OCTOBER FIESTAS AND FESTIVALS

BAY CITY
LIONS CLUB RICE FESTIVAL
Second week in October
Bay City Chamber of commerce, P.O. Box 768, Bay City 77404
409.245.8333
Admission: Free
Bay City’s rice festival features a Saturday morning downtown parade, an arts and crafts fair, a carnival and food booths.  rice cook-off judging takes place Wednesday before the festival, and recipes are available after the winners are announced on Friday. Most of Saturday’s activities take place at the fairgrounds.

BEEVILLE
WESTERN WEEK
Third week in October
Bee County Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 4099, Beeville, 78104
512.358.3267
Western Week, Inc. 512.358.0502
Admission: $2 per adult
Beeville goes West for four days with a parade, dance and rodeo.  You’ll also find an arts and crafts fair, contests, live entertainment and food booths.

BOERNE
OKTOBERFEST
Third Saturday of October
Boerne Area chamber of Commerce, 1 Main Plaza, Boerne 78006
512.249.8000
Admission: Free
Boerne’s Oktoberfest combines food and physical activity. Besides all the great vittles, they have 21, 45, 60, and 100 mile bike races.  You can dance all day to the German bands.  there’s also story telling, a dance contests, arts and crafts, food booths, and a starving artist show.

BROWNFIELD
HARVEST FESTIVAL
Third Saturday in October
Brownfield Chamber of Commerce, P.O. box 152, Brownfield 79316
806.637.2564
Admission: Free
This festival celebrates the cotton, wheat and sorghum harvests, and gives everyone Brownfield a chance to get out and have a good time.  they have a parade, an old-time fiddler’s contest, live entertainment all day, the crowning of the Harvest Queen, prize drawings, and food booths.

BUCHANAN DAM
DAM BIRTHDAY PARTY
Mid October
Lake Buchanan Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 282, Buchanan Dam, 78609
512.793.2803
Admission: free except for boat cruises
The community of Buchanan Dam developed in the 1930s as the dam was built to create Lake Buchanan.  Held in a park next to the dam, festivities usually include plenty of music, arts and crafts, food booths, dancing, concerts, light shows or fireworks, tours of the generating plant, boat cruises along the dam, and games.

CANADIAN
FALL FOLIAGE FESTIVAL
Third weekend in October
Canadian Hemphill county Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 365, Canadian 79014
806.323.6234
Admission: Free; fee for homes tour
You’d think that out on the West Texas plains a tree would be about as common as a cactus in Wisconsin. well, trees are the exception to the rule in the Panhandle, so maybe that’s why the folks up there get so much pleasure from the trees that grow along the Canadian River. This big waterway gives life to some lush plant life near its shores, much of which turns bright red and golden the fall. Some of the most colorful  plants are the cottonwood tree, soapberry tree and sumac bush.
The Foliage Festival began in 1950 to satisfy a great interest in the fall colors.  A trail ride offers a peaceful outing among the trees.  If you don’t have time for a wagon ride, you can drive your car (or bicycle) 10 miles along Formby Road from Canadian to Lake Marvin to take in the scenery.  There’s also an arts and crafts fair, live entertainment, food booths, tour of homes and a car show.

CENTER
EAST TEXAS POULTRY FESTIVAL
First Thursday, Friday and Saturday in October
Shelby County chamber of Commerce, 321 Shelbyville Street, Center, 75935
409.598.3682
Admission: $2 button covers the whole weekend

This is Center’s main event of the year, focusing on the poultry industry, a mainstay of the East Texas economy. Activities include chicken judging and auction, musical entertainment, a carnival, a dance, an arts and crafts fair, food booths, and craft and canning competitions.

COLLEYVILLE
COLLEYVILLE BARBEQUE COOK OFF
Early October
Colleyville Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 445, Colleyville, 76034
817.488.7148
Admission: Free

Organized by the Colleyville Barbecue Association, this festival has a parade, street dance, contests, food booths, children’s area and, of course, a barbecue cook-off. The cook-off is for beef, sausage, ribs, or whatever.
 

CUERO
TURKEYFEST
Second weekend in October
Cuero Chamber of Commerce, 103 N. Esplanade, Cuero 77954
512.275.6351, 275.2112
Admission: Free
 The festivities begin Saturday with the Great Gobbler Gallop, a turkey race between Cuero’s Ruby Begonia and Paycheck from Worthington, Minnesota.  Thousands of spectators line the street to cheer Cuero’s turkey in the race.  the birds also compete in an annual race in Minnesota.

