






























SINCE 2000

SINCE 2000
PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITOR
P.A. Geddie
CONTRIBUTORS
Jelly Cocanougher
Phedra Johnson
Kurt Ozan
Christina Federsen
Paul Swen
James French
Crag D Blackmon, FAIA
Paul Bellinger
Darrell Lindsey
Dan Jian
JD Cole
Shirley Gordon
Sharon Cromer
ADVERTISING pa.geddie@geddieconnections.com
Dear Readers,
At the center of the Upper East Side of Texas is Tyler, the Rose Capital of America. There are few people outside the city who live in this part of Texas who don’t have Tyler on their calendars for work, education, medical needs, shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Surrounded by small towns and rural countryside, Tyler rolls out the red carpet for those seeking a bit of bling and beauty in this part of the state. From the annual Texas Rose Festival, the Tyler Rose Garden, and the entire Rose Kingdom, to art, wineries, country clubs, golf courses, and upscale restaurants, the glitter effect is felt throughout the city and sprinkles out into nearby communities like Lindale and to the reflective waters of Lake Palestine.
Venturing out to the roads less traveled in the Upper East Side of Texas from Tyler, the bright lights give way to shimmering starry nights. One may find themselves arriving at some really cool destinations that are anything but dim.
Get information throughout this issue on venues bringing diverse entertainment to stages across the region this fall.
In the article Autumn in Motion, find an extensive list of performances, art exhibitions, annual festivals, concerts, and other community gatherings celebrating cooling weather and bountiful harvests. Find fall pumpkins and decorative hay bales fused with cultural influences of Native Americans and descendants of immigrants from around the world who settled this region and who together foster a sense of belonging and innovation.
Check out the Heritage Syrup Festival in Henderson, full of folk traditions, and the Winnsboro Cowboy Music and Poetry Gathering that turns the town into a thriving Western village for two days with award-winning storytellers and musicians taking center stage.
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County Line Magazine eEdition is published every other month, six times a year in digital format, with special editions as needed. Material may not be reproduced without written permission. Opinions expressed in articles or advertising appearing in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Mailing address: P.O. Box 705, Winnsboro, Terxas, 75494 Phone: (903) 312-9556. E-mail: pa.geddie@geddieconnections. com. Website: www.countylinemagazine.com. Advertising space may be purchased by calling (903) 312-9556. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement we deem incompatible with our mission.
The Greenville Municipal Auditorium is one such place as it has just completed some major renovations on its stage and house lights that promise to up the entertainment value of their venue considerably. Along with the lighting, a new sound system was added. The technological improvements opened the doors to bring in a wide range of performances, including legacy country acts, tribute bands, theatrical and ballet shows, and concerts by local and visiting musicians presenting chamber, symphony, and jazz.
Other entertainment venues in the region include Mount Vernon Music, bringing jazz, classical, tango, and other forms of music to audiences in Northeast Texas and to schools for educational opportunities. Their new season starts this month, as does Memorial City Hall Performance Center in Marshall with an eclectic line up that kicks off with Billy Bob Thornton on September 29.
Read about some people who made a big difference in this region’s significant contributions to American music and others who keep it going in a good creative direction today.
From country, blues, boogie woogie, to classical, jazz, and symphonies, the music here in the Upper East Side of Texas is as diverse as its people and the cultures they preserve and carefully blend with others.
On page 46, learn about The Journal of Texas History recently published by the Alliance for Texas History, whose mission is to foster a comprehensive understanding of Texas’ rich and diverse history.
Many thanks to the historians, artists, musicians, photographers, writers, and all the movers and shakers who get good things done for our region.
Enjoy this Autumn of 2025 with a bit of town and country, rhinestones and roses, bright lights and starry nights, and grits and gourmet here in the Upper East Side of Texas. — P.A. Geddie
By P.A. Geddie
The glitter that permeates the air coming out of the Rose Capital of America falls ever so slightly upon small towns across the Upper East Side of Texas. But nowhere else in the region does the bling shine brighter than in Tyler.
Each fall at the Texas Rose Festival, deserving queens wear royal rhinestonebeaded gowns adorned with 16-foot-long trains. The Rose Kingdom keeps the pageantry going throughout the year at the Tyler Rose Museum with displays of the elaborate gowns and memorabilia and interactive exhibits. The museum is the gateway to the world-famous Rose Garden featuring fourteen acres with thousands of rose bushes.
Tyler has other rose gardens and a beautiful Azalea District that features a floral
wonderland each spring with more than 10 miles of residential garden and historic home sites covered with azaleas, tulips, wisteria, and dogwood.
The Tyler Downtown Cultural District spans 400 acres with a thriving center of activity that includes concerts, car shows, arts, food, wine, brews, and about 30 local and national historic landmarks in a beautiful walkable setting. Anchored since 1954 by a Modern-styled courthouse building, downtown Tyler is getting a new courthouse set for completion in fall 2026. The old one is set for demolition to create more green space.
Walking around downtown Tyler, visitors find dozens of beautiful and creative murals and sculptures. A self-guided tour map is available and promises great photo opportunities.
Guests find restaurants with award-winning cuisine and tasteful indoor ambiance along with welcoming outdoor patio seating. There are popular coffee shops, wineries, and craft breweries, as well as shops specializing in baked goods, ice cream, and homemade tortillas.
Art Alley and several galleries display local works and traveling exhibits. Entertainment includes live music, plays, and a variety of shows at several venues and often in the open air at the center of the square. There are several museums and the Discovery Science Place for kids of
continued page 10
continued from page 8
all ages. Shoppers find apparel, jewelry, home decor, Western wear, flowers, candles, antiques, and vintage collections.
On the second Saturday of every month, an event called Hit the Bricks celebrates new and fun activities around the downtown square. Annual events in Tyler include the Azalea & Spring Flower Trail, Texas Rose Festival, Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival, and East Texas State Fair.
Venturing out from there, visitors find a wealth of unique lodging, dining options, parks, and attractions in Tyler and surrounding neighbors in Smith County.
Some highlights in Tyler include The Earth and Space Science Center, Lake Tyler, Caldwell Zoo, Tyler Museum of Art, and Rose Rudman Recreational Trail. For award-winning barbecue and great live music, Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue is a favorite destination.
Performing arts and other entertainment take place in Tyler at the Tyler Civic Theatre Center, Caldwell Auditorium, and the Cowan Center at the University of Texas. The East Texas Symphony Orchestra, Tyler Civic Chorale, and other performers present shows in various other venues in town.
Built in 1878, the exquisite Victorian McClendon House features tours and special events throughout the year. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the family home of famous journalist Sarah McClendon. Born in Tyler on July 8, 1910, she was the longest-serving White House reporter, voraciously asking U.S. presidents tough questions at news conferences for six decades.
The bling continues north of Tyler in Lindale, with a heartbeat of sweets, scenic views, and the sound of music. Famous for its 75-year-old homemade candy factory, its more recent claim to fame is the revitalized downtown Cannery
complex and inspiration from hometown girl and award-winning country music sensation Miranda Lambert. Guests enjoy The Pink Pistol, a Miranda memorabilia-filled lifestyle boutique with 6,000 square feet of glitter, gifts, souvenirs, and clothing. Visitors belly up to the bar in a tasting room featuring Miranda’s
Red 55 wine line or try homemade ice cream floats at the old-fashioned soda fountain.
Miranda’s impact on Lindale is also felt in her love for animals, making it an ideal destination for those traveling with pets. Near the Cannery complex, visitors find a leash-free dog park she designed.
Lindale is a registered Texas Music
Friendly Community with live country music several days a week and throughout the year on multiple stages. Special events draw thousands celebrating the city’s love for Texas music, food, wine, and spirits.
The town is surrounded by natural beauty, and scenic views are incorporated into downtown areas like Darden Harvest Park. The 170-acre Faulkner Park is just four miles north, featuring nature at its best.
Plenty of overnight lodging is available just a few miles from downtown Lindale and on the Cannery grounds.
To the east of Lindale is Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge, where visitors find tigers, lions, leopards, and other big cats. Other things to do near Lindale include Swan MX Raceway Park, the oldest continuously running motorcycle racetrack in Texas; Santa Land Christmas Wonderland; and Texas Rose Horse Park, a state-of-the-art horse show and multipurpose facility. Equestrian events are open to the public and other activities such as concerts and dog shows take place there throughout the year.
Tyler State Park is also close to Lindale, featuring a cool, 64-acre spring-fed lake, 100-foot-tall trees, and historic structures. A favorite getaway for many, activities include boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, geocaching, camping, birdwatching, and nature study.
Jellystone Park is also nearby, offering campsites, cabins, family and adult swimming pools, water zone, and an extensive list of activities for all ages.
