From fine dining to fine hiking and everything in between, Palestine has got it going on this Spring!

Start marking your calendar for all of these amazing events for March & April 2015!  If you know of anything I have missed or incorrect info, please post in the comments and I will add/change it! Have fun out there!

MARCH EVENTS

March 1-8, 2015 –1836 ChuckWagon Races at Diamond B Ranch. An event unlike any other, The 1836 Chuckwagon Race takes place the first weekend in March every year at the Diamond B Ranch in Neches, Texas. Activities include 5 classes of wagon races, trail rides, dutch oven cook’n classes, cowboy poetry, herd dog demonstrations, hoof care clinics, bull whip demonstrations, horse auction, wagon race calcutta, barn dances, live music, cowboy church and much more! Fun for the whole family! Pricing: Camping $20/per person per day; Day pass $10 per person per day; Kids 12 and under are free. Click here for full event details
March 4^th, 11^th & 18^th & 25th, 2015 – Children’s Storytime at the Palestine Public Library, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Join Ms. Jamie for stories, songs, crafts, and fun!
March 19-21 – Wyma & Co. Pop-Up Antique Sale, 9 a.m.–evening, 418 Coronaca.
March 19 – April 4 – “Life in Palestine in 1910-1919” Exhibits & Displays; Daily at The Redlands – 400 N. Queen Street, Palestine, Texas 75801

March 20-22, March 27-28 & April 3-5^th, 2015 : 77^th Annual Dogwood Trails Celebration. This long-time celebration takes place the last two weekends in March and first weekend in April.  Enjoy the delicate beauty of the dogwood trees in Davey Dogwood Park and the surrounding area.  Activities are scheduled each weekend to compliment the Celebration, including a festival the first weekend & the 100th Annual Celebration at the Redlands Hotel.  Don’t miss the Piney Woods Excursion and Dogwood “Train” Brunch at the Texas State Railroad, Dulcimer Festival,  Main Street Farm & Flower Market, live productions at the Texas Theatre & much more. For more information and a full list of events, click here.

March 21 – Cherokee Neches Paddling Trail Launch Event, 11am at River Run Park – HWY 79 (Between Jacksonville & Palestine). 903-589-2217

March 20-22 – The Historic Texas Theatre Presents “Love, Sex & the IRS” at The Historic Texas Theatre, 213 W. Crawford. Buy tickets at: www.outhousetickets.com
March 20 & 21-Boston Porter Memorial Bull Riding, 7:30pm Friday & Saturday night. Each night some of the toughest cowboys on the DON GAY Bull Riding Tour will take their shot at an 8 second ride on some of the rankest bulls competing in the United Bucking Bull Inc.  Plenty of action and fun for the family. All proceeds benefit the Boston Porter Memorial Scholarship.  Cost: $12 Advance @ Cavenders  in Palestine  Kids 6 & under free  &  $15 @ Gate. 750 N US HWY 287, Palestine.For more info, Kim Ray 903-731-4943 or [email protected]
March 20- Cars of Palestine Cruisin’ the Night Away 6-10pm at the Palestine Farmer’s Market – 825 W Spring St Contact James or Sherry 903.729.0403.
March 20 & 21- The Red Fire Grille Centennial Dinner Service Located in The Redlands and one of Palestine’s finest restaurants, they will be offering a Pre-Fix dinner that has been chef recreated from the dinner served at the opening in 1915 in the dining room of The Redlands. Menu will be available on The Redlands website, reservations requested.

March 20 – Restaurant Aubergine: “Pizza! Pasta! Pavlova!” -Chef Simon Webster serves pizza from his acclaimed wood-fired pizza oven. Featured in Texas Highways Magazine, pizza night features wood-fired pizza, handmade pasta & Chef Webster’s signature New Zealand Pavlova. 6pm to 9pm, BYOB, Call for reservations.
March 21-  “Wine and Whine” – Wine Tastings at Granny Muffin Wines.  301 W. Oak, Downtown Palestine. 11am-4pm.
March 21- Human Foosball Game, 9am – 4pm, location at festival TBD. Just like tabletop foosball, only you and your friends are the players in a life size game! Teams of 6 will play  and the team with the highest score wins!  Benefits United Way of East/Central Texas. $5 per adult game or 5 games for $20; $3 per child game or 5 games for $12.
March 21 & 22-  Sacred Heart Catholic Church Tours- 11am-3:30pm Sat, 3-5pm on Sun. 503 N Queen St 903.729.2463
Sunday, March 22 – Dogwood Brunch at Restaurant Aubergine. Call for reservations. 9am to 12pm. 903-729-9500.
March 22- Gingerbread and Coffee