East Texas will be full of visitors this weekend as they make a journey here to be a part of the total solar eclipse that will happen Monday afternoon around 1:40 p.m.

We hope that the weather will cooperate so we can experience this celestial event, but at this time forecasters believe it will be overcast with a chance of rain by afternoon. Let's hope though there will be some breaks in the clouds or at least some high cirrus clouds so we can at least see part of it happen.

Until the total solar eclipse happens we have lots of things to do this weekend and lots of fun to be had at the many events happening in Lindale, Sulphur Springs, and other major cities that are prepping for as much as four and a half minutes of darkness Monday.

Here's a look at this weekend's event happening across East Texas.

For more information or to purchase tickets to listed ticketed events, click or tap on the event name to be redirected to their official page or website.

13th annual Tyler Run For Autism

Saturday @ 7a
Pollard United Methodist Church - Tyler

Tyler Run for Autism is a high-energy, community event for all! Founded in 2012, the purpose is to help local children with autism afford critical medical treatment. The event is fully sponsored so that 100% of proceeds can go to children enrolled at the Treatment and Learning Center for Children with Autism. There is a registration fee to run in the race.

 

86th Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration

thru Sunday
Palestine

Celebrating the beautiful blooms on the dogwood trees each week, the Palestine area will be bursting with beauty and visitors for three weeks! The driving trails feature the dogwoods meandering throughout Palestine and each weekend there are special events planned to feature car shows, wine tasting, rodeo, train excursions, and much more. All the information you need to know is online here!

 

Tyler Azalea and Spring Flower Trail

thru Monday, April 8th
Tyler

Dating back to the 1930s, the Tyler Azalea and Spring Flower Trail has a deep history within the city. Each year millions of azalea blooms burst with vibrant color along nearly 10 miles of trails that meander through Tyler's Azalea District. Accessible by vehicle or foot, visitors from around the city, county, state, and nation will be treated to these colorful blooms along with other spring flowers that have been perfectly manicured by their owners.

 

Dalton Days

Saturday
downtown Longview

This celebration of Western heritage will entertain families with four re-enactments of the infamous bank robbery in Longview emphasizing the bravery and heroism of the citizens and law enforcement in Longview in 1894. There will be craft vendors, food vendors, a petting zoo, children's games and more. The festival gets underway at 10 a.m with the first re-enactment and additional shows at 11, 1 and 2.

 

Evan's United Spring Carnival

Friday - April 14th
Broadway Square Mall - Tyler

The carnival is in town! Complete with 50= state fair-style carnival rides, games, and fair food. Get armbands and ride all the rides you want. There is an admission charge to ride the rides.

 

Beginner Fly Fishing Class

Saturday @ 9a
Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center - Athens

Master fly-fisher Bob Cappallo of Corsicana will teach fly-fishing for beginners 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 6th at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) in Athens.

The classes are open to adults and youths accompanied with an adult. No fly-fishing experience is required. Equipment will be provided, but students may bring their own. Instruction will focus on equipment, equipment selection, basic knot tying, casting and casting fundamentals. The $50 fee for the class will include lunch.

Registration is required and spaces are limited for this event.

 

2nd annual Spring Festival @TylerBerryFarm

Saturday 9a-1p
CR 429 - Tyler

Bring your friends and family out to the farm, U-pick strawberries family hayrides around the farm and over 50 different vendors to shop around! $5 a person over the age of 3.

 

Top Homestead Festival - Fun Day On The Farm

Saturday 10a-4p
Hwy 259 N - Longview

The event has expanded this year to offer free classes, farm raised lunch and live country and gospel music! Bring a chair and come enjoy the day! Some fun classes are scheduled like Kids Gardening 101, Bee Keeping Q&A, Wood Reclamation Woodworking, Drip Irrigation and much more!

 

Total Eclipse Of The Park

Saturday - Monday
Darden Harvest Park - Lindale

The City of Lindale is hosting a free, 3-day event April 6-8, 2024, to commemorate the total solar eclipse that will occur across Texas. Lindale visitors will witness a full 3 minutes of totality!

Total Eclipse of the Park will be held at Darden Harvest Park, Picker’s Pavilion, and The Cannery. The event kicks off on Saturday, April 6th with opening ceremony festivities, followed by various events and activities throughout the weekend.

  • Car Show
  • Concert
  • Movie in the Park
  • Live Art + Science Exhibits
  • Vendors and Food Trucks
  • Activities for Kids
  • Space-Themed Recreations for All Ages
  • Selfie Vignettes inside Picker’s Pavilion
  • Costume Contest
  • Disc Golf

Eclipse viewing glasses will be provided, as well as various protected viewing options. There will also be Lindale-specific memorabilia and merchandise for sale throughout the weekend.

On Monday, April 8th, Picker’s grounds and Darden Harvest Park will be the premier eclipse viewing destination in town! After the total eclipse ends, the event will conclude.

 

Gladewater Crawfish Boil

Saturday # 3p
Wilkins Rd. - Gladewater

The taste of NOLA is being brought to East Texas thanks to this crawfish boil. This is a ticketed event.

 

East Texas CASA Presents: Margarita Madness

Saturday @ 4p
Longview Arboretum - Longview

Join us for an unforgettable evening at Margarita Madness, presented by East Texas CASA!

Experience the perfect blend of fun and philanthropy with vibrant margaritas, delicious bites, and live entertainment. This is a ticketed event.

 

Movies On The Plaza

Saturday @ 7:45p
Heritage Plaza - Longview

Free showing of the movie Captain Marvel plus costumed characters from DC vs Marvel for selfies. Movie will start at dark. Bring your own seating.

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There Were 68 Felony Arrests Made During The Last Week Of March In Smith County (03.31.24)

The following individuals were recently arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail and received at least one felony charge. These individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Some individuals have posted bail and are out of jail at this time while others are waiting for a bond hearing or court date.

All charges were current at the time this article was created, but some charges may have been dropped since.

Some of the individuals below were detained by Smith County deputies and are being held on a US Marshal, Federal, or Immigration detainer.

All information was obtained through an open records request and provided by the Smith County Sheriff's Office.

Gallery Credit: Smith County Sheriff's Office

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