Shirley Urieta and Erick Maldonado share a kiss while on the ferris wheel at the East Texas State Fair in Tyler, Tex. on Monday. Amy Peterson

After weeks of scorching summer heat, thankfully cooler days take over. That means it’s time to get back outside and have fun.

From September through early November, just about every town has a festival or fair and comes up with a good excuse for a celebration (how about feral hogs or fire ants).

Live music, food (from meat pies to yam pies), art displays, competitions (arm wrestling to hush puppy baking) and lively carnivals with thrill rides and fun games all can be found in the region this festive season.

So, check your calendars, pick your choices of fun and get going.

 

Gregg County Fair & Exposition

Sept. 4-12, Longview

The unusual combination of attractions at this annual event includes the Miss Gregg County Pageant, pig races, a carnival and arm-wrestling championships.

Information: greggcountyfair.com.

 

Four States Fair & Rodeo

Sept. 11-20, Texarkana, Arkansas

This fair offers a parade, carnival, food vendors, exhibits and a nightly rodeo. Watch cars bang and crash during the demolition derby on Sept. 12.

Information: fourstatesfair.com.

 

Texas State Forest Festival

Sept. 16-20, Lufkin

A lumberjack show is one of the highlights of the Texas State Forest Festival. Watch lumberjacks rolling logs, scampering up trees and chopping through wood. The festival also features the Southern Hushpuppy Championships (yum yum), a petting zoo, cheerleading competitions, carnival, concerts, contests and specialty acts.

Information: texasstateforestfestival.com

 

Avinger Wine Festival

Sept. 19, Avinger

Held downtown, the festival includes wines from about a dozen Texas vineyards, artisan foods for sale and sampling, live music and artists.

Information: avingerwinefestival.com

 

Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival

Sept. 19-20, Natchitoches, Louisiana

The delicious meat pie is the star attraction, but it is not the only thing that draws the crowds. Attractions include the River Run, lots of food, arts and crafts vendors, bands and activities for kids. If you get bored, stroll along the Cane River.

Information: natchitoches.net.

 

Gladewater Arts & Crafts Festival

Sept. 19-20, Gladewater

The annual event features dozens of vendors selling handcrafted items, including art, woodcraft, ceramics, dolls, needlework, jewelry and clothing.

Information: gladewaterchamber.org.

 

East Texas State Fair

Sept. 25-Oct. 4, Tyler

The East Texas State Fair includes all the traditional fun one would expect – crazy thrill rides, outrageous fair foods, livestock shows and crafts contests – and a lot of things you might not expect, such as giant sand castle sculpting, laser shows, an  escape artist and acrobatic dogs.

Information: etstatefair.com.

 

Texas State Fair

Sept. 25-Oct. 18, Dallas

Everyone should experience the super-size spectacle of the Texas State Fair at least once. Besides the huge midway, check out the auto show, where new models and concept cars are unveiled, and take in daily concerts. The action will really heat up when Texas and Oklahoma University face off at the annual Red River Showdown in the Cotton Bowl on Oct. 10.

Information: bigtex.com.

 

Uncle Fletch Davis Hamburger Festival

Sept. 26, Athens

Athens lays claim, thanks to a creation by Uncle Fletch Davis, to being the original home of the hamburger. Now the city celebrates its contribution to culinary history with a daylong hamburger cookoff and other events on the Henderson County courthouse lawn.

Information: unclefletchfestival.com.

 

Titus County Fair

Sept. 30-Oct. 3, Mount Pleasant

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the fair offers a midway with rides and games, livestock competitions, a bike rally, a special day to honor seniors, nightly entertainment, cooking competitions and arts and crafts displays.

Information: tituscountyfair.com.

 

Red River Revel Arts Festival

Oct. 4-11, Shreveport, Louisiana

The Red River Revel Arts Festival attracts 200,000 people to the Shreveport Riverfront over its eight days. The festival features more than 100 juried artists displaying creations, nearly two dozen food vendors, arts education programs and performances on three stages. An area for children has its own stage.

Information: redriverrevel.com.

 

Piney Woods Fair

Oct. 7-11, Nacogdoches

The fair includes a carnival midway, home canning, photography, livestock and agricultural competitions and cheer and dance team contests.

Information: nacexpo.net.

 

Fire Ant Festival

Oct. 9-11, Marshall

While most people hate pesky fire ants, this northeast Texas town celebrates them. The fire ant-inspired events include the Tour de Fire Ant Bike Ride, Fire Ant 5K, food, concerts and dance demonstrations.

Information: boogiewoogiemarshall.com.

 

Wild West Days

Oct. 10-11, Winnsboro

Old West re-enactment groups gather at Jack Cross Pavilion for shootout demonstrations, historical portrayals and competitions. There also will be food, music and vendors.

Information: facebook.com/WinnsboroWildWestDays.

 

Van Oil Festival

Oct. 10, Van

The Van Zandt County town celebrates its oil heritage with a parade followed by a downtown fair with musical performances, displays, arts and crafts, food and activities just for children.

Information: vantx.com.

 

Hawkins Oil Festival

Oct. 10, Hawkins

Hawkins is another town built on the riches of black gold. Its celebration includes a waffle breakfast, 5K Run, baby pageant, parade, Battle of the Bands and a street dance.

Information: hacoc.org.

 

Country Fest

Oct. 10, Lindale

The 32nd annual fall celebration begins with a pancake breakfast and 5K run. Crowds can browse through the arts and crafts and children’s area with giant inflatables. Bid on auction items and enjoy the food, live music and games.

Information: lindalechamber.org.

 

Chandler Pow Wow

Oct. 10, Chandler

Held on the second Saturday in October at Winchester Park, the event includes a parade, arts and crafts vendors, food, a pet costume contest and a sanctioned chili cookoff.

