GO & DO: Tomato Festival includes Neal McCoy concert; Hit the Bricks brings ice cream to the square

Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Festival goers shop for tomatoes during the 2018 Tomato Festival in Jacksonville. This year the event will take place on Saturday. (Jessica T. Payne/Tyler Paper)

Jacksonville celebrates its heritage of tomato-growing during the annual Tomato Festival on Friday and Saturday. 

On Friday night, ceremonies will mark the completion of renovations to Jacksonville ISD’s Tomato Bowl football stadium. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the renovated stadium will begin at 6 p.m. Country music star and Jacksonville native Neal McCoy will perform in a free concert at 8 p.m. followed by a fireworks show.



On Saturday, events will begin at 9 a.m. downtown and continue throughout the day. Attractions will include food and craft vendors, talent contest, car show, displays, kids play zone, and several tomato-related contests including, tomato peeling, tomato eating, making salsa and growing the best tomato.

The festival will end at 7 p.m. with a street dance and concert outside Chili’s Grill & Bar, 1225 S. Jackson, featuring Ina & the Warm Bodies and Tyler Dudley Band.

Hit the Bricks offers events downtown Saturday

Hit the Bricks, the monthly second Saturday event featuring activities and attractions in downtown Tyler takes place, this Saturday. 

Events on tap include: 

  • 7 a.m. to 5 pm: Cafe 1948, 110 N. College  Ave. in Tower Plaza building, will have specialty drink releases and live music;
  • 8 a.m to noon: Rose City Farmers Market takes place at 302 S. Broadway Ave.;
  • 9 to 11 a.m: ETX Brewing Co., 221 S. Broadway Ave., hosts Saturday Morning Cars & Tacos;
  • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: 903 Handmade, 253 S. Broadway Ave., presents the Hazie Sue Vintage Clothing Truck Show; 
  • 10 am to 5 p.m.: Goodman-LeGrand House & Museum, 624 N. Broadway Ave., holds  the Craft and Trade Show; 
  • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Discovery Science Place, 308 N. Broadway Ave. opens “Expedition Egypt,” an exhibit that explores the tomb of an unknown Pharaoh and how ancient Egyptian society influences culture today.
  • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Ye Old City Antique Mall holds a treasure hunt with gift certificates hidden around the mall;
  • 11 a.m.  to 2 p.m.: Summer Kick-Off 2019: Texas Ice Cream Festival on Butler Fountain Plaza;
  • noon to 4 p.m.: Smith County Historical Society, 125 S. College Ave., debuts an exhibit featuring the art of Tylerite A.C. Gentry Jr.; 
  • 2 to 10 p.m.: Heart of Tyler presents the Liberal Art & Music Festival with art, music and food trucks in the Spring Avenue Plaza, on the east side of the square;
  • 2 p.m. to midnight: ETX Brewing Co. 221 S. Broadway Ave., presents Mission 22 PTSD Awareness, an event that will include a silent auction and music;
  • 2 to 4 p.m: Tyler Public Library, 201 S. College Ave., holds a craft activity in its Makerspace;
  • 4 to 7 p.m.: Gallery Main Street, 110 W. Erwin St., holds a reception opening its 110@110 at Gallery Main Street fundraising exhibit;
  • 7 to 10 p.m.: Martin Walker P.C., 121 N. Spring Ave., hosts a reception marking the opening of 4 Show, a new exhibit in its gallery.

Gladewater Roundup Rodeo set for Friday, Saturday

The Gladewater Roundup Rodeo continues on Friday and Saturday at the rodeo arena on Highway 80. Gates open nightly at 6. 

The rodeo’s mutton bustin event for kids starts at 7:45 p.m. followed by cowboys competing in bull riding, bronc riding and calf roping. 

Tickets  can be purchased online at GladewaterRodeo.com or at the gate. A portion of proceeds from the Gladewater Round-Up Rodeo go to funding scholarships for students.

Grand Saline Salt Festival includes concert

Grand Saline, which sits atop a large salt dome, holds its annual Salt Festival on Saturday. 

Activities will take place throughout the day downtown and will include a parade at 10 a.m., vendors, a car show and competitions.  

The festival will end with a concert at 9 p.m. featuring Billie Jo and headliner Jason Boland & the Stragglers. 