To the northeast of Tyler is Stillwater RV Resort on 92 acres. It has 170 full hookup RV campsites, plus several RVs and a camp house to rent. On site are heated saltwater pools, a lazy river, an indoor lounge and bar, a dog park, game room, fitness center, general store, pickleball court, and playground.
Another popular getaway location in Smith County is High Hill Farm, near the tiny town of Arp. Visitors enjoy a cozy outdoor lounge overlooking a vineyard and swimming pool, private bungalows, and an on-site fine-dining restaucontinued page 12
RHINESTONES continued from page 11
rant. The chef serves fresh farm-to-table creations, with some ingredients coming from their own garden just steps away from the kitchen.
Bullard is a community 15 minutes south of Tyler. It has a charming historic downtown and two active parks. Near Bullard is the amazing Kiepersol, a Texas food, wine and spirits destination. A restaurant, tasting rooms and production facilities, vacation rentals, and an RV park are all set against a backdrop of beautiful vineyards.
Several other vineyards and wineries are in Smith County, including Briar Creek Vineyards, Rio Neches (formerly Pelle Legna), and M6 Winery. Local breweries are creating award-winning beers at several locations as well, including ETX Brewing and True Vine Brewing.
Destination dining experiences in the area include Culture ETX, The Potpourri House, The Grove Kitchen & Gardens, Villa Montez, and The Foundry Coffee House. Janie’s Cakes and Greenberg Turkeys are world-famous culinary favorites made in Tyler.
The Smith County Historical Society has a museum in a 1904 Carnegie Library building that exhibits information, photos, and memorabilia showcasing the history of the county.
One noted historic landmark in Tyler is Oakwood Cemetery, established in 1849. During the Civil War, 30,000 soldiers trained near Tyler. More than 200 of them died from measles, pneumonia, and other diseases, and are buried in the “Soldiers’ Plot” in Oakwood. Another section honors many people who were enslaved buried there with a monument.
Regarded as the grandmother of women’s suffrage in Tyler, Mary Louise McKeller Herndon is also buried there. In 1913, Herndon organized the Smith County Equal Suffrage League to initiate an amendment push. The Texas Legislature voted in 1918 to ratify what would become the Nineteenth Amendment to
Restaurants like The Grove (top left) in Tyler provide ample culinary options. Lindale Candy Company (bottom left), Photo by craig D blackmon, Faia Lake Palestine(opposite).
the Constitution, making Texas the first Southern state to do so. Herndon died in 1919, having seen women vote in primaries, but not in general elections.
An annual event, Spirits of Oakwood Walking Tours, takes place each spring where visitors get to know area historic figures. The City of Tyler also provides a self-guided tour brochure.
Over at Rose Hill Cemetery, visitors find the unusual grave of Doctor Madge Ward, who lived a grand life full of music and often had a keyboard at her fingertips. Chronicles of her life say she taught piano in Tyler public schools and entertained throughout her life at hotels, resorts, dinner clubs, and cruise ships all over the world.
She also performed in and around East Texas, including a stint at Camp Fannin where she helped provide activities for the soldiers.
Born in Cherokee County on August 22,
1911, she received her master’s degree from Southern Methodist University, studied at Fontainebleau in Paris, France, and received a doctorate from Southern College of Fine Arts in St. Louis.
She wanted a grand piano mausoleum as her gravesite marker, and after some deliberation with city and cemetery officials, permission was granted.
She was buried underneath a granite piano after her death on May 4, 1995, at the age of 83. It is eight feet tall and weighs 25 tons, with another 12 tons of concrete in the foundation. Her casket lies under the piano legs.
Heading over to Lake Palestine takes drivers through Noonday, where farmers grow one of the sweetest onions in America. Certified Noonday Sweet Onions are grown within a 10-mile radius of Noonday, Texas, and are shipped all over the country. They are also popular at regional farmers’ markets and roadside stands.
Lake Palestine has a surface area of more than 23,000 acres in parts of Anderson, Cherokee, Henderson, and Smith counties. It has many marinas and camping areas, and several golf courses. The Villages Resort at Lake Palestine is a popular getaway destination with loads of water sports and other activities including scenic horseback trail rides, 18hole mini-golf course, and a year-round indoor waterpark. Overnight accommodations are available. Nearby is the Lake O’ the Woods Resort at Lake Palestine, with quaint, rustic cabins tucked into the woods and activities that include fishing, boating, and hiking nature trails.
Tyler and the surrounding area is a great place to stop and smell the roses with plenty of sparkle in the air.
This article comes from the book, Upper East Side of Texas: Small Towns and Cultural Districts. The book contains more than 300 photographs and commentary on the history, scenery, art, and agriculture of the region. Go to www.SpeckledCrow.com to find it in shops or on Amazon.
E X P E R I E N C E
Discover the charm of Greenville, Texas. Smalltown hospitality meets big-time fun. From historic downtown to scenic parks and lively events, enjoyment awaits around every corner.
Greenville, Texas’ history as a center for high quality entertainment goes back to the 1800s. Multiple opera houses merged with strong farming operations, fusing an arts and agriculture vibe that continues today. Market Square is not only home to a thriving seasonal farmers’ market, but a summer weekly music series and other creative events.
Other special events featuring performing arts in downtown Greenville include the Hunt County Festival of the Arts in the spring, the Lee Street Jamboree in September, and the Bob Wills Fiddle Festival and Contest in November.
Multiple venues in Greenville feature live music every week. Greenville Theatre Works performs a new season of plays each year, and the Greenville Chamber Music Society and Greenville Pops Orchestra present chamber music and jazz. Local dance companies are scheduled to perform as well.
The cornerstone of entertainment in the area is the Greenville Municipal Auditorium (GMA). The stately building is representative of Art Deco and Modern architecture and was originally completed in 1939.
During its 85 year history, its stage has hosted stars like Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra, Elvis Presley, and Van Cliburn. Country superstars later began performing there including Charlie Pride, Loretta Lynn, Travis Tritt, Merle Haggard, Don Williams, Tanya Tucker, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and Asleep at the Wheel.
In February this year, the GMA temporarily closed its doors for some major upgrades. The lighting, rigging, sound, and house systems were all replaced this summer with top-of-the-line equipment that is set to tremendously improve experiences for audiences and performers alike.
Community Engagement Director Micah McBay who has overseen the improvements
“Night at the Movies” (above) brings blockbusters to life with a live orchestra on October 3 at the GMA. The Greenville Municipal Auditorium (opposite page) welcomes thousands of guests through its doors each year to enjoy top quality entertainment.
with the contractor Digital Resources, Inc. (DRI), says ticket holders are going to enjoy GMA shows more than ever.
“First, they’ll notice the house is much brighter,” he says. “The old houselights were dim, and our new lights are significantly brighter, and it makes a big difference when you’re coming in before a show.
“Second, they’ll notice the overall lighting on the stage is vastly improved. (In the past) performers for concerts or plays were often in shadows and not well lit. While the audience could see them, the details of faces, clothing, etc. were unclear and shadowed. With our new system this
will no longer be the case. Additionally, our new system includes multiple intelligent lights, so we will be able to do effects like you’d see in other concert venues, like lights sweeping across the stage, and color changes.”
Besides the upgraded lighting, McBay says the sound system is state-of-the-art.
“We believe the GMA is the sixth venue in the world to house this new system from L-Acoustics. Part of the sound upgrade also includes new acoustic paneling throughout the house that will greatly improve the overall acoustics in the venue. The difference in sound quality with the new setup will be exponentially better.”
These changes open the door to inviting a broader range of performers than they could in the past.
“This new system is quite incredible and
artists are going to want to come in and play our venue because the sound and lighting is going to be amazing,” McBay says. “Essentially, they’re getting the intimacy and history of the GMA with the tech systems of a venue like the AT&T Arena. Clearly, the AT&T is much larger and has far more bells and whistles, but we will be able to replicate and match some of the tech capabilities of a larger venue in our more intimate and unique space.
“From a theatrical perspective, our new equipment will allow us to create more immersive theatre experiences that more closely resemble Broadway caliber performances.
“Add in our free parking, historic downtown, and rapidly growing retail and restaurant scene and it’s a recipe for future success.”
The shows coming to the GMA starting this fall include some legacy country acts, tribute bands, theatrical and ballet performances, and concerts by local and visiting musicians presenting chamber, symphony, and jazz.
The GMA is also bringing in four educational shows for area students to include the East Texas A&M University band; Texas Shakespeare out of Kilgore performing Julius Caesar; Ballet Frontier of Texas; and Texas Comedies performs an original musical comedy based on actual Texas history called The Crash at Crush.
The public is invited to see all the changes at a grand opening at 7 p.m. September 25.
Get details on all the shows scheduled in the coming year on www.ShowtimeattheGMA.com.
TANGO NUEBO
Saturday, September 13, 2025, 7:30 pm
Highland Springs, 7910 Frankford Road, Dallas
Saturday, September 14, 2025, 2:30 pm, Mount Vernon Music Hall
Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony play Piazzolla. Nikayla Kim and Mark Miller, violins; Ute Miller, viola; Jenny Kwak, cello; William Clay, double bass What if there was such a perfect blend of jazz, classical and tango music that just hearing it made us want to dance?
