by Melissa Fox
Fall is just around the corner, though the temperatures may not indicate that here in East Texas. Regardless of the continued heat, there’s always a feeling of excitement that comes with the change in seasons. Kids are heading back to school and fall schedules are quickly filling up as a result, so now is the time to consider what exactly your fall personality might be – the East Texas way – so you can plan accordingly! Are you a Football Fanatic, a Pumpkin Patch Partaker, a Rosy Reveler, a Savory Sampler, or a Road Trip Taker? Keep reading to determine what local activities might appeal most to your fall personality or maybe you’ll be convinced to take part in all of them!
FOOTBALL FANATIC
Texas is known for its Friday Night Lights and the Tyler area is no exception! With so many local high schools in the region, there’s always a game to be enjoyed somewhere close by. East Texas has produced some famous football players over the years – from Tyler’s own Earl Campbell in the 70s, to the current Patrick Mahomes – quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs hailing from Whitehouse. Whether it’s a cross-town rivalry on a Friday night or a Saturday night at the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium to watch the always thrilling rivalry between Tyler Junior College and the Kilgore Rangers there’s always an opportunity to see the next up-and-coming players from our area in action! Grab your fellow football fanatics and make plans to attend. What could be better than enjoying an exciting football game with friends under the stadium lights on a Friday night in Texas?
PUMPKIN PATCH PARTAKER
You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy the many pumpkin patches that Tyler and the greater East Texas area have to offer. While there are several that offer kiddie train rides and craft activities for the little ones, adults can get in on the fun as well! From hayrides, to food trucks, to gift shops and of course, lots of photo ops at every turn – there’s something for everyone when it comes to selecting these festive fall fruits! A quick google search for local pumpkin patches will lead you just down the street in town or to more expansive swaths of orange gourds in any direction from the city that you choose. If you still want to enjoy the cooler weather outdoors, and plucking pumpkins doesn’t thrust you into an autumnal attitude, then maybe enjoying the classic A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving at Bergfeld Park will? However you choose to participate in and around pumpkins this fall, there’s as much merriment to be had as you and your family can take!
ROSY REVELER
This year marks the Texas Rose Festival’s 90th year! The celebration will no doubt reflect the rich history and tradition that make up the enduring legacy of community events known as the Texas Rose Festival. For generations the Queen’s Coronation, Ribbon Cutting and Rose Presentation, the Queen’s Tea and the Rose Parade have regaled thousands. Both Tylerites and visitors alike are brought together as a community in a unique spirit that can only be found here. Tyler is known as the “Rose Capital of America” and the annual four-day festival celebrates the role of the rose growing industry and its significance in our local economy. You don’t want to miss the ceremonial pageantry of the Texas Rose Festival amidst the backdrop of fall’s most beautiful and vibrant floral masterpiece – the Tyler roses.
SAVORY SAMPLER
East Texas is the proud home to many locally owned and operated restaurants. One thing is for sure you will never run out of options when dining out in East Texas. As the weather begins to cool down, you can be sure that the popularity of the patios in East Texas will be heating up. Whether you are looking for a laid-back and casual meal or a fanciful fine dining experience, there’s something for everyone’s taste and mood. Not only does Tyler and the surrounding area offer high-quality and fabulous food options, East Texas’ wineries are also making a name for themselves. Texas is the fifth-largest wine producing state in the U.S. due to its sunny and dry climate, making it ideal for wine production. There are over 500 wineries statewide, with over 30 of them calling East Texas home. Some of these local vineyards and wineries are a destination all their own – with resort-style accommodations to welcome wine aficionados for the weekend and others showcase their impressive hand-crafted harvests grown right here among the piney woods of East Texas! Fall is the perfect time to set out and sample the many different wines produced here and explore each of the unique estates.
ROAD TRIP TAKER
Perhaps the travel bug is still biting you from summer and you are still wanting to jet-set, but you need to stay a little closer to home. Lucky for you East Texas is centrally located to more than enough destinations to keep you busy for as many weekend trips as you’d like to set out on. Travel in any direction from Tyler and you will find a plethora of options to escape to. From a quiet cabin in the woods to luxury high-rise resorts with exciting entertainment – the options really are endless. Head north or east across state lines for fun that you just can’t experience here at home or even travel just down the road less than an hour and you can feel like you’ve escaped the city life altogether, yet you’re still right here in the Lone Star State. There is so much to explore and experience for families and couples alike that are just a stone’s throw from home. Now is the perfect time to make your plans and hit the road for fall!
Fall in East Texas is an exciting time and there is so much to see, do, and explore right here in our own backyard and beyond. Our local education systems offer a variety of opportunities to participate locally to support students and the community, as well as being able to enjoy their facilities and programs they offer to the community as well. For a small-town feel, there are fall festivals at any number of the towns around Tyler that are unique experiences all their own and offer fun for the whole family. And for those wanting to even further support the philanthropic endeavors of the local organizations that make our community so strong, fall is a prime time to join in the many efforts of those organizations as well.
So, from Friday Night Lights to pumpkin patches and the Texas Rose Festival, to tasting rooms of local wineries or hitting the road near or far – fall in East Texas has something for everyone no matter your personality! Make your plans now so you don’t miss out on any of these opportunities for some fall fun!