The rest of the fun includes a parade, 5K run, chili cook-off, barbecue cook-off, a dance, a carnival, and horseshoe and washer tournaments.  You can peruse the arts and crafts area and sample goodies from the food booths while enjoying live entertainment.
 
 
 
 

DAINGERFIELD
CAPTAIN DAINGERFIELD DAY
Third Weekend in October
Daingerfield Chamber of Commerce, 208 Jefferson, Daingerfield, 75638
903.645.2646

Daingerfield, the fourth oldest town in Texas, is named after Captain London Daingerfield, who came to Northeast Texas from Nova Scotia in the early 1800s.
The festival includes a chili cook-off, parade, street dance, arts and crafts, music, singing and food booths.  contests include the cow chip toss and the wild and wacky pumper races, in which teams race to see who can get a fire hose hooked up and running first.
"The fire department helped with the pumper races, and it was just hilarious, because there wasn’t a dry person left at the end, " said Peggy Maxey, secretary manager of the Daingerfield Chamber of Commerce.
One year, to prepare for the cow chip toss, Maxey and the chamber president gathered cow chips from a neighbor’s bar, and tried to get them all the same size so it would be fair," she explained.
They put the cow chips in a plastic garbage bag, and set them in her front yard. but the morning before the contest, city garbage collectors, doing their duty, carried away the bag, leaving Maxey the job of gathering the chips again.

DEL RIO
FIESTA AMISTAD
Weekend nearest October 24
Del Rio Chamber of Commerce, 1915 Ave F. Del Rio 78840
512.775.3551
Admission: Free
Fiesta Amistad features the only parade in the world that starts in one country add ends in another. The 10K run and bicycle races both start in Del Rio and end across the border in Ciudad Acuna.
Fiesta Amistad, which means friendship festival, commemorates the date  of the first summit meeting between presidents of the United States and Mexico.  In 19650, Eisenhower met with Adolfo Lopez Mateos on United Nations Day.
Other activities include a two-day arts and crafts fair, food booths, and a battle of the bands in which groups from both cities compete for prizes.  You’ll also find a Miss Del Rio Pageant, a fajita cook-off, and the Laughlin Air Force Base open house and airshow.
 

EASTLAND
OLD RIP FEST
First Saturday in October
Eastland Chamber of Commerce, 102 S. Seaman, Eastland, 76448
817.629.2332
Admission: Free

This event pays homage to a horned toad who lived in the cornerstone of the Eastland County Courthouse for 31 years.  When the courthouse was built in 1897, Justice of the Peace Earnest Wood put the horned toad in the cornerstone with a Bible and other objects. The courthouse was torn down in February 1928, and 3,000 people gathered to see if the toad still lived in the cornerstone.  Much to their surprise, he was still alive.

They named him Old Rip and took him on a tour of the United States, which included a visit to President Calvin Coolidge. But, the travel must have worn him down, for Old Rip died of pneumonia in January, 1929, less than a year after his release from the cornerstone.  Now, his little stuffed amphibian body lies in a casket in the courthouse lobby. You can see it through a window anytime.

The Old Rip Fest features a parade which sometimes includes toad related floats, music, a fiddler’s contest, tricycle races, a national marching band contest, a street dance, food booths and an arts and crafts fair.  they also sell T-shirts that say "Old Rip Slept Here."

FALFURRIAS
FIESTA del CAMPO
Columbus Day Weekend
Falfurrias Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 476, Falfurrias, 78355
512.325.333
Admission: Free
About 10,000 people get together in Falfurrias to celebrate the countryside with games, a dance, trail ride, arts and crafts fair, music and food booths. there’s also a chili cook-off, horseshoe tournament and carnival rides.

FLATONIA
CZHILISPIEL
Fourth weekend in October
Flatonia Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 651, Flatonia, 78941
512.865/3920
Admission: Free
Flatonia, in the heart of German/Czech country, boasts the world’s largest tented beer garden at Czhilispie.  And under this tent, you can listen to well known Texas country and polka bands.  Of course, there’s a chili cook off, as well as barbecue beef and pork cook-offs.  Other diversions include a parade, street dances, contests, arts and crafts, and a carnival.
 