WADE IN THE WATER
Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 7:30 pm, Mount Vernon Music Hall
Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 2:30 pm
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2024 S. Collins St., Arlington Vocal Ensemble BELIEVERS of WORSHIP with Devotional String Quartet. Believers of Worship Gospel Choir (October 11 only); Mark Miller and Andres Bravo, violins; Ute Miller, viola; either or Laura Ospina, cello. What if we all made the message of the Gospel unmistakable by living it, playing it and singing it?
SOUNDS OF SPIRIT
Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 7:30 pm, Dallas venue TBA.
Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 2:30 pm, Mount Vernon Music Hall
Monday, February 21, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Municipal Auditorium, 2821 Washington St, Greenville Greenville Chamber Music Society
Leon Turner, baritone; NN, piano; Mark Miller and Andres Bravo, violins; Ute Miller, viola; Laura Ospina, cello; Drew Lang, percussion Dvorak listened to Harry Burleigh, and declared that the Black spiritual provided the basis of an American classical music heritage. What if America had followed his advice?
VITA BREVIS: MOZART AND BOULANGER
Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 7:30 pm, Mount Vernon Music Hall
Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 2:30 pm, Dallas venue TBA.
Evan Mitchell, piano; Mark Miller and Andres Bravo, violins; Ute Miller, viola; Laura Ospina, cello; Jack Unzicker, double bass
Rome Prize winner Lili Boulanger lived a scant 24 years, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart only until his mid-thirties. What might the legacy have been from such brilliant and creative lives if they had not been cut short?
HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 7:30 pm, Mount Vernon Music Hall Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 2:30 pm, Dallas venue TBA.
Evan Mitchell, piano; Mark Miller and Andres Bravo, violins; Ute Miller, viola; Noemie Golubovic, cello. With scholarship winners
All triumphs are our triumphs, all beauty is a part of our own heritage. What if our appreciation of the arts always embraced the many threads of our cultural tapestry?
FAMILY CONCERT
Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 11:00 am, Mount Vernon Music Hall
Sharon Lacey, oboe; Mark Miller, violin; Andres Bravo, violin; Ute Miller, viola; Laura Ospina, cello; NN, piano. With scholarship winners. Once upon our time there was a composer named Bruce Adolphe. What if we could expand imagination by using the power of music to tell stories?
CLARINET APPEAL
Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 7:30 pm, Mount Vernon Music Hall Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 3:00 pm
The Old Frankford Church 17400 Muirfield Dr, Dallas, TX 75287
Ivan Petruzziello, clarinet; Mark Miller and Andres Bravo, violins; Ute Miller, viola; Laura Ospina, cello. With scholarship winners. Fanny Mendelssohn and her brother Felix both composed brilliant music, but due to expectations of the time only his was published. What if social conventions had been different, and it was common place for our favorite masterworks, like Mozart’s incredible Clarinet Quintet, to share the program with music written by women?
Events are subject to change. Visit MountVernonMusic.org for latest information about upcoming events, to purchase tickets, become a member, or make a donation.
To everything there is a season and autumn in the Upper East Side of Texas is about as good as it gets when it comes for a time to play. This region has long been home to community gatherings in celebration of cooling weather, colorful turning of the leaves, and the rewards of the farmers’ bounty after a long stretch of hard work in grueling temperatures. Over the years, community organizers began many autumn celebrations that have grown and still continue today. Some of the oldest are the East Texas State Fair, Texas Rose Festival, East Texas Yamboree, Autumn Trails, Hopkins County Fall Festival and Stew Contest, Edom Art Festival, Salt Festival, Edgewood Heritage Festival, Great Texas Balloon Race, Hot Pepper Festival, and Sweet Potato Festival.
Other popular events preserve the cultural heritage of the natives and immigrants
of this region while integrating elements of the old and new to create fall traditions that foster a sense of continuity, belonging, and innovation. Fusing with a background of fall pumpkins and decorative hay bales are cultural influences of African, Asian, German, Mexican, Scottish, Irish, Czech, and Native American relatives.
Many other celebrations stood the test of time and combined with the growing number of new annual events; pop up fairs; art exhibitions; live music, theatre, and other entertainment; and brews, wine, and culinary gatherings, the region is full of activities that keep things fun.
Start filling up your fall calendars with these events and be sure to check in with each of the region’s individual town visitor websites throughout the season to keep spicing things up.
Through September 13
Visitation Triptych. Longview. Works by renowned Texas artists and husband/ wife team Philana Oliphant and James Pace, in collaboration with their daughter Aza Pace. Longview Museum of Fine Arts. www.lmfa.org
Through September 20
Women in the Arts. Winnsboro Center for the Arts. www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com
Through November 30
Making a Mark: Women in Early
continued page 24
Texas Art. Tyler Museum of Art. www. tylermuseum.org
Through December 20
Six Degrees of Separation. Longview. An art history take on the party game of the same name. Longview Museum of Fine Arts. www.lmfa.org
September 1
Lee Mathis and The Brutally Handsome. Longview. Labor Day Downtown Live. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com
September 4
Darrin Morris. Palestine. Acoustic music, cold beer, food trucks, and concessions. Farmers Market Pavilion. www. visitpalestine.com
September 4-13
Gregg County Fair. Longview. Longview Fairgrounds/Longview Exhibit Center. www.greggcountyfair.com
September 5
Down Home Band. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com
September 5-7 and 12-14
The Crucible. Athens. Stage Notes Academy of Performing Arts. www. stagenotesapa.com
September 6
The Great Cardboard Boat Race. Longview. Teague Park. www.visitlongviewtexas.com
Saturdays on Main. Palestine. Shopping, dining, public art. Downtown. www.visitpalestine.com
Airplanes and Coffee. Sulphur Springs. Day of aviation fun. www.visitsulphurspringstx.org
September 11
Open Mic Night. Winnsboro Center for the Arts. www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com.
Septemer 11-20
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Athens. The show is a 1955 three-act play by Tennessee Williams, an adaptation of Williams’ 1952 short story “Three Players of a Summer Game.” One of Williams’ more famous works, the play won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955. Set in a plan-
tation home in the Mississippi Delta of a wealthy cotton tycoon Big Daddy Pollitt, the play examines the relationships among members of Big Daddy’s family, primarily between his son Brick and Brick’s wife Maggie. Henderson County Performing Arts Center. www.hcpac.org.
September 12
Nik Parr & The Selfless Lovers. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com
September 12-13
Tyler Film Fest. Liberty Hall. www.tylerfilmfest.com
Old Town Rig Down. Nacogdoches. This family-friendly, one-of-a-kind event is open to the public and features an exciting display of big rigs, show trucks, and custom semis, all polished to perfection, plus live music, food vendors, and more. www.visitnacogdoches.org
Paris Balloon and Music Festival. Hot air balloons, live music, marketplace, food trucks, and more. Lamar County Fairgrounds. www.parisballoonandmusicfestival.com.
September 12-14 and 19-21
Melodies of Broadway. Sulphur Springs. Main Street Community Theatre. www.communityplayersinc.com
September 13
Band of Heathens. Longview. Longview Museum of Fine Arts. www. lmfa.org
Kayla Ray and Charlie Stout. Winnsboro Center for the Arts. www. winnsborocenterforthearts.com
Dogwood Jamboree. Palestine. Branson-style country music show. Palestine High School Auditorium. www.visitpalestine.com
Tyler Art Festival. Caldwell Arts Academy. www.visittyler.com.
September 14
Tango Nuevo. Mount Vernon. Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony play Piazzolla — jazz, classical, and tango. Mount Vernon Music. www.mountvernonmusic.org.
September 19
Curtis Grimes. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com
Piney Woods Evening Dinner
Train. Palestine. Enjoy a scenic twilight train ride, followed by a savory catered dinner beneath the stars. Indulge in appetizers, a champagne or cider toast, dessert, and refreshments with Texas State Railroad. www.texasstaterailroad.net
Red Not Chili Peppers. Tyler. Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue. www.stanleysfamous.com.
September 19-28
East Texas State Fair. Tyler. Beer garden, agriculture, food row, petting zoo, live music, www.etstatefair.com
September 20
Pints in the Pines. Palestine. A vintage train and beer-tasting adventure. Sample local brews, enjoy appetizers, a catered dinner, and dessert. Alternative drinks are available. Texas State Railroad. www. texasstaterailroad.net.
