Texas fall festivals

As nature begins to change her palette from the greens of summer to the fiery reds and yellows of fall, residents throughout the Lone Star state get ready to paint their towns red, white and blue with All-American odes to autumn ranging from one-day, small town shindigs to big city celebrations that last all weekend long. Following are just a sample of the harvest festivals in Texas:

Eden Fall Festival
Eden
The aroma of home-baked pies and pastries will tempt you during Eve's Seduction Dessert Competition, an Epicurean event that kicks off two days of festivities which include a western dance held at Eden Fire Hall, a two-mile walk/run in Ranchero Park, and a world class bull ride at Lee Pfluger Park. Enjoy the small town pleasures of cow patty bingo and a Mom-calling contest before ending the day at a barbecue supper.

The Old Pecan Street Fall Festival
Austin
As eclectic as the city of Austin itself, this fall fete and its springtime counterpart held each year on 6th Street have enchanted crowds of up to 150,000 in recent years with live tunes from Texas songsmiths and an array of unique handmade items.

Annual Fall Festival
Jasper County Courthouse Square
Jasper
The seat of Jasper County promises a day of family fun at this long-running celebration of the season.

Main Street Fall Festival
Main Street
Denison
Greet the day with Denison's denizens at a sunrise pancake breakfast, then root for your favorite cowboy at a Western shoot-out, let your inner child come out to play at the carnival held at Forest Park and check out vintage vehicles at the motorcycle and car show.

Pioneer & Heritage Festival
Rusk
Named in honor of the first Texas-born governor of the state, 177-acre Jim Hogg City Park offers a scenic stage for a day of fall fun.

Annual Fall Frolic
Jewett Civic Center
Jewett
An auction, arts and crafts booths and bluegrass music highlight a day-long celebration in this friendly Leon County town.

East Texas Yamboree
Gilmer
Enjoying its 69th year, this autumn homage to the yam, which has been featured on The Food Network, includes a barndance held at Trinity Street Gym, an antique auto show on Cass Street and a fiddler's contest conducted on the courthouse square.

Fall Foliage Festival
Canadian
Travel back in time during a wagon ride around Canadian and Lake Marvin, or obtain a map of the area from the Welcome Center and take a leisurely drive through the ever-changing palette of colors on display in this Panhandle town. The kaleidoscopic colors of autumn have been captured by the Amarillo Watercolor Society, who will be selling their works in the Gallery Room of the River Valley Pioneer Museum, and in the nimble needlework of quilters in the quilt and afghan show. Tap your feet to the beat during the Prairie River Musical and Sing Along, then kick up your heels until the wee hours of the morning at the Fall Foliage dance.

Harvest Festival
Woodville
The hands of time have turned back the pages of the calendar to a more innocent time at Heritage Village, a living history museum which preserves the past of the pioneers. Each third weekend in October re-enactors conjure up the sights, sounds and smells of the 1800's as they herald the arrival of autumn.

St. Ambrose Fall Festival
Wall
Since 1940 the parishioners of St. Ambrose Catholic Church have celebrated the bounty of the season with such family-friendly fun as bingo, children's games, displays of crafts for sale and a quilt raffle, topped off with a turkey and sausage dinner.

Autumn Days in Ennis Fall Festival
The Bluebonnet City of Texas invites folk to frolic at their annual fest on Ennis Avenue-- a day of pumpkin carving, horse drawn wagon rides, a petting zoo and pony rides for the little ones. Auto enthusiasts will get revved up over the vehicles on display in the Rockin' Relics Rod Run Car Show, while shoppers can get an early start on their Christmas list at the arts and crafts booths. The first 400 in line can preserve the memory of the day with a free family photo, posed in a setting of fall foliage.

"Turning of The Leaves" Fall Fest/Oktoberfest
Palestine
Once known as the Hot Pepper Festival, Palestine's autumn party still offers a spicy mix of live entertainment and arts and crafts booths.

Kaufman Fall Cabooodle Fest 2006
Kaufman
Get your motor running for the Kaufman Fall Car Show and the Kaufman Motorcycle rally, two vehicular events scheduled for this two-day fete at the courthouse square, which will offer over 150 vendors and amusement rides for the children. Kick up your heels to the sounds of Texas Underground at the street dance, watch the local high school band and the Red Hat Society as they march in the parade, and enjoy the antics of the Texas Top Guns comedic troupe before cheering on your favorite canine competitor in the Kaufman Dog Show.

November

Devine Fall Festival
Devine
A 5K Walk/Run gets this festival off to a running start and the pace never slows with performances by Elvis and Johnny Cash impersonators, a karate exhibition, a car show and a chili cook-off. A full day of fun at the Community Center concludes with a street dance.

Annual Martyn Farm Festival
Pasadena
Basket weaving and candle making are just two of the skills of our forefathers which are taught to a new generation during this two day, turn-of-the-century style event. Nature lovers can also enjoy a nostalgic hayride through a reconstructed farm at Armand Bayou Nature Center.