 
 
 

FLORESVLLE
PEANUT FESTIVAL
Second weekend in October
Floresville Chamber of Commerce, P.O. box 220, Floresville, 78114
512.393.3105
Admission: Free

In appreciation of Wilson county farmers, the citizens put on a big jubilee revolving around the peanut crop.  You can see a peanut thrashing and taste homemade peanut butter and candy.
There is a parade, two street dances, contests, an arts and crafts fair, entertainment, food booths, queen coronation, carnival, and auction.

FLOYDADA
PUNKIN DAYS
Last weekend in October
Floydada Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 147, Floydada, 79235
806.983.3434
Admission: Free
Pumpkins are a major crop in Floyd County, which is known as "Pumpkin Capital, U.S.A." The festival features pumpkin rolling races, a pumpkin pie contest, pumpkin painting and carving.  the wheelbarrow race challenges blindfolded drivers to follow directions of passengers loaded down with pumpkins to the finish line.
Alice Gilroy, publisher of the Floyd County Hesperian, said she enjoys the pumpkin painting. "We have a lot of artistic people in town who paint the pumpkins. It is just beautiful."
The festival focuses on participation, and everyone gets involved and has fun.  Other activities include a parade, a masquerade dance, an arts and crafts fair, and food booths.  Most events take place Friday and Saturday nights.
 
 
 

FREDERICKSBURG
OKTOBERFEST
First weekend in October
Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 506, Fredericksburg 78624
512.997.6523
Admission: $4 to $5
Oktoberfest started in Munich, Germany in 1810 to celebrate the engagement of Crown Prince Ludwig to Baroness Theresa.  this became an annual celebration, and when German immigrants came to America, they brought the tradition with them.  Fredericksburg’s Oktoberfest features arts, crafts, food, music, dancing, beer, children’s entertainment and contests.

GILMER
EAST TEXAS YAMMER
Third Weekend in October
Pusher County Chamber of Commerce, P.O. box 854, Glimmer, 75644
903.843.2413
Admission: Free; fee for some events

This festival began in 1935 to salute the sweet potato, which was a major crop in the area in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.  Although they call it the Yammer, it’s really the sweet potato they’re celebrating.  One of the most popular Texas festivals, the Yamboree attracts about 100,000 visitors.
Events include a parade, yam pie competition, the Yam Queen pageant, a street dance, foot race, bicycle tour, carnival, tennis tournament, art and photography shows, a livestock show, fiddler’s contest, and barbecue meal.
 

GOLDEN
SWEET POTATO FESTIVAL
Fourth Saturday in October
Bob Hughes, Route 3 box 2229, Mineola, 75773
903.768.2353
Admission: Free

Golden residents celebrate the sweet potato harvest with a parade, arts and crafts fair, and a 26 mile bike race through the beautiful fall foliage and rolling hills of the area.  There’s also a 4.9 kilometer foot race, games, a horseshoe tournament, a fiddler’s contest, all day musical entertainment, a wagon rides.
For the sweet potato auction, growers donate a box of potatoes, which are judged, then auctioned off as a fund-raiser.  There’s also a sweet potato cooking contest with youth and adult divisions.  Entries to the contest are also auctioned off.
 
 

GRAPELAND
PEANUT FESTIVAL
Homecoming weekend, which is different each year
Houston County Chamber of Commerce, P.O. box 307, Crockett, 75835
409.544.2359
Admission: Free

Grapelanders organize a parade, arts and crafts fair, live music, carnival and food area. You’ll find plenty of peanut food for sale.

IOWA PARK
WHOOP-T-DO
October or November, depending on the date of the home coming football game.
Iowa Park Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 146, Iowa Park 76367
817.592.9553

Since 1970, Iowa Park has organized this big Whoop-T-Do featuring a parade, a variety of contests, arts and crafts, live bands and food booths. the homecoming football game is on Friday night, and most events are Saturday.

JASPER
JASPER FALL FEST AND INDIAN SUMMER ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL
First weekend in October
Jasper Chamber of Commerce, 246 E. Milam, Jasper, 75951
409.384.2762
Admission: Free

The fall Fest combines an arts and crafts fair with the Deep East Texas State Fair for a busy weekend in Jasper.  the three day fair includes a quilt show, cooking and canning contests, a carnival and a rodeo playday featuring kid performers.  these events take place at the rodeo grounds.