Andie Kay Joyner. Ben Wheeler. The Forge Bar & Grill. www.theforgebenwheeler.com
September 20
Tyler Songwriters Festival 2025. A day-long dive into what makes a song great and how to write one. The workshop is designed for both beginning and seasoned songwriters, as well as for the song enthusiast, with a desire to examine and explore the building blocks of songwriting, including song structure, lyrical content, melodic composition and rhythm and tempo. Workshop from 9-4 p.m. with Songwriters in the Round at 8 p.m. featuring Songwriters in the Round, 8 p.m. with Lauren Alexander, Dave Sherman, Matt Magill, Caleb Joseph, Connie Mims Pinkerton, Clint Alford, Gary Patrick, and Randy Morrison. The Listening Lounge. www.visittyler.com
Lee Street Jamboree. Greenville. Free, family-friendly street party with live music under the stars. Southall performs Southern rock and Americana starting at 8 p.m. www.travelgreenvilletx.com
Cotton Patch Challenge Bike Ride. Greenville. Bike ride features six different courses ranging from 12 miles to 74 miles with the two longest routes crossing over nearby Lake Tawakoni. All routes start and finish in Downtown Greenville. www.cottonpatchchallenge.com
Terrell Mural Walk. Downtown Terrell. www.discoverterrell.com.
Stella Cole. Tyler. UT Cowan Center. www.cowancenter.org
September 24-November 15
Cowboy Tales. Winnsboro Center for the Arts. www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com
September 26
Clint & The Cosmic Wake. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas. com
Tyler Halverson. Tyler. Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue. www.stanleysfamous. com
I’m With Her. Dallas. Majestic Theatre. www.majestic.dallasculture.org
September 26-27
Winnsboro Cowboy Music and Poetry Gathering. Concerts and presentations by top entertainers, free Western fun activities for the whole family, and a juried cowboy-themed art exhibition. www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com
September 26-27
Boogie Woogie Marshall. Weekend events include Boogie Woogie influenced music and artist tributes and a documentary for Lead Belly along with visits to his gravesite, plus an unveiling of the Lead Belly Room at the Boogie Woogie Museum. Performing artists for Boogie Woogie Marshall include Carl “Sonny” Leyland, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Dr. Daryl Davis, Liz Pennock & Dr. Blues, Guy
Davis, Mark Puryear, Wes Jeans, and Dr. John Tennison. Memorial City Hall Performance Center. www.BoogieWoogie. org
September 26-October 19
State Fair of Texas. Dallas. The oldest state fair in America, featuring food, carnival rides, livestock shows, concerts, and more. The Art Deco buildings were built in 1936, housing exhibits, museums, and entertainment. bigtex.com
September 27
Hard Days Night. Athens. Beatles tribute. The Texan www.thetexanathens. com
Dutch Oven Contest & Indian Summer. Sulphur Springs. Teams of cooks prepare a meat, vegetable, bread, and dessert on-site. All buildings are open with hosts in period clothing including the blacksmith shop, general store, bakery, and print shop. Hopkins County Heritage Park. www.hopkinsmuseum. org.
Neal McCoy’s Angel Network 2025. Longview. LeTourneau University Belcher Center. www.belchercenter.com
September 29
Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters. Marshall. Memorial City Hall Performance Center. www.memorialcityhall.com
October Weekends
Kadee Tree Farm Pumpkin Patch. Greenville. Hay rides, parties, maze, and fall activities. www.kadeefarm.com.
October 2
ArtWalk. Longview. www.artwalklongview.com
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com.
Lucas Nelson. Dallas. Majestic Theatre. www.majestic.dallasculture.org
October 2-5
Texas Sounds International Country Music Awards. Marshall. Memorial City Hall Performance Center. www. memorialcityhall.com
First Monday Trade Days. Canton. www.firstmondaycanton.com
October 3
Night at the Movies. Greenville Chamber Music Society. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com
Probable Cause. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com
Sunny Sweeney. Tyler. Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue. www.stanleysfamous. com
October 4
Saturdays on Main. Palestine. Shopping, dining, public art. Downtown. www.visitpalestine.com
Paint Palestine Pink. 10.5 mile, 5k, and 1 mile fun run. www.paintpalestinepink.org.
Taste of Winnsboro. A celebration of small-town charm and big-time flavors. Local businesses are joining together for an evening of tastings, live music, and entertainment in the Bowery Pedestrian Park of downtown Winnsboro. www. facebook.com/tasteofwinnsborotx.
Oktober Fest. Eagle’s Nest Mini Golf. www.eaglesnestminigolf.com
Moo Moos and Mimosas. Gilmer. Hand crafted mimosas and brunch with
music by Drifted Harmony. Moo moo attire encouraged. Rowdy Creek Ranch. www.rowdycreekranch.com
Great Pumpkin Roll. Longview. Downtown. www.visitlongviewtexas. com.
October 4-26 Weekends
Autumn Trails. Winnsboro. Activities include trail rides, tractor pull, rodeos, games, contests including pie eating and beard and mustache, parades, arts and crafts, car shows, pet show, and much more. Get the full schedule on www. winnsboroautumntrails.com
October 7
Rob Lowe. Tyler. UT Cowan Center. www.cowancenter.org
October 9
“Boob Tube” Bras for the Cause. Greenville. Annual fundraiser for Hunt Regional Hospital. www.b4tchuntcounty.com
October 9-25
Hopkins County Fall Festival. Sulphur Springs. Carnival, parade, crafts, kids’ zone, exhibits. Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. www.visitsulphurspringstx.org
October 10
Alex and Liv Music. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com.
October 11
Fire Ant Festival. Marshall. One of America’s most unusual festivals, entertainment includes a Diaper Derby, Chicken Chunking contest, FireAnt Calling contest, as well as Tour De FireAnt bike ride, scavenger hunt and dozens of vendors. www.marshalltexas.com/ fireant-festival
Randy Rogers Band. Tyler. UT Cowan Center. www.cowancenter.org
Believers of Worship. Mount Vernon. Vocal ensemble Believers of Worship with Devotional String Quartets. Mount Vernon Music. www.mountvernonmusic.org
Masterpieces and Martinis. Longview. An evening of refined indulgence with expertly crafted cocktails, dinner, live auction and music by Endolena. Longview Museum of Fine Arts. www.lmfa.org
Gene Watson. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma. com
continued page 28
Nov. 1,
Little Texas. Marshall. Memorial City Hall Performance Center. www.memorialcityhall.com
Main Street Uncorked Wine, Art, & Music Festival. Sulphur Springs. Celebration Plaza. www.uncorkedsstx.com.
Foo Fighters Tribute. Athens. The Texan. www.thetexanathens.com
Oktoberfest. Kilgore. www.visitkilgore.com
October 11-12
Edom Art Festival. www.edomarts. com
East Texas Cultural Fest. Longview. Entertainment, food, beer garden, costume contests, petting zoo, arts, crafts, cultural dances. Heritage Plaza. www. visitlongviewtexas.com.
October 14
Crystal Gayle. Marshall. Memorial City Hall Performance Center. www.memorialcityhall.com
October 15-18
East Texas Yamboree. Gilmer. Queen’s coronation, carnival, parades, live music, barn dance, car show, fiddler’s contest, exhibits, livestock show and sale, arts and crafts. www.yamboree.com
October 16
Crystal Gayle. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma. com
October 16-19
Texas Rose Festival. Tyler. This 91st annual event is rich in heritage and tradition with ceremonial events including the Queen’s Coronation, Rose Presentation, the Queen’s Tea, and the Rose Parade. www.texasrosefestival.org
October 17
Ruthie Foster. Longview Museum of Fine Arts. www.lmfa.org.
Rick Brown and the Lonestar Bootleggers. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com
October 17-18
Piney Woods Wine Festival. Lindale. Picker’s Pavilion at Blackberry Square. www.visitlindale.com
Nature Fest. Mineola. Campfires, Creature Teacher, Promise of Peace Gardens, Tribes of Tejas ceremony, Native American hoop dance, nature photography. www.mineolanaturepreserve.com
October 17-26
Bonnie & Clyde the Musical. Palestine. Texas Theatre. www.thetexastheater.com
October 18
Prowl-O-Ween. Tyler. Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary. www.tigercreek.org
October 19
The Melodies of Nature. Greenville Chamber Music Society. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com
October 21
The Addams Family: A Musical Comedy. Tyler. UT Cowan Center. www.cowancenter.org
October 24
Tuxedo Cats. Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com.
NEEDTOBREATHE. Tyler. UT Cowan Center. www.cowancenter.org
Wine in the Pines. Palestine. An adultsonly train journey through the Piney Woods of East Texas while enjoying local wine samples, a moonlit ride, and dinner under the stars at the Rusk Depot. Complimentary appetizers, a keepsake wine glass, and a variety of beverages available onboard. www.texasstaterailroad.net
John Conlee. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com
October 24-25
Fall Feral Hog Festival. Ben Wheeler. The official Wild Hog Capital of Texas with a hog queen’s pageant, parade, live music, cook-off, kids zone, pig races, hog calling contest, and more. This year’s them is Sow Wars: The Pork Awakens. FB/FallFeralHogFestival
Herrington Memorial Rodeo. Palestine. The Herrington Memorial Rodeo brings thrilling rodeo action, live music, and exciting contests. Anderson County Youth Livestock Arena. www.andersoncyla.com
Hot Pepper Festival. Palestine. The 46th annual event brings live music, food vendors, car show, chili cook-off, and the famous pepper-eating contest. www.palestinechamber.org
October 25
Royal Women of Country. Marshall. Memorial City Hall Performance Center. www.memorialcityhall.com.