Tea in the Garden

The Tyler Parks and Rec Department is hosting an afternoon tea from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Tyler Rose Garden. Participants will be served flavored teas and finger foods.

Admission is $30 and registration is required. People can register on line by going to tylerparksandrec.com’s page and clicking on the events and programs tab.

More information is available at 903-531-1214.

ALSO TAKING PLACE

Petting Zoo: Tyler Public Library, 201 S. College Ave., will have the Circle S. Petting Zoo in the parking lot from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday as part of its Fab Fridays summer series for children.   

Juneteenth Black Rodeo: Henderson County Black Rodeo Association will present its annual Juneteenth Black Rodeo 7:30 p.m. Friday at Henderson County Regional Fair Park Complex near Athens. 

Boat Show: The free Longview Summer Boat Show takes place from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex, 100 Grand Blvd., Longview.  

Pink Floyd Laser Show: A show featuring laser lights and special effects viewed through 3-D glasses and presented to the music of Pink Floyd is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Belcher Center on the campus of LeTourneau University in Longview. Tickets cost $25 or $30 and are available at belchercenter.com. 

NEW EXHIBITS

110@110: Gallery Main Street, 110 W. Erwin St., is making changes to its annual 6×6@110 exhibit and fundraiser, which opens Saturday. 

This year the event, renamed 110@110, will feature 110 pieces of art on 10×10 canvases by local artists. The exhibit pays tribute to the 10th anniversary of the gallery. 

All the art is for sale and the money raised will be used to support the gallery. 

Patrons will have the chance to view the art starting at noon. No sales will be permitted until 5:30 p.m. when a buzzer will indicate when buyers can claim their favorite pieces. Each piece will cost $50.

In years past, anyone could contribute art on small canvases that were put up for sale.

Art by A.C. Gentry Jr.: Smith County Historical Society Museum, 125 S. College Ave., will open a new exhibit on Saturday featuring the art of A.C. Gentry of Tyler.

For decades Gentry painted old barns, farmhouses and rural scenes in East Texas. He was named Texas State Artist for 1973-74 by the Texas State Legislature.

The museum will be open on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. A reception honoring Gentry is set from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

“Art by A.C. Gentry Jr.” will remain on view indefinitely.

Expedition Egypt: Discovery Science Place,308 N. Broadway Ave., will open “Expedition Egypt” on Saturday

The exhibit looks at the world of ancient Egypt including a recreated tomb of pharaoh and their process of mummifying the dead. Other displays explore how ancient Egypt continues to influence modern culture. 

The exhibit will remain on view through July 28. Admission is $2 for non-museum members.

4 Show: 4 Show, an exhibit featuring work by Texas artists Catherine Night, Kailan Counahan, Lisa Rachel Horlander and Dace Kidd, opens with a reception at 7 p.m. Saturday in the gallery at  Martin Walker P.C., 121 N. Spring Ave.

Artwork on view includes paintings, photography, sculpture and assemblage. The free exhibit will be on view through Sept. 8.

ALSO ON VIEW 

Tyler Museum of Art: On view at Tyler Museum of Art, 1300 S. Mahon Ave., are:

  • “Texas Birds: Works by Frank X. Tolbert 2.” Through Aug. 4.
  • “Floating Life: Mississippi River Drawings by Liz Ward.” Through  Aug. 25.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Information: 903-595-1001, tylermuseum.org.

Tyler Galleries: Tyler galleries with art on view include:

  • Gallery Main Street: 111 W. Erwin St. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and noon to 4 p.m. the second Saturday of each month. Information: 903-593-6905, gallerymainstreet@tylertexas.com.
  • Gold Leaf Gallery: Gold Leaf Gallery, 4518 S. Broadway Ave. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Information: 903-597-2645, goldleafgallery.com.
  • Valerosa Designs & Gallery, 108 E. Eighth St. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Information: 903-504-5249, valerosadesigns.com.

FARMERS MARKETS

There are three farmers markets in Tyler:

  • Rose City Farmers Market: 302 S. Broadway Ave., open Saturday.
  • East Texas State Fair Farmers Market, 2112 W. Front St., open Saturday and Tuesday.
  • Tyler Farmer’s Market, Loop 323 at Texas Highway 155, open Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday.