Favorite Fall East Texas Art Festivals

In June, if you ask me what my favorite time of the year is, I’ll probably say summer. But as the unbearable Texas heat continues, by September I am ready for fall. And art festivals! They herald both spring and fall in my part of the country. Perhaps because they are often outdoors, and more moderate temperatures are perfect for community celebrations of art. But not just visual arts. Music is a big part of many festivals, and although it is less common in my experience, poetry can be found at some of them as well.

I have my favorite fall community art festivals, and I’m sure you do too.  I’d love to hear about them, so drop me a note in the comments.

Here are a few of my favorite East Texas fall festivals!

·       Edom Art Festival  EdomArts.com  October 11 – 12, 2025

I am fortunate enough to live near the small town of Edom, TX (VERY small - population 367 according to the 2024 U.S. Census). I first discovered this small town when my husband and I were relocating from the Dallas area. With only about a block’s worth of small shops, most of which were artists’ studios and galleries, I immediately wanted to live nearby and be involved in this community. Many years later, my oldest son went to art school and was an artist at this annual, juried art festival. And many more years later, I was too. Although family obligations kept me from applying to be an artist at the 53rd festival this year, I won’t miss attending it. I’ll do my share of shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts, listening to local musicians, watching art demonstrations, enjoying the art kids create at the Kids’ Art Area, and supporting the Edom Craft Community non-profit by visiting the Black Tent Bar for a Texas craft beer.

Go to EdomArts.com to learn more about the festival as well as the history of this wonderful art community. Hint: It’s got that special artistic vibe because the town was revitalized by artists back in the 70s. The festival is held in an open area behind the main street of shops, and you’ll want to visit both. You’ll find my jewelry in the O3 Collective Gallery and Gift Shop.

Because the focus of this town is on creativity, and the focus of this blog is on exploring your own creativity, be sure to schedule a trip during a less busy time to visit the DIY Lounge and take advantage of one of their classes. Visit their website,  https://www.edomdiylounge.com/, to learn more. Most classes are short and are the perfect activity for date night, small groups of friends and family, or just as a treat for yourself. Unlike most of the shops, which are usually open Thursday – Sunday throughout the year, DIY Lounge offers classes 7 days a week.

And if you have kids who live in the area, you can look forward to the newly formed Edom Art Lab, which will offer both out-of-school and after-school art experiences for kids. Unlike any other art program for kids that I know of, though, this one will emphasize the entrepreneurial aspect of being an artist. Something I think is definitely needed. Although the focus of this blog is on process not product, if art is your business, you must go beyond that. Having instruction on just how to make art your business is a valuable skill for any artist at any age.

·        Winnsboro Art & Wine Festival   winnsborocenterforthearts.com/art-wine-festival/  Nov. 7 – 8, 2025

Another of my favorite local fall festivals is in the town of Winnsboro, TX. This small town is big compared to Edom. Population 3,661 in 2024 according to the U.S. Census. There is a large focus on art throughout the year here, with an active non-profit arts organization, Winnsboro Center for the Arts. Visit their website, https://winnsborocenterforthearts.com,  to learn about the festival as well as other events and classes going on throughout the year.

This juried art festival features art, music, and wine. In addition to fine art, you can visit booths from local wineries where you will be able to sample wine before purchasing bottles to take home. Unlike the Edom Art Festival, this one starts early Friday afternoon and goes through Saturday rather than through the entire weekend.

Winnsboro Cowboy Music and Poetry Gathering        Sept. 26 – 27, 2025

I want to point out another fall Winnsboro art festival that I have not attended yet, but it’s worth mentioning because festivals that focus on poetry are rare. This one features cowboy poetry, art and music.

You can learn more about the event here:

https://winnsborocenterforthearts.com/cowboy_music_and_poetry_gathering/

To learn more about ongoing classes and events in Winnsboro, go to https://winnsborocenterforthearts.com/. I think you’ll be amazed at all the art-related activities and events this small town has to offer.

If you live in the Upper East Side of Texas (Texas is BIG so that's a good way to describe this geographic area that includes Dallas, Fort Worth, Tyler, Longview, and all the places in-between), you can keep up with art and music events by reading The County Line Magazine. Available online at https://www.geddieconnections.com/blog/. You can even sign up to have it delivered directly to your email so you don't miss an event!

Fall is the season for festivals, and I’m sure you’ll find many to attend. If you get to visit my East Texas favorite fall festivals, drop me a comment and let me know about your experience, and let me know about others that you like as well. I’m always up for a great art festival!

Until next time, happy creating!

Linda

ReimaginedWonders.com