Uncorked Food & Wine Festival. Mount Pleasant. Caldwell Park. www. mtpleasanttx.com
Fall Fantasy Faire. Greenville. A Library Renaissance Festival. W. Walworth Harrison Public Library. www.facebook. com/greenvilletxlibrary
The Spooky Special. Palestine. AdultsOnly Halloween Costume Party on the
Rails with appetizers, a champagne/cider toast, a catered dinner, dessert, and dancing to a live DJ at the Rusk Depot. Costume contests, spooky tunes, and drinks available for purchase. Texas State Railroad. www.texasstaterailroad.net.
Corvette Show. Sulphur Springs. www. facebook.com/sulphurspringscorvetteclub
World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest. Sulphur Springs. Teams compete in a campsite atmosphere with gingham, denim, and calico-clad men and women stirring simmering pots and stoking glowing campfires. Buford Park. www.sulphursprings-tx.com
October 30
Disney’s Moana Live-to-Film Concert. Tyler. UT Cowan Center. www. cowancenter.org
October 30-November 2
First Monday Trade Days. Canton. www.firstmondaycanton.com
October 31
Jenn Ford and Wide Eyed Devils.
Longview. Heritage Plaza. www.visitlongviewtexas.com
October 31-November 1
Bob Wills Fiddle Festival & Contest. Greenville. Fiddle contest, concerts by Red Steagall and The Boys in the Bunkhouse, Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys under the direction of Jason Roberts, Dave Alexander Band with the Bob Wills Fest Western swing Orchestra. Outdoor concerts with The Western Flyers, The Soda Crackers, Georgia Parker Swing Band, and The Last Band Standing. An associated pre-event takes place October 30 with a documentary movie, The Birth & History of Western Swing. Events are at Market Square, Greenville Municipal Auditorium, and Texan Theater. www. bobwillsfest.com.
November 1
Dia de los Muertos. Nacogdoches. live music, dazzling dance performances, delicious food and drink, and a variety of local vendors. Festival Park. www.visitnacogdoches.org
Wesley Pruitt Band. Athens. The Texan. www.thetexanathens.com
November 4
Texas Shakespeare presents Julius Caesar. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com
November 7-8
Winnsboro Art & Wine Festival. Juried artists, award-winning wines, specialty foods, and live music. www.winnsboroartandwinefestival.com
November 8
Dueling Pianos: The Eighty Eights. Athens. The Texan. www.thetexanathens.com
Eldred Marshall. Virtuoso pianist takes the stage for solo evening. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com
Heritage Syrup Festival. Henderson. Syrup making, blacksmiths, tractor show, broom makers, storytellers, and folk musicians. www.visithendersontx.com
48th Edgewood Heritage Festival. Heritage Park Museum of East Texas. www.heritageparkmuseumofetx.org
The Annual Heritage Syrup Festival takes place on November 8 this year in Henderson featuring the folk tradition of syrup making and other activities that offer a nostalgic peek at days of old. The celebration of gooey goodness draws roughly 30,000 visitors to the Depot Museum grounds and historic downtown Henderson, the official “Syrup Capital of Texas.”
The Depot Museum at 514 N. High Street features heritage demonstrations and artisan goods on its five-acre historic grounds while Henderson’s Main Street district offers a street fair along 12 city blocks with a variety of modern goods and street foods.
Just one acre of sugarcane produces 500 to 600 gallons of syrup. A week before the festival the museum purchases 2,000 of the sweet stalks in preparation. The volunteer syrup-making team uses traditional methods and equipment. Some educate the public and explain the process which begins by feeding the stalks of sugarcane into a crusher. A mule powers the crusher by walking in a wide circle known as the crushing mill sweep.
After crushing, the cane juice flows through a pipe and travels below the ground to a
pump a few yards away. A fire fighter feeds the stove with kindling to keep the flames hot while the cane juice flows gradually into a large copper pan. Volunteers use longhandled paddles to skim pieces of stalk and push the juice while it cooks slowly.
The cooking thickens the juice to a tenth of its original volume, making one gallon of syrup for every 10 gallons of cane juice. After cooking, the syrup is removed from the pan and allowed to cool, then canned in metal pails. Syrup is available for purchase inside the museum all year long.
Syrup making is just one of many folk arts at the annual festival. Visitors can see demonstrations by blacksmiths, broom makers, spinners, and flintknappers, who make arrowheads. Storytellers and folk musicians perform on the grounds where there’s also an antique tractor and engine show.
The Depot Museum grounds include 12 or more historic structures. Some are open the day of the festival, including the Beall Ross House, an operating print shop and a saw mill, cotton gin, and carousel. A Native American teepee, the Walling cabin, the Arnold Outhouse, an old saw mill, a
make syrup the old-fashioned way
train caboose, an oil derrick, and an old dry goods store are also on display.
The festival’s Main Street portion of the day includes activities with arts and crafts booths, retail vendor booths, food, antique and classic car exhibits, musical entertainment, cloggers and square dancers, and the Howard Dickinson House and Museum. Children’s activities include pony rides, face painting, and inflatables such as bounce houses and slides.
Admission for syrup making at the Depot Museum is $3 for adults, $1 for children, and free for veterans. There is no admission charge to the downtown events. For information visit www.visithendersontx.com or call (866) 650-5529.
For more information about the Depot Museum and adjoining Children’s Discovery Center, visit www.depotmuseum.com. Call (903) 657-4303 to confirm availability of outdoor tours.
Winnsboro Center for the Arts (WCA) presents the 2025 Winnsboro Cowboy Music and Poetry Gathering on Friday and Saturday, September 26 and 27 with concerts and presentations by top entertainers, free Western fun activities for the whole family, and a juried cowboythemed art exhibition. The event takes place in multiple downtown locations combining cowboy culture and artistry, and drawing the finest cowboy poets, storytellers, and musicians from Texas and beyond.
This year’s lineup includes the best-of-thebest in the cowboy music and poetry industry. Friday kicks off at 1 p.m. with Cowboy Culture Conversations featuring Pipp Gillette, a Texas rancher, cowboy musician and winner of several Western Heritage Awards, in conversation with Andy Hedges, who has performed his cowboy music at both the Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall. In this conversation, Hedges, who grew up tending cattle in small-town Texas, talks with Gillette about merging his music and love of the cowboy lifestyle with working the family ranch near Lovelady, Texas, land that in Gillette’s family since 1912.
Cowboy Poetry and Cowboy Songs with Jay Snider, Teresa Burleson, and Bob Campbell is at 4 p.m. Friday. Snider is currently serving his second year as the Poet Laureate of Oklahoma and is a past bull riding champion, which brings an authentic cowboy experience to his poetry. Burleson is a two-time International Western Music Association (IWMA) Female Poet of the Year and serves as director of the Stockyards Museum at the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. Campbell is an award-winning songwriter, renowned for his performances of traditional cowboy and folk ballads from Texas and the American West.
Vendors are set up in the Bowery Pedestrian Park from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
An Evening of Song & Chili takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday. All-you-can-eat chili tickets are $10 for adults/teens and $5 for children 12 and under.
The Friday Evening Cowboy Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. with three award-winning performers. Pipp Gillette returns to The Bowery Stage along with Kristyn Harris and Andy Wilkinson. Harris is the current (and
seven-time winner) of the IWMA Female Performer of the Year and five-time Entertainer of the Year. Wilkinson is a poet, playwright, teacher, writer and singer of Western folk music from Lubbock, Texas.
Activities in the Bowery Pedestrian Park and a pop up Cowboy Camp on Saturday include a chuck wagon with cowboy fixings such as cornbread, beans, and cobbler; mule wagon rides; a Los Diablos Tejanos (Texas Rangers) reenactment village; music and poetry performances by regional artists; cornhusk doll-making; face painting; chainsaw carvings, photoshoot with Whiskey the Horse, a Western-themed mini golf course; Smarty the Cow Roping Dummy; and a baby goat petting zoo.
One of the highlights of the festival is Cowboy Tales, a free art exhibition at WCA from
“Old Timer” (above) by JD Cole won Best of Show in Cowboy Tales Art Exhibition 2024 at Winnsboro Center for the Arts and “Ancient Wisdom” (opposite) by Shirley Gordon was a first place winner. This year’s Cowboy Tales exhibition of Western art is from September 24 through November 15. continued page 38
COWBOY continued from page 36
September 24 through November 15 that illustrates the theme of Western culture and imagery.
Another Western-themed art exhibition is featured at the Bowery Boutique & Gallery. Works by Sharon Cromer are there from September 26 to October 25.