Information: chandlertx.com.

 

East Texas Oil & Gas Blast

Oct. 10, Carthage

Events at the Carthage Civic Center include a 5K run, Halloween costume contest, vendors, children’s play area and car show.

Information: carthagetexas.us.

 

Everything Texas Uncorked

Oct. 10, Mount Pleasant

Everything Texas Uncorked takes place at the Priefert Ranch, beginning with 15K, 5K and 1K runs and followed with a wine festival featuring food and wine, a special area for children and family-friendly games.

Information: mtpleasanttx.com.

 

Autumn Stroll Festival

Oct. 10, Canton

The downtown celebration offers fun and entertainment, a children’s play area, merchants, vendors and a barbecue cookoff competition.

Information: visitcantontx.com.

 

CountryFest

Oct. 10, Mount Vernon

CountryFest starts with a pancake breakfast and 5K run. Other events include a stew cookoff, car show, vendors, kids’ games, 42 tournament, music and, as its promoters are fond of saying “almost anything else you can think of.”

Information: texasforesttrail.com/.

 

East Texas Yamboree

Oct. 14-18, Gilmer

The Yamboree can claim the old “something for everyone” mantra perhaps better than any other celebration. It includes parades, cooking contests (how could you not have a yam pie baking contest), livestock shows, a downtown carnival, street dance, a 5K run appropriately called the Tater Trot, the crowning of Queen Yam and even a fiddler’s contest to boot.

Information: yamboree.com

 

Texas Rose Festival

Oct. 15-18, Tyler

Who doesn’t love roses? Tyler has been celebrating its rose-growing heritage since 1933. Visit the Rose Garden and Tyler Rose Museum. Look for roses in the lavish Rose Queen’s Coronation ceremony (think pretty costumes, music and stage), the Queen’s Tea and on the many floats in the 100-unit plus Rose Parade, one of the largest processions in the region.

Information: texasrosefestival.com.

 

Edom Festival of the Arts

Oct. 17-18, Edom

This small Van Zandt County town has long been known as an artisan community. The craftsmen who reside there are joined by about 60 others from throughout the region in an annual celebration of the arts that includes live music, food and art workshops.  

Information: edomfestivalofthearts.com.

 

Kerens Cotton Festival

Oct. 17, Kerens

The red brick main street comes alive with arts and crafts, food concessions, a tractor pull, quilt show, scarecrow contest, live entertainment and children’s activities.

Information: kerenscottonharvestfestival.com.

 

Heritage Festival

Oct. 17, Lufkin

Held in Lufkin Convention Center, the festival features food, music and children’s activities celebrating different customs and cultures.

Information: cityoflufkin.com.

 

Taste of Jefferson

Oct. 18, Jefferson

Beginning at noon, dine on Austin Street with food from Jefferson-area restaurants and hotels. A high point is the annual waiter’s race.

Information: jefferson-texas.com.

 

State Fair of Louisiana

Oct. 22-Nov. 8, Shreveport, Louisiana

The fairgrounds in Shreveport are filled with carnival rides, food booths and a midway packed with games. Among the special attractions are the State Fair Zoo, The Ultimate Dog Show, dozens of contests and a rodeo.

Information: statefairoflouisiana.com.

 

NatureFest

Oct. 23-24, Mineola, Nature Preserve

This is the festival for nature lovers. Events include storytelling around the campfire, stargazing, the Chasing Big Foot 5K, geocaching and programs on birds of prey, nature photography and woodland creatures.

Information: mineolanaturepreserve.com.

 

Feral Hog Festival

Oct. 23-24, Ben Wheeler

It doesn’t take much of a reason for the residents here to throw a party. The festival includes a wild hog cookoff and ear-piercing hog calling contest. It also has food, Hog Queens (no kidding) and as festival promoters like to say “more fun and live music than you can shake a stick at.”

Information: benwheelertx.com.

 

Wine in the Pines

Oct. 23-24, Mount Vernon, Texas

Sample products from about 20 Texas wineries set up on the downtown square, visit arts and crafts vendors and food concessions and enjoy live entertainment.

Information: mtvernonwine.com.

 

The Hot Pepper Festival

Oct. 24, Palestine

What would a Hot Pepper Festival be without a burn-your-mouth pepper eating contest? Craig Wayne Boyd, a winner of “The Voice” headlines the entertainment, which includes music throughout the day.

Information: visitpalestine.com.

 

Scarecrow Festival

Oct. 24, Kaufman

The celebration on the town’s square includes a parade, live bands, games, vendors, food trucks, magic shows, a bike stunt show, circus acts and a blood drive.

Information: kaufmanchamber.chambermaster.com. 

 

Festival of the Pumpkins

Oct. 24, Paris

Downtown Paris will be packed with activities, displays and vendors. Special attractions include the pumpkin decorating contest, children’s Halloween contest, pet pageant and petting zoo.

Information: paristexas.gov.

 

Sweet Potato Festival

Oct. 24, Golden

A sweet potato baking contest and a sweet potato auction celebrate Golden’s favorite fall crop. The festival includes arts and crafts vendors, food concessions, live entertainment, pageants and activities for children.

Information: goldensweetpotatofestival.org.

 

Heritage Syrup Festival

Nov. 14, Henderson.

At the Syrup Festival, one of largest folk life festivals in the area, mule-powered equipment makes old-fashioned cane syrup at the Depot Museum. You also can see yesteryear lace making, rope making, blacksmithing and wood carving demonstrations. If that’s not enough, downtown is filled with crafts and food vendors and entertainment.

Information: visithendersontx.com .

 

Danny Mogle also posts on etwired.com. TWITTER: @TMTDanny