East Texas Fall Festival & Events 2026 – Here’s What To Know

(East Texas) East Texas fall festivals are filling the calendar from September through November, with county fairs, carnival rides, live music, arts and crafts, food festivals, parades, runs, and family events planned across the region. From Longview and Tyler to Gilmer, Marshall, Lufkin, and Henderson, something is happening nearly every weekend.

It's inevitable: our weekends will be booked up thanks to the many outdoor festivals in East Texas this fall. We'll be walking around with a corn dog in one hand and a fresh-squeezed lemonade in the other, all while possibly holding onto a bag of cotton candy! For others, it'll be a strawberry-covered funnel cake and warm cup of coffee or a turkey leg and a beer.

All of this happens while music plays and screams of joy echo from carnival rides packed with people seeking an adrenaline rush. There's nothing better than a fall carnival or fair in East Texas. From mid-September through November, there will be something to do nearly every weekend in East Texas.

Get our free mobile app

Summer will still have its grip on East Texas as the Gregg County Fair kicks off in September, but by the time the Heritage Syrup Festival rolls around in November, we could be grabbing those jackets and coats.

We've got you covered when it comes to fall events and festivals. Here's a look at what's to come this fall. For more information on any festival or event, just click or tap on the festival name, and you'll be taken to the official site for all the specifics.

2026 East Texas Fall Fairs and Festivals

Gregg County Fair - Longview

Friday, September 11 - Saturday, September 19
Gregg County Fairgrounds - Longview

This will be the 77th celebration of the fair, which got its start in 1949 with the Longview Jaycees. The Gregg County Fair also hosts the annual Miss Gregg County pageant and features pig races, a petting zoo, live entertainment nightly, and lots of family entertainment.

Pittsburg Pioneer Days - Pittsburg

Saturday, September 12 - Saturday, September 19
downtown Pittsburg

The 53rd Pioneer Days Festival will begin Saturday, September 12 with the Little Miss Peach Queen Ball. There will be many other events squeezed in all week long, and it wraps up Saturday the 19th with a spectacular parade, vendors lining Main Street with crafts and more, and live entertainment on the streets of downtown Pittsburg.

Texas State Forest Festival - Lufkin

Thursday, September 17 - Sunday, September 20
George Henderson Exposition Center - Lufkin

Competitions are abundant at the Texas State Forest Festival, along with carnival rides and live shows featuring Puppy Pals Live, The Accidental Acrobats, Nature Nick's Animal Adventures, wood carvers, a petting zoo, a car show, a BBQ competition, and more.

READ MORE --> The Best Pumpkin Patches Across East Texas For Fall Fun

Gladewater Arts & Crafts Festival 2026 - Gladewater

Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20
downtown Gladewater

Vendors of all kinds will be set up along Broadway Ave. in downtown Gladewater, celebrating homeland and handcrafted arts and crafts created by East Texans and Texans from near and far.  Shop homemade goods, jewelry, unique handmade works, food, toys, and more.

East Texas State Fair - Tyler

Friday, September 25 - Sunday, October 04
East Texas State Fairgrounds - Tyler

It's fair time in East Texas. This year's fair will feature a rodeo, livestock show, a dairy demo, pig races, goat mountain, petting zoo, chick hatchings, and many other demonstrations from vendors and local farmers. There will be live music nightly in addition to all of your fair food favorites and carnival rides.

The East Texas State Fair is held at The Park at East Texas on Hwy. 64 W, outside of Loop 323 in Tyler. Entrance will be on Patton Road.

Titus County Fair - Mt. Pleasant

Wednesday, September 30 - Saturday, October 03
Titus County Civic Center - Mount Pleasant

This is the 51st annual Titus County Fair. This fair features a livestock show, numerous contests, commercial exhibits, youth academic contests, carnival rides, food, and musical entertainment.

Piney Woods Fair - Nacogdoches

Wednesday, October 7 - Saturday, October 10
Nacogdoches County Exposition & Civic Center - Nacogdoches

The Pineywoods Fair wraps up fair season in East Texas with an agricultural and livestock show featuring competitions highlighting swine, goats, lambs, rabbits, heifers, and more. There are educational exhibits, and competitions topped off with carnival rides and lots of fair food. It's your last opportunity of the season to get all that fried goodness!

Fire Ant Festival - Marshall

Saturday, October 10
downtown Marshall

Marshall will be celebrating the pesky fire ant for the 44th year in downtown Marshall. There will be live music, a children's area with inflatables, the FireAnt 5k, parade, TourDeFireAnt long-distance bike ride, cupcake contest, scavenger hunt, along with hundreds of vendors and more fun for the entire family.

Lindale CountryFest - Lindale

Saturday, October 10
Picker's Pavilion in downtown Lindale

Celebrate the harvest season at CountryFest in Lindale. There will be arts and crafts booths, children's activities, live performances and music, a car-truck-Jeep show, auction, a petting zoo, carnival games, art projects, and more.

Mount Vernon Country Fest - Mount Vernon

Saturday, October 10
downtown Mount Vernon

Celebrate small-town living at Country Fest in Mount Vernon. Start the day off with a pancake breakfast, a 5k run/walk, a chili cook-off, an antique car show, a petting zoo, a children's area, and more than 70 craft and food vendors on the square in Mount Vernon.

Edom Art Festival 2026 - Edom

Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11
downtown Edom

Edom has been celebrating the arts for more than 50 years now, and the Edom Arts Festival gives artists the opportunity to share their talent. It's a two-day event that showcases art, food, and music.

East Texas Yamboree - Gilmer

Wednesday, October 14 - Saturday, October 17
venues throughout Gilmer

The festivities begin on Wednesday, October 14, with the Queen's Coronation at 7:30. There are many competitions during the Yamboree, including a quilt show, livestock show, and more. The carnival will be in downtown Gilmer and open Wednesday through Saturday with rides, games, food, and street dances each night.

Texas Rose Festival - Tyler

Thursday, October 15 - Sunday, October 18
venues throughout Tyler

Tyler is known as the rose capital, so why not have a festival to celebrate and honor this distinction? The Texas Rose Festival features the queen's coronation, Rose Parade, arts and crafts and quilting fair, and many other social activities.

Tap the Texas Rose Festival title above for a full list of events and venues.

Piney Woods Wine Festival - Lindale

Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17
Picker's Pavilion at Blackberry Square - Lindale

Enjoy a fun-filled weekend of wine tasting and fun. Sip a variety of award-winning East Texas wines while enjoying the timeless charm of Picker's Pavilion, live music, great food, and one-of-a-kind shopping.

Hog Festival - Ben Wheeler

Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24
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 hog cook-off, and many other unique contests and events.

Hopkins County Fall Festival - Sulphur Springs

Thursday, October 8 - Sunday, October 24
Hopkins County Fairgrounds 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, October 30 and Saturday, October 31
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, and the iconic Pepper Eating contest and so much more for the family.

Heritage Syrup Festival - Henderson

Saturday, November 14
downtown Henderson

More than 15 blocks of downtown Henderson will be covered with arts & crafts vendors, exhibitors, food booths, antique cars, musical entertainment, children's activities, and demonstrations as Henderson celebrates syrup!