Saturday’s ticketed events began at 1 p.m. with Cowboy Culture Conversations bringing Andy Wilkinson back to the stage to discuss legendary American West rancher Charlie Goodnight and historical songwriting with Andy Hedges. Wilkinson, an award-winning writer and performer, is also a historian who served as Artistin-Residence at Texas Tech University’s Southwest Collection. Hedges, a student of cowboy history and lore, is considered one of the most recognized cowboy performers today and one of the most prominent lead-
ers of Western music. Together, both Andys embody the spirit of the American West, where music, poetry and history are woven into a timeless and ever-evolving story.
The Kristyn Harris Trio performs Western swing music at 4 p.m. The group features Kristyn Harris, a favorite of the annual Cowboy Music and Poetry Gatherings. Her past performances featured dynamic collaborations with fiddler Hailey Sandoz. This year, Harris brings even more energy to The Bowery Stage by adding Matthew Walton to the mix. Walton is a master of pedal steel, lap steel, bass, acoustic and electric guitar. Together, this trio promises a high-energy set brimming with the authentic western spirit our cowboy music audiences love.
Saturday evenings Carnegie Cowboys Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. bringing Carnegie Hall to Winnsboro. Rod Taylor (of “The Rifters” fame) was one of 11 cowboy
“The Crossing” (above) by Sharon Cromer is featured in the Bowery Boutique & Gallery in a Western exhibition of her work from September 26 to October 25. Some of the ticketed entertainers of the Winnsboro Cowboy Music & Poetry Gathering are (below l-r) Andy Hedges, Kristyn Harris, Jay Snider, Joel Nelson, and Teresa Burleson.
singers who joined Andy Hedges in his 2024 “Roll on, Cowboys” show at Carnegie Hall. This year marks Taylor’s first appearance at the Winnsboro gathering. Renowned poet/ Grammy-nominated performer/rancher Joel Nelson joins Taylor and Hedges to close out the 2025 gathering. This spectacular performance showcases some of the very finest in cowboy music and poetry.
Unless otherwise noted, activities on and around the Bowery Pedestrian Park are free. Concert and presentation tickets range from $20 to $80 with discounted day passes available. Get tickets on the WCA website.
BOWIE COUNTY
United Way of Greater Texarkana
Contact: Molly Riley, (903) 794-3105 molly@texarkanaunitedway.org 214 Spruce St, Texarkana, TX 75501
GRAYSON COUNTY
United Way of Grayson County
Contact: Katie Eubank, (903) 893-1920 literacy@unitedwaygrayson.org PO Box 1112, Sherman, TX 75091
HUNT COUNTY
United Way of Hunt County
Contact: Natalie Pegg, (903) 217-1694 info@unitedwayofhuntcounty.org PO Box 224, Greenville, TX 75403
DELTA COUNTY
Friends of the Delta County Public Library
Contact: Lisa Carter, (903) 395-4575 deltacountylibrary@gmail.com 300 W Dallas Ave, Cooper, TX 75432
GREGG COUNTY
Greater Longview United Way, Inc.
Contact: Dr. Evan Dolive, (903) 758-0191 edolive@longviewunitedway.org PO Box 411, Longview, TX 75606
MARION COUNTY
The Rotary Club of Jefferson TX
Contact: Toni Woods, (903) 407-2231 tonilwoods@aol.com PO Box 5, Jefferson, TX 75657
MARSHALL
Mission Marshall
Contact: Misty Scott, (903) 472-4944 mscott@missionmarshall.org 2109 S. Washington St., Marshall, TX 75670
NAVARRO COUNTY
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Contact: April Grant, (903) 874-3781 imaginationlibraryWPC@gmail.com 312 N 13th St, Corsicana, TX 75110
NEW SUMMERFIELD
New Summerfield Education Foundation
Contact: Peggy Craft, (903) 726-3306 pcraft@newsummerfieldisd.net PO Box 6, New Summerfield, TX 75780
RED RIVER COUNTY/LAMAR COUNTY
Paris Kiwanis Imagination Library
Contact: Claudia McKinney, (903) 784-6374 cmck126@gmail.com 714 CR 35010, Brookston, TX 75421
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. The Imagination Library relies on local partners to secure funds to cover the cost of the books and shipping fees. www.ImaginationLibrary.com
RAINS COUNTY
Rains County Public Library
Contact: Wendy Byrd, (903) 473-5096 wendy.byrd@co.rains.tx.us PO Box 202, Emory, TX 75440
RUSK COUNTY
Little Ones Literacy Program
Contact: Brian Ballard, (903) 521-6435 brian.ballard49@gmail.com PO Box 1762, Henderson, TX 75653
SULPHUR SPRINGS
Sulphur Springs Independent School District
Contact: Amanda Ridner, (903) 885-4576 aridner@ssisd.net
600 Calvert St, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
WOOD COUNTY
Pilot Club of Quitman
Contact: Susan Ukleja, (903) 243-9384 quitmanpilot@gmail.com PO Box 1265, Quitman, TX 75783
Winnsboro Center for the Arts
Contact: Tona Blizzard, (817) 247-0607 dpilwinnsboro@gmail.com 655 CR 4592, Winnsboro, TX 75494
Contact a participating community to contribute to this worthy cause.
The University Gallery at East Texas A&M University is exhibiting “Dan Jian: Library of Partial Things” through October 24 in the University Gallery, located at 2005 University Dr. in Commerce, Texas.
An opening reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. September 2 with a gallery talk by the artist beginning at 5:30 p.m. The gallery is open weekly 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment.
The exhibition features collage-based drawings stemming from Jian’s interest in fragmentation and multiplicity. The monochromatic compositions, whether wall drawings or works on paper, are driven by her desire to explore paradoxes and dualities, seeking to capture moments where opposing feelings coexist: the intimate within the vast, the permanent within the fleeting, and a sense of dwelling without a ground.
Dan Jian (b. 1986) is a visual artist who works across painting, drawing, and animation. Originally from the mountain region of Hubei, China, Jian came to the United States at the age of 19. She received her B.F.A. from Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University (2012) and her M.F.A. from The Ohio State University (2016). Currently, Jian is an Associate Professor of Art at Texas Christian University while maintaining an ongoing studio practice in Fort Worth, Texas.
Jian’s solo and group shows have been exhibited nationally across the US and internationally in China, Italy, and Korea. She is a residency alumnus of Ragdale Foundation, Vermont Studio Center, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and Organhaus Contemporary Art Space in Chongqing, China. Jian was elected a Carter Community Artist by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (2022) and an Artist Grant recipient from the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas (2023). Jian is represented by Cris Worley Fine Arts in Dallas. Her work can also be explored at her online portfolio, www. danjian.info.
The East Texas A&M Department of Art aims to inspire and prepare students to excel in various art professions and foster a lifelong appreciation of the visual arts.
The university has three exhibition spaces: the University Gallery located in the Art Building, the President’s Gallery in the Business Administration Building and the Gallery 219 Project Space on the 2nd floor of the Wathena Temple Fine Arts Building.
The University Gallery is reserved for exhibitions featuring artworks by East Texas A&M students and nationally and internationally recognized artists and designers. The gallery also hosts graduate critiques, thesis reviews and the Annual Juried Student Art Show held every spring. The Wathena Temple Project Space and the President’s Gallery feature solo and group exhibitions created by currently enrolled East Texas A&M students.
East Texas A&M University serves rural and metropolitan East Texas with a dedicated mission to transform lives. With an enrollment of approximately 13,086 students, East Texas A&M is the third-largest member of The Texas A&M University System. Students choose from among 143+ academic degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels and learn from world-class faculty who conduct nationally recognized research.
A vibrant student experience includes a thriving Greek community and more than 95 student-led organizations. As a member of the Southland Conference, East Texas A&M features 14 NCAA Division I athletic teams. The university offers classes online and on-site in Commerce, Dallas, Corsicana, McKinney, Mesquite, and Bryan (RELLIS).
The Alliance for Texas History recently released the inaugural issue of the Journal of Texas History. The organization, formed in March 2024, states, “The journal will showcase the best work on Texas history in all aspects.”
The Journal of Texas History is published as an open-access, online journal available at www.jtxh.org
Rather than limiting the publication to members of the organization, the Alliance has committed to making well-researched history and peer-reviewed articles accessible to the general public at no cost to better support critical thinking about how the past influences our future. The online journal is hosted by the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) Libraries through their Mavs Open Press and the Digital Commons Network. Digital Commons offers free access to scholarly content for more than 700 institutions, enabling readers from more than 140 countries to reach a global audience. A print-on-demand option is available.
The Alliance is assisted on the project by Vanessa Garrett, Digital Publishing Librarian with UTA Libraries’ Open Educational Resources and Digital Scholarship Department.
“From our first meeting, it was clear our goals aligned,” Garrett said. “They were looking for a platform that made research available to the public. That’s at the heart of what we do at UTA Libraries.”