At the courthouse square on Saturday the arts and crafts fair offers visitors 100 booths with everything from wooden toys to handmade clothes.  You can enjoy live music all day and a variety of food for sale. Shuttles usually run between the fairgrounds and the courthouse, stopping on the way for looks at historic buildings.

KAUFMAN
KAUFMAN SCARECROW FESTIVAL
Last full week of October
Kaufman Chamber of Commerce, 112 S. Washington, Kaufman, 75142
903.932.3118
Admission: Free

Celebrating the fall harvest, Kaufmanites host a scarecrow building contest, a pumpkin cook-off, and a parade as major events of the Scarecrow festival.

LIVINGSTON
PINE CONE FESTIVAL
First Weekend in October
Polk County Chamber of Commerce, 516 W. Church, Livingston, 77351
409.327.4929
Admission: free

In the heart of the Piney Woods, Polk Countians pay tribute to the tree that grows tall and dense all around them.  this event began as a folklife festival recalling the county’s history, and now it’s a full-blow annual bash that brings everyone out of the woods for food, fun and games.
They have a parade, a trail ride, an arts and crafts fair, a quilt show, food booths, an historical cabin, square dancing, and games.
 

LUCKENBACH
LADIES STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CHILI COOK-OFF
First Saturday in October
Luckenbach General Store
512.997.3224
Admission: Free; fee for dance

Luckenbach hosts the women’s championship chili cook-off for the state of Texas.  About 140 cooking teams simmer their concoctions for several hours Saturday before the judging takes place.  meanwhile, visitors enjoy games for kids and adults, including egg toss, facemaking and moseying contests.  folk musician Gary P. Nunn usually plays in the dance hall Saturday night.

The men’s state championship chili cook-off is held in San Marcos the third weekend in September.  Why separate cook-offs for women and men? Because the Chilympiad in San Marcos was founded by a group of men, and they decided not to allow women contestants.
The women’s cook-off is decidedly less commercial, partly because of its location.  Only a few people live in Luckenbach, a picturesque, laid back place with a store, dance hall and blacksmith shop.
the old general store, surrounded by ancient live oak trees, serves as the main attraction, where people gather for dominoes, music and beer.

LONGVIEW
LOBLOLLY JUBILEE
First weekend in October
Longview Convention and visitors Bureau, 100 Grand Blvd., Longview, 75604
903.753.3283
Admission: $2.00 per adult
Large and beautiful loblolly pines give East Texas its characteristic look and feel. the trees enhance the lives of the people there with their shade, beauty, and value as timber.

Longview pays tribute to the tree with a street dance, fun run, forestry exhibits, an arts and crafts fair, a civil war encampment, food, and antique car show, chili and barbecue cook-offs, and a carnival.
In the professional lumberjack show, real lumberjacks demonstrate log rolling, chopping, sawing and other skills combined with a comedy routine.
The Largest Loblolly contest challenges people to find the largest loblolly pine in the county.

MARSHALL
EAST TEXAS FIREANT FESTIVAL
Second Weekend in October
Marshall Chamber of commerce, P.O. box 520, Marshall, 75671
903.935.7868
Admission: Free

Fireants may be Texas’ most feared insects, with their ability to crawl in groups, unnoticed, onto a victim’s leg, then deliver their stings all at once, as if given a signal by their leader.
People in Marshall show their respect for this formidable creature with a well-attended, lively festival.  Activities include a parade, dance, a chili cook-off, 5k run, fireant calling contest, fireant roundup, fireant diaper derby, and the Tour de Fireant bicycle race.  There’s continuous entertainment during the day, and a street dance Saturday night.

MINEOLA
HERITAGE ARTS FESTIVAL
Third Saturday in October
Mineola Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 68, Mineola 75773
903.569.2087
Admission: Free

The Heritage Arts Festival primary includes demonstrations of the skills, crafts and way of life of pioneers.
Townspeople don pioneer clothing for the occasion, set in historic Mineola. A wagon ride winds through the historical district, and all the food for sale is cooked the old-fashioned say.  Visitors can see demonstrations of soap making, candle making, spinning, weaving, quilting and other things people used to do for themselves. Other activities include a parade, story telling and music.

