Can’t Miss Summer Events in Tyler, TX

If there’s one thing Texans know how to do, it’s celebrate. During the summer, you can find a variety of events and festivals to enjoy in Tyler, Texas. From flea markets to air shows to hot air balloon festivals, there are plenty of ways to keep you and your family entertained during the dog days of summer. Here are seven summer events to check out in Tyler and the surrounding East Texas region.

Downtown Tyler Film Festival

Film lovers will enjoy attending the Downtown Tyler Film Festival, held each year in Tyler, Texas. The event began in 2011, coinciding with the reopening of the historic Liberty Hall theater. The festival aims to bring filmmakers and cinephiles together to enjoy films from across the globe. Each year, the festival typically hosts three categories of short film, which are Young Filmmakers, International and Texas Shorts, and Best of the Fest, awarded on the final night of the festival.

The Downtown Tyler Film Festival lasts for four days and offers a variety of ticketing options so you can customize your experience. In 2022, the festival will return to Liberty Hall after being held virtually last year due to safety precautions. For more information, visit the festival’s website.

Hit the Bricks

During the summer, visit downtown Tyler for a monthly Hit the Bricks event. Local vendors and organizations host events downtown on the second Saturday of each month. It’s an opportunity to support local businesses, mingle with others in the community, and enjoy the downtown area. Past events have included vintage markets, artist galleries, food competitions, and auto shows.

Hit the Bricks takes place each month, rain or shine. Parking is available at the free Fair Plaza Parking Garage on West Elm Street and South College Avenue. You can also park on the street downtown for free on Saturdays. Check the Downtown Tyler website for more information about each monthly event.

Vintage Market Days of East Texas

If you love the thrill of searching for rare, antique items, you don’t want to miss Vintage Market Days of East Texas. This upscale vintage market takes place three times each year in different communities in East Texas. Typically, you can find a wide range of antiques and collectibles at the market, including original art, clothing, home decor, outdoor furnishings, and jewelry. With a variety of vendors, you’re sure to find new treasures each time you attend.

The next Vintage Market Days event takes place June 10 through 12 in Lindale, Texas. You can attend an early buying event on Friday or purchase general admission tickets for Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $15 for the Friday event and $10 for Saturday and Sunday admission, which includes free reentry all weekend. Children 12 and under get in for free. For more information, visit the Vintage Market Days website.

Tomato Fest

You won’t go hungry at the annual Tomato Fest in nearby Jacksonville, Texas. The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce hosts this popular event each summer, transforming the city into “Tomatoville.” Highlights of the festival include a tomato eating contest, which features local celebrities vying for the coveted crown, and a salsa contest. The festival also features live entertainment, a car show, and a street dance in the evening.

Tomato Fest takes place in downtown Jacksonville on Commerce Street from Austin to Bolton streets. This year, it will be held on June 11. Gates open at 8 a.m. For more information about the festival, visit the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce website.

Rose City Airfest

After a successful first year, the Rose City Airfest will return in 2022 for its second annual event. Held at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, the event features a variety of vintage military aircraft. This year, the event will include a flyover of an F-16 Fighting Falcon, originally developed for the U.S. Air Force. You can also purchase a ride on a PT-17 Stearman or a B-29 Superfortress, one of only two B-29s still flying in the U.S. today. Other activities at the festival include a blood drive and a kids’ zone. Food and beverages will be available at concession stands.

The event benefits CampV, which stands for Community Assisting Military Personnel & Veterans. The organization offers support and resources to East Texas veterans, including financial, legal, and health care assistance. The 2022 Rose City Airfest will take place on July 1. Gates open at 2 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the event website.

July Fourth Celebration

Show your patriotic spirit at the city of Tyler’s July Fourth Celebration, held every Independence Day at Lindsey Park, 12557 Spur 364 W. This quintessential summer event includes vendors, food trucks, and live entertainment at the park during the day and a fireworks show after dark. You can watch the sky light up from the park, or find a spot nearby if you want to avoid the crowds. Make sure you arrive early if you want to find a parking spot at the park. Carpooling with others is highly recommended.

Admission to the July Fourth Celebration is free. The city of Tyler posts a full schedule of events and more information about the event on its website.

Balloon Fest

For a truly unique experience, make plans to attend Balloon Fest in nearby Canton, Texas. The two-day event, held every summer, features a variety of activities, including bounce houses, car shows, art vendors, local musicians, and a 5K glow run on Friday night. Of course, the balloons are the centerpiece of the festival, which light up the sky on each night of the festival. The event also includes a balloon competition, sanctioned by the Balloon Federation of America, and tethered or full balloon rides for you and your family to enjoy.

This year, Balloon Fest will take place on July 8 and 9. Festival hours are from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day. The cost of admission is $10 for cars, $20 for vans, and $50 for buses. To learn more about the festival, visit its website.

Now you know all about seven summer events in Tyler, Texas. Do you plan to attend one of these events this year? If you’ve been to any of these events before, which one is your favorite? Send a message to Classic Toyota of Tyler and let us know. We love to help people find new ways to explore Tyler and the entire East Texas region. Also, read more about things to do around Tyler, TX this summer here!

Image by Dave Takisaki Licensed by Unsplash