Co-editors are Rebecca Sharpless, professor of history at Texas Christian University, and Benjamin H. Johnson, professor of history at Loyola University Chicago. Felipe Hinojosa, professor of history at Baylor University, is the book review editor. An additional group of scholars with a wide range of expertise serve as members of the Editorial Board to ensure excellence in content and methodology for historical research.
Johnson said, “The study of Texas’ past has never been more vibrant than today, and this first issue of the Journal of Texas History shows how central the Alliance has become
to Texas history, after little more than a year since its formation.”
Gregg Cantrell, retired professor of history at Texas Christian University, notes that Texas has grown more diverse, and new fields and methodologies have emerged in the historical profession.
“Texas’ population has doubled over the past 40 years, yet the number of scholarly journals devoted to the state’s history has remained roughly the same,” he said. “We believe, then, that there is room — and a real need — for another journal to tell the many stories of Texas and Texans.”
Those interested in submitting an article for the new journal can review the Call for Manuscripts on the Journal of Texas History website at www.jtxh.org or send an email query to submissions@jtxh.org
The Alliance for Texas History (www.atxh. org) focuses on a 21st-century approach to historical analysis, dialogue, and perspective. Its mission is to foster a comprehensive understanding of Texas’ rich and diverse history. Their mission and values reflect their commitment to ensuring that the stories of all people are told.
He watched a love that proved untrue from a window up above and couldn't walk through this world without Luke the Drifter's shoes
He took us on The Grand Tour gave wine colored roses away and little tears still come from He Stopped Loving Her Today
Oh as I look at all my choices
I know that the race is on and the cold hard truth is sometimes I feel like George Jones
I may cry to a bartender share more than a few of my blues talk about the golden ring that tore my tender years into
Perhaps she thinks I still care and will till the grass grows over me but the closing of the door still echoes from the last time she set me free
Oh as I look at all my choices I know that the race is on and the cold hard truth is sometimes I feel like George Jones
By Darrell Lindsey, Nacogdoches
East Texas based singer-songwriter Bob Mauldin recently released his new album, Peony Prairie Fire, a bold blend of heartfelt storytelling, vivid imagery, and raw Americana energy. Available now on all major streaming platforms and in select record stores, the album marks a new chapter in Mauldin’s musical journey.
Recorded over the past seven months between studios in Dallas and Tyler, Peony Prairie Fire is a concept album featuring nine new songs, including covers of tunes by Michael Nesmith, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, and Billy Joe Shaver. Anchored by Mauldin’s compositions touching on lost love and hopeful reflection, the album is tied together by a common theme.
“It doesn’t just come out and tell you what it’s all about,” Mauldin says. “I’m not telling the listener what the story is, I’m asking them to listen to it all the way through in the order it’s presented and let it speak to you in a way that suits you and your understanding of it. And if you’re not into all of that, it’s also just a bunch of dern good country songs that you can hopefully pick a new favorite from.”
Highlights include the foot-stomping opener “Two Heartbeats,” the introspective “Really You,” and the outlaw country “You Asked Me To.”
With his trademark authenticity, Mauldin continues to carve out a unique space in the modern Texas Country landscape while continuing his other full time gig that keeps him busy.
The late legendary DJ Tom Perryman is among the Texas Radio Hall of Fame 2025 honorees. He’ll be posthumously inducted as a Lone Star Legacy on November 1 at the Texas Radio Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremony at the Texas Broadcast Museum in Kilgore.
Perryman passed away on January 11, 2018, after a 70-year career in radio that earned him numerous other awards including the National Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame, Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame, and Texas Association of Broadcasters Pioneer Award.
See a complete list of inductees and learn more about the ceremony on www.trhof.net.
Read much more about Tom Perryman in a book authored by County Line Magazine’s P.A. Geddie, Keeping it Country, available on Amazon. Find numerous articles about him in the County Line archives.
For the past 13 years, Mauldin has been the executive producer and host of TV’s Expedition Texas. The show, which is syndicated across Texas and airs nationally on Heartland TV Network, runs two seasons per year on TV. Mauldin is also putting together a deal for a new professional wrestling TV program, Texas Style Wrestling, premiering next month in a Saturday night time slot. Bob also serves as on-air commentator for this show.
“That just adds another spinning plate in my ‘circus act’ of life, but I found myself at a major crossroads late last year and that period was like a windswept prairie fire of emotions and my therapy has always been writing songs. So very quickly this album began to come together,” Mauldin says. “Regardless of everything else happening, this album needed to be recorded while the thoughts behind it were fresh and new.”
The album is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and at www. BobMauldin.com. Vinyl editions and exclusive signed CDs can be purchased through Mauldin’s official store.
Boogie Woogie Marshall 2025 takes place September 26-27 with celebrations of an uplifting genre of music that got its start in Marshall,Texas. This year’s event honors the enduring legacy of Huddle “Lead Belly,” Ledbetter, the “King of the 12-String Guitar,” whose powerful voice and ground-breaking music shaped generations of artists. In partnership with the House of Lead Belly and his family, this tribute brings the spirit of Lead Belly back to where it all began.
The roots of blues and folk music have many strands, and one of the best started in East Texas. That’s where a blues original picked up a guitar for the first time on his way to influencing many musicians to follow.
Born January 20, 1888, Ledbetter moved with his family from Louisiana to a small farm in Harrison County in 1898 according to the Texas State Historical Association. A natural talent for the guitar, Lead Belly was soon drawn to performances after leaving home at age 13. He became a minstrel in Shreveport and later in Dallas and Fort Worth. Farming was in his past — he still worked as a farmhand in counties east of Dallas in the summers — but his future was bound to include singing and playing his guitar, which he did frequently in saloons and dance halls in the region.
The people who came to recognize Lead Belly’s gift helped him achieve his place in music history. Blind Lemon Jefferson of Dallas partnered with Lead Belly and together bolstered each other’s artistic growth and recognition.
Also, famed Texas folklorist John Avery Lomax — an early recorder of unrecognized artists who were seminal in the genre’s origins — considered Lead Belly a real talent. Lomax helped Lead Belly gain national prominence starting with performances in New York City.
Lead Belly’s life includes convictions of criminal activity. It was during one of his run-ins with the law — and taking a bullet to the stomach — that Lead Belly earned that nickname and added to his legend.
He is best known for writing the song “Goodnight Irene,” recorded by the Weavers in the early 1950s. His influence goes much further. Folk artists Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger were among his admirers.
Lead Belly, who died in 1949, was inducted posthumously in the Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is buried near Shreveport.
Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones once said he tries to “Keep rolling, to grow up the art of rock n’ roll, to age with the weatherbeaten dignity of my mentors, the great, hard-living bluesmen like Lead Belly.”
Boogie Woogie Marshall events include tributes and a documentary for Lead Belly along with visits to his gravesite, and an unveiling of the Lead Belly Room at the Boogie Woogie Museum.
Performing artists for Boogie Woogie Marshall include Carl “Sonny” Leyland, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Dr. Daryl Davis, Liz Pennock & Dr. Blues, Guy Davis, Mark Puryear, Wes Jeans. And Dr. John Tennison.
Most of the shows take place at Memorial City Hall Performance Center. Get details and tickets on www.BoogieWoogie.org
A seven-year-old professor? Veterinarian? Soccer coach? Business professional? Why not? Girls imagine what they may one day become.
For the first time ever, the Greenville Chamber Music Society (GCMS) launches an extraordinary 2025–26 Concert Season at the Greenville Municipal Auditorium — bringing 11 concerts to inspire, entertain, and transform.
The Greenville Chamber Music Society brings high-quality music performance, education, and community engagement to Greenville and Hunt County. Founded by professional musicians, GCMS is committed to building a vibrant artistic ecosystem through exceptional concerts, collaborative partnerships, and the development of youth-focused programs — including a future countywide youth orchestra.
Concert Season
October 3 – Night at the Movies (7:30 PM) Greenville Pops Orchestra with Sabatina Maura Blockbusters come to life with lush live orchestration in this dazzling evening of cinematic favorites. Vocal powerhouse Sabatina Maura performs show stoppers like Defying Gravity, The Wizard and I, and Never Enough in a night of drama, sparkle, and song.
October 19 – The Melodies of Nature (2:00 PM) GCMS
Musicians’ Collective Nature hums, whispers, and roars in this vibrant program of Respighi, Mason Bates, Brittney Benton, and Amy Beach—painting an aural canvas of woodland dreamscapes and earthy rhythms.
November 8 – Eldred Marshall in Concert (7:30 PM) Eldred Marshall, Piano Virtuoso pianist Eldred Marshall takes the stage for a powerful solo evening. With dynamic range and
soulful interpretation, Marshall brings poetic depth and dazzling clarity to every note.
December 7 – All-Star Christmas Concert (2:00 PM) Greenville Pops Orchestra with Tatiana Mayfield and Friends The lights are twinkling, the cocoa’s warm—and there’s music in the air! A festive holiday concert full of beloved carols, jazzy favorites, and a sleigh-full of special guests.