NEW BRAUNFELS
WURSTFEST
Begins the first Friday after the last Wednesday in October and lasts 10 days.
Wurstfest Association, P.O. Box 310309, New Braunfels, 78131
1.800.221.4369
Admission: $4 to grounds, including two entertainment tents; $2 to enter Wursthall
Wurstfest, which celebrates sausage making and German heritage, attracts about 130,000 visitors each year.  the Wurstfest grounds include a large building, tents and a park area.
It started in 1961 as a local sausage promotion for the townspeople, and has grown to become one of the biggest sausage festivals in the world.
There’s sausage galore, other food, beer, music, and dances each night. Festivities begin with the Wurst Navy floating parade on the clear blue Comal River.  The Comal, by the way, is the world’s shortest river, only about three miles long from it source to where it joins the Guadalupe.  But it’s not a mere stream - the spring feed waterway has an average flow of 200 to 300 cubic feet per second.  and the water from Comal Spring stays about 70 degrees all year.
Activities include a major horseshoe tournament, German bands, a heritage exhibit, and an old-time melodrama.

NOCONA
POW-WOW FIDDLE
First Saturday in October
Nocona Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 27, Nocona 76255
817.825.3526

Since 1987, this town near the Red River has celebrated with a parade, contests, arts and crafts, stage show, and food booths.
 

PALACIOS
PALACIOS BAYFEST
First Weekend in October
Palacios Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 774, Palacios 77465
512.972.2615
Admission: Free
This starts with a Friday night dance and continues Saturday with an all day celebration the bay.  There’s a fiddler’s contest, a barbecue cook-off, a 3 mile run, food, entertainment, and arts and crafts.  A nighttime dance in the pavilion over the water concludes the festivities.
 

PALESTINE
FIVE ALARM HOT PEPPER FESTIVAL
Last weekend in October
Palestine Chamber of commerce, P.O. box 1177, Palestine, 75802
903.729.6066
Admission: Free

They have a parade, dance, arts and crafts fair, wild game cook-off, fire department races, music, and lots of food to eat.
Palestine boasts the only annual fire department parade in Texas, with representative equipment and firefighters from all over the northeast Texas area.  Mike Pell, president of the Palestine Firefighters Association, said it is the only one he know of.  You’ll also see all kinds of fire engines in the parade, including antiques.

POST
C.W. POST FOUNDER’S DAY CELEBRATION
Second weekend in October
Post Main Street Project, 105 E. Main, Post 79356
806.495.4157
Admission: free except for rodeo, chuckwagon lunch, and ball
Post hosts an outdoor breakfast of cereal and orange juice at the world’s longest breakfast table, which spans the length of the courthouse and seats 400 people.  In honor of C.W. Post, the cereal magnate who founded the town, they serve Post cereal.  Breakfast eaters get a nice view of hot air balloons taking off nearby.
Other events include a parade, dance, bicycle races, trail ride, Western art show, ranch hand competition, rodeo, live music and live Theatre production.  You can see hot air balloons, gliders, and arts and crafts, as well as partake of goodies from the food booths..

ROCKPORT
ROCKPORT SEAFAIR
Columbus Day Weekend
Rockport-Fulton Chamber of commerce, P.O. box 1055, Rockport, 78382
512.729.6445 1.800.242.0071
Admission: Free

October is a great month to visit the sea in Texas, when the water is still warm, but the air has cooled since summer. About 25,000 people swarm to Rockport for Seafair, a celebration of the ocean and the food it provides.
The fun includes plenty of water sports, as well as crab races and a crab beauty contest.  Other activities include a parade, live bands, Miss Seafair Pageant, a kiddie carnival, arts and crafts and food booths.
 

SINTON
OLD FIDDLER’S  FESTIVAL
Last weekend in October
Sinton Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 217, Sinton 78387,
512.364.2307
Admission: Free
Sinton started the fiddler’s contest before 1950, adding the other activities in 1976. Now they have a parade, cabrito and chili cook-offs, a dance, arts and crafts fair, 5K and 10K runs, team roping, music, and games.

SNYDER
WHITE BUFFALO DAYS CELEBRATION
Second Saturday in October
Snyder Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Drawer CC, Snyder, 79549
915.573.3558
Admission: Free
This festival gets its name from the rare albino buffalo reportedly killed near Snyder by hunter J. Wright Mooar in the late 1800s.  Activities include a parade, contests, arts and crafts, food booths and a melodrama play.
 

