12 Things To Do In East Texas This Weekend

(Mix 93-1) Summer held on to East Texas as long as it could. Thanks to a couple of cool fronts that moved through last weekend and earlier this week, it has cooled off some and is feeling more like fall around here. However, another cold front is on the way, and this one looks like it's going to disrupt any outdoor plans you have for this weekend.

While we don't want it to rain on our weekend plans, it's getting pretty dry in the Piney Woods, resulting in quite a few burn bans being issued throughout the region. Let's hope this expected rain results in the cancellation of the burn bans.

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If you're headed to the Hot Pepper Festival in Palestine, Hog Festival in Ben Wheeler, or the Hopkins County Fair in Sulphur Springs, you'll definitely want to take a light jacket and an umbrella as you meander through the vedor booths.

Now, if you're looking for something to do indoors, you can get your adrenaline pumping and your heart rate up as you wander through an area haunted house. Or if it's raining too much, it just may be a good weekend to stay in and binge-watch a series or watch the World Series play out this weekend.

Here's a look at what's happening this weekend in East Texas.

For more information or to purchase tickets to the listed ticketed events, click or tap on that event name to be redirected to their official page or website.

East Texas Haunted Houses

various days
various locations throughout East Texas

Spooky season is here, and it is time to get your adrenaline rushing while making your way through some of the most haunted houses in East Texas! Check out our list of haunted houses that will definitely give you a scare this Halloween season. The list features haunted houses in Tyler, Longview, Terrell, Mineola, Kilgore, Canton, Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson, and Talco. There is an admission fee to enter the haunted houses.

East Texas Pumpkin Patches

various days
various locations throughout East Texas

Search through these East Texas pumpkin patches for the perfect pumpkin to become your Jack-o-lantern or the perfect pumpkins to complete your fall front porch display. Many of these pumpkin patches benefit a special group. Tap the headline above to get a list of pumpkin patches throughout East Texas.

Piney Park Fall Festival and Spooky Trail

daily
600 Martin Lake Rd - Marshall

Bring the family out and explore the huge pumpkin patch and pick out the one or ones for your decoration and jack-o-lanterns. Lots of fun and activities for the family, refreshments from the food trucks, and the spooky trail when it gets dark.

Hog Festival - Ben Wheeler

Friday and Saturday
downtown Ben Wheeler

Definitely one of the most unique festivals in the state, as Ben Wheeler celebrates the hog. Originally known as the Feral Hog Festival, it was changed to Hogfest, then to Hogtoberfest, and now back to Hog Festival! Whatever they call it, it's definitely unique and East Texas. This festival will feature a hog parade, a pageant, a parade, a hog cook-off, and many other unique contests and events. This year's theme is 'Sow Wars: The Pork Awakens'!

Hopkins County Fall Festival - Sulphur Springs

thru Sunday
Hopkins County Fair Grounds and Civic Center - Sulphur Springs

The Hopkins County Fall Festival will have it all - a parade, craft show, kids zone, carnival rides, games and food, loads of exhibits, and a hay baling contest.

Hot Pepper Festival - Palestine

Friday and Saturday
Main St.- Palestine

This event has expanded into a two-day event! Friday evening's events will include a car show, chili cookoff, cornhole tournament, and beer garden. Saturday will feature dozens of vendors, live music and performances, a parade, the iconic Pepper Eating contest, and so much more for the family.

Rise and Shine Harvest Festival and Market

Saturday @ 10a
15121 W FM 2625 - Hallsville

Get the kids in their costumes and head to the farm! There will be vendors on-site along with a petting zoo, hay ride, pumpkin painting, and more fun fall activities.

Green Street Monster Festival

Saturday 12n-11p
819 Green St - Longview

It's the second year for this festival that celebrates a bridge that eats over height trucks that attempt to drive under it! Live music with Bowling For Soup headlining. Catch music across two stages all afternoon, along with vendors and food trucks. This is a ticketed event.

The A to Z Guide of Tyler, Texas

Tyler offers its residents and visitors a wide variety of activities, whether its family activities, dining out, cultural experiences or history, there is a lot to do and learn.

Gallery Credit: Lucky Larry