December 13 – Rhythms of Belonging (7:30 PM) GCMS
Musicians’ Collective Montgomery, Mendez, and Coleman bring bold, modern energy to a program grounded by Mussorgsky’s charm in an evening of rhythm, identity, and contrast.
December 20 – Echoes and Elegance (7:30 PM) GCMS
Musicians’ Collective Ravel and Brahms piano trios shine in this lush, lyrical evening of
romantic and impressionist color—graceful, stirring, and timeless.
February 6 – Retro Rewind: The Ultimate Mixtape (7:30 PM) Greenville Pops Orchestra with Candace Warren and Trenton Hull Get your groove on with symphonic takes on pop and rock legends from the ‘70s and ‘80s—Whitney, Styx, Queen, Madonna, Elton, The Beatles, and more.
February 21 – Songs of the Land and Soul (7:30 PM) Mount Vernon Music Explore the power of place in this evocative program of chamber music and songs by Harry T. Burleigh and Stephen Lias, full of spiritual depth and natural beauty.
March 22 – Winds of Change (2:00 PM) GCMS Musicians’ Collective An evening of winds and piano—spirited, expressive, and full of charac-
ter—featuring dynamic textures and tonal colors unique to wind instruments.
April 17 – Voices in Color (7:30 PM) GCMS Musicians’ Collective A vibrant kaleidoscope of works by women and composers of color. Highlights include Katherine Hoover’s Winter Spirits, Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst, María Grever’s reimagined bolero, and Claude Bolling’s jazz suite for flute and piano trio.
April 25 – Global Grooves with Dhaka Standard (7:30 PM) Dhaka Standard Jazz, folk, and fusion meet in this electrifying cross-cultural collaboration. Featuring musicians from Bangladesh and beyond, this high-energy season finale is a rhythmic celebration of global sound.
Learn more and purchase tickets on www.greenvillechambermusicsociety.org.
Texas singer-songwriter Andie Kay Joyner released a single this summer that marks the final studio collaboration with her mentor, the late Tommy Alverson.
“This recording is so dear to me, as well as bittersweet, because it is the last one that I’ll ever get to make with my longtime friend, Tommy Alverson,” Joyner says.
Alverson died from liver cancer at the age of 74 on November 14, 2024. A staple in Texas country music, his career spanned decades. His name is synonymous with toetapping, soul-stirring tunes with his own unique flair that blends traditional country with hints of folk and rock.
Joyner sang backup on his recordings from time to time and performed with him often throughout her own career.
She began performing live shows at the age of 10 with her family band. She was an honorary member of Stone Mountain Bluegrass Band at 12, and then, joined other bands as a backup and guest lead singer at 13. She formed her own band with her childhood friend, Heather Stalling, and recorded two albums, while touring the country with their full band, blacktopGYPSY.
After surviving UT Southwestern Medical Center’s first lifesaving heart/liver transplant in 2016, she recovered, regained her voice, and began her solo career in 2018. She is currently playing as a solo act, as well as with her full band, The Borrowed Angels. She recorded and released her version of Tom Petty’s “Angel Dream” in honor of her organ donor and her fifth transplant anniversary on Valentine’s/National Donor Day in 2021.
Her single with Alverson is her version of the song “Couldn’t Do Nothing Right.”
“(It) is one of the first songs that I remember hearing,” Joyner says. “I have great memories of my mother and I singing it together with Roseanne Cash on the radio in her long, white Ford LTD when I could still stand up in the front seat.
“It is an emotional tearjerker full of heartbreak and hopelessness, beautifully penned by Gary P. Nunn and Karen Brooks. I have loved every version of it that I’ve ever
heard, including from Jerry Jeff Walker, Gary P., and others.”
After years of performing it live with her band, Alverson would ask her to sing it regularly at his shows.
“As he always does, he added more musical magic to the tune, and with encouragement from other friends, including Gary P. Nunn himself, we decided to include it on my latest project,” Joyner says. “We had a really great day in the studio last September, unaware that we would experience the devastating reality of losing him weeks later.”
With his family’s permission, Joyner released the recording on Alverson’s birthday, June 10.
“I am honored to release it on the day he came into this world,” she says. “I appreciate everyone’s talents and the hard work they put into making this record, including friends and bandmates, Jerry Abrams and Danny Cochran.
“This recording is for all of you who love Tommy, as well as those who don’t know they love him yet.”
The song is available on Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, and other platforms.
After Alverson passed, Joyner began hosting his weekly residency at Rickhouse Brewing in the Historic Crazy Water Hotel in Mineral Wells, Texas.
With gratitude for her donor and her many other heroes, she promotes awareness of organ donation and of her genetic blood disorder, Hemochromatosis as she continues to perform at shows across Texas.
See Joyner perform in East Texas with her full band at 7 p.m. September 20 at The Forge Bar & Grill at 7 p.m. September 20.
Read more about her journey through organ transplant and getting to know her donor’s family in the County Line article, Two Families, One Heart.
Tanglewood Resort has new menus for their Lakeside Restaurant, Tanglewood Bar & Grill, Lakeside Lounge, and the Tower Whiskey Bar. Situated near Denison on Lake Texoma at the Oklahoma border, the resort offers an ideal setting for both leisurely relaxation and corporate retreats. With stunning views of the lake, the resort boasts 248 expansive and cozy guest rooms, two dining establishments, a heated threetiered outdoor pool, an indoor pool, three cocktail lounges, a gift shop, fitness center, cutting-edge meeting facilities, and an 18hole championship golf course designed by the renowned golfing icon Arnold Palmer.
From an elegant steakhouse with gourmet
offerings to casual poolside lunches and craft cocktails in an old fashioned speakeasy, Tanglewood presents its latest culinary offerings.
Lakeside Restaurant has added even more luxury and glamour to its menu with beloved steakhouse favorites. Appetizers include coconut shrimp, truffle fries, crab cakes, soup du jour, spinach dip, and a seasonal charcuterie board. Mains include Marry Me Chicken, Herb Grilled Salmon, Strip Steak, Ribeye, Filet Mignon, Chicken Alfredo, Lobster Ravioli, and Shrimp Scampi. Desserts include Chocolate Thunder Cake, Crème Brûlée, New York style Cheesecake, Lava Cake, the popular Too
Tall Carrot cake, and assorted ice cream. See the full menu here. The steakhouse is open for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
In addition, Lakeside Restaurant is open for breakfast from 7 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and has added a few delicious signature lattes to its coffee menu: Lavender Shores (a lavender latte), Lakeside Cabin (a maple pecan latte), and The Deep Dive (a mocha latte). The breakfast menu includes avocado toast, yogurt parfaits, pancakes, the Tanglewood Breakfast Sandwich, Texas-shaped Belgian waffles, steak and eggs, omelets, breakfast bowls, and an all-youcan-eat breakfast buffet.
Tanglewood Bar & Grill expanded its menu for both indoor and poolside service. Appetizers include battered onion rings, deep fried pickles, cheese sticks, a variety of wings, loaded tater tots, and chips and salsa. Several salads are available: Southern Fried Chicken Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad, Spinach Pecan Salad, and Strawberry Poppyseed Salad. Burger options include Mushroom & Swiss, the Texoma Burger topped with smoked bacon and fried onion rings, Rise and Shine Burger with a fried egg, and a Poolside Patty Melt. Other handhelds include the B&G Club, Crispy Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, Turkey Pesto, a Philly Cheesesteak, and more. See the full menu and cocktail menu here. Tanglewood Bar & Grill is open for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday to Saturday.
Nestled next to Lakeside Restaurant, Lakeside Lounge invites guests to step into a bygone era with its speakeasy-style ambiance, live music, craft cocktails, and assorted desserts. Specialty cocktails include Pottsboro Paloma, Derby Mule, Lavender Fields, Lemon Drop Martini, Bacon Twist Bloody Mary, Tanglewood Mimosa, Tequila Sunrise, and Peach Billini. The full dessert menu from Lakeside Restaurant is also available along with wine and beer. See the full lounge menu here. Lakeside Lounge is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Perched above Lake Texoma with one of the best sunset views in the Lone Star State, Tower Whiskey Bar is serving up an extensive menu of bourbon, rye, and whiskey with live music. Tanglewood is proud to pour Texas labels such as Garrison Brothers, Ironroot, and Still Austin as part of the whiskey menu. Tower Whiskey Bar is open from 5 p.m. to midnight Wednesday to Saturday with live music from 8 to 11 p.m. on Friday nights.
For more information, visit tanglewoodresort.com.
M A G A Z I N E
THE FUTURE OF THE UPPER EAST SIDE OF TEXAS NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD
County Line Magazine has surpassed 25 years and is reaching another milestone soon: 250 issues. All archives are going to The Portal to Texas History, a gateway to rare, historical, and primary source materials from and about Texas. Long live the stories of the Upper East Side of Texas.