TYLER
TEXAS ROSE FESTIVAL
Weekend in Mid-October
Tyler Chamber of Commerce, 407 N. Broadway, Tyler 75703
903.592.1661
Admission:  Fee for some events

This festival features the world famous Tyler Rose Parade, an arts and crafts fair in the park, a rose show, tours of rose fields, and a dance.

UVALDE
CACTUS JACK FESTIVAL
Second Weekend in October
Uvalde Chamber of  Commerce, P.O. box 796, Uvalde, 78802
512.278.3361
Admission: Fee for some events
Since 1975, Uvalde has remembered former vice president John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner with this festival.  garner, a native of Uvalde, was vice president of the United States under Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1941.
The event includes a parade, dance, contests, arts and crafts, stage show, and food booths..

WHARTON
WHARTON FEST ON THE COLORADO
First weekend in October
Wharton Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 868, Wharton, 77488
409.532.1862
Admission: Free

Wharton’s courthouse square comes alive for two days of food, fun, and entertainment during Wharton Fest.  A craft show, antique show, food booths, carnival, live entertainment and a dance attract fun seekers.  The Wharton County Historical Museum is open both days.  This facility features exhibits on ranching, cotton and rice farming, historical figures and the settlement and growth of the area.

WHITESBORO
PEANUT FESTIVAL
Third Saturday in October
Whitesboro Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 522, Whitesboro 76273
903.564.3331
Admission: Free

The Peanut Festival, celebrated since 1965, includes a parade, dance, contests, arts and crafts, talent contest, food booths, fun run, games, domino tournament, fiddler’s contest and auction.

WHITNEY
PIONEER DAYS
First Saturday in October
Lake Whitney Chamber of Commerce, P.O. box 604, Whitney, 76693
817.694.2540
Admission: free; fee for street dance

Near Lake Whitney, this  town puts on a down home fall festival.  this area is a nice place to be in the fall, especially for camping.
They have a parade, dance, arts and crafts fair, usually a bicycle race, a baby contest, horseshoe tournament, food, live entertainment all day, and a tour of homes.

WINEDALE
WINEDALE OKTOBERFEST
First weekend in October
Winedale historical Center, P.O. Box 11, Round Top, 78954
409.278.3530
Admission: $2 adult, 50 cents for children
The Winedale and Round Top area was settled by German immigrants to Texas, so this traditional German holiday is important there.  This festival includes plenty of German food, live music, dancers, and pioneer craft demonstrations.  You can tour the historic houses and barns of Winedale and visit the Round Top Antique Show and Square Fair while you’re there.

WINNIE
TEXAS RICE FESTIVAL
First Weekend In October
Winnie Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 147, Winnie, 77665
409.296.2231
Admission:" $1

This giant party pays tribute to one of the Southeast Texas’ major crops - rice.  Most people don’t think of rice when they think of Texas, but we produce more rice than any other state, including California.  with plenty of rain and a warm climate, the coastal plain is ideal for growing rice.

Activities include rice judging, rice milling, and rice eating and cooking contests.  There are also two parades, five dances, an arts and crafts fair, a carnival, live entertainment, food booths, an old time fiddling contest, a goose calling contest, and a king and queen contest.

WINNSBORO
AUTUMN TRAILS
Each weekend in October
Winnsboro Chamber of Commerce, 201 W. Broadway, Winnsboro, 75494
903.342.3666
Admission: Free

Northeast Texas is beautiful all the time, but it’s just about the only area in Texas where you can see a "traditional" autumn with red and gold leaves among the pines.
The Winnsboro area glows in the autumn, and the folks there are proud of it. They show off their forests with several backroad auto tours, maps of which can be obtained in town.  these make nice bicycle outings, too.
There’s something happening in town each weekend during October.  Activities include a trail ride, parade, barn and square dances, contests, an arts and crafts fair, a trade day, antique car show, bass tournament, golf tournament, and chili cook-off. events are scheduled differently each year, so contact the chamber of commerce to find out what happens when.

YORKTOWN
YORKTOWN ANNUAL WESTERN DAYS CELEBRATION
Third full weekend in October
Yorktown Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 488, Yorktown 78164
512.564.2661
Admission: Free
Yorktown’s Western Days has a children’s parade and a grand parade.  They also have dances, a Little Mr. and Miss pageant, a fiddler’s contest, trail ride, arts and crafts, food booths, and a carnival.  chili, bean and barbecue cook-offs also take place during the weekend.