 8Five Boo-Nanza! Bring the family in costume for an afternoon of trunk or treat, games, a bounce house, and the Mobile Gameverse game truck. You can also browse vendors inside and outside The 8Five Center while the kids enjoy the fun.

Trunks & Treats

When: 5pm
Where: Lakeview Baptist Church, Longview

We can’t wait to see you at Trunks & Treats! Come and enjoy this fun, safe, and friendly environment on Halloween night. We’ll have lots of candy to give away, door prizes announced every 30 minutes, snacks, and more - all completely free.

Alba Trunk-or-Treat

When: 5pm
Where: City Of Alba Volunteer Fire Department

Save the Date! We are planning Trunk or Treat again this year on the square!

Candy Crawl

When: 5pm-7pm
Where: Longview Mall

Celebrate Halloween with a fun, family-friendly evening at Longview Mall! Kids are invited to dress up in their favorite costumes and trick-or-treat at participating retailers throughout the center. This event is free and open to the community. We can’t wait to see your costumes!

Arp Trunk-or-Treat

When: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Where: 103 S. Main St, Arp

Come by and see us at the City of Arp Trunk or Treat October 31, 2026, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Volunteers and donation of candy is encouraged and appreciated. We look forward to shining the light of Jesus to the community.

Nicholas Pet Haven Trick-or-Treat

When: 6pm
Where: Nicholas Pet Haven, Tyler

We’re so excited to announce that Rose Ranch Realty LLC. is a proudly sponsoring this year’s Nicholas Pet Haven Trick or Treat Event — supporting Smith County’s homeless dogs and cats! Bring your family, friends, and fur babies for an evening full of fun, treats, and tail wags — all while helping local animals find their forever homes

River Road Spook Trail

When: 7pm
Where: 720 RIVER RD S, BIG SANDY, TX 75755

Whitehouse Halloween House

When: 7pm-9pm
Where: 215 State Highway 110, Whitehouse

I’m opening up the yard for a special Halloween Open House so everyone can come walk around, check out the decorations, take pictures, and enjoy all the spooky sights! Whether you love creepy creatures, spooky scenes, or just seeing some over-the-top Halloween decorations, I’d love for you to stop by!

Red Rooster Halloween Costume Party

When: 7:30pm
Where: 1470 N. Beaulah St., Hawkins, TX, United States, Texas 75765

The Red Rooster Halloween Costume Party 2026 is an event for all ages! Live Music, No Cover. There will be cash prizes for Best Costume $300, Scariest $150, Best Couple $150

Family Movie Night

When: 8pm
Where: East Texas Automotive, LLC, Winnsboro

Join us on Halloween night for family fun. We will have food and drinks available. Handing out candy and watching Goosebumps on a 25 ft big screen. Fun & Safe for the whole family

Costume Contest & Live Music

When: 8pm
Where: Seven Points VFW Post 4376

Come out for a spooky musical Halloween! Duffy will start at 8pm, kitchen will be open serving our Spooky Spaghetti and Mama Jeans Ghostly Goulash!! Costume contest!!!! Registration starts at 7pm Judging at 10pm. Couples and individuals contest.

SUNDAY,11/1

First Monday Trade Days

When: Sunup to Sundown
Where: 800 1st Monday Ln, Canton, TX, United States, Texas 75103

Karen Harding Concert

When: 10am
Where: The Sanctuary-Carthage, TX

Join us at The Sanctuary of Pentecost for our Fall Concert with Nashville recording artist Karen Harding!

Chili Coof-Off & Dummy Roping

When: 12pm
Where: Wood County Cowboy Church, Quitman

Join us at Woo d County Cowboy Church on Sunday, November 1st for a day of good food, good fun, and good fellowship — everybody’s invited! Stew & Chili Cook-Off5 pounds of meat minimum, and you must cook on site. Judging starts at noon — and YOU get to be the judge!

Community Prayer Walk

When: 3pm
Where: Boulter Middle School

Join the Epsilon Beta Chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. for a community Prayer Walk! We invite all Tyler community members, partners, and churches to walk with us.

River Road Spook Trail

When: 7pm
Where: 720 RIVER RD S, BIG SANDY, TX 75755

*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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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!

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Events Around East Texas This Weekend!

THURSDAY, 10/29

FRIDAY, 10/30

Discover Haunted Houses around East Texas, here!

SATURDAY, 10/31

SUNDAY,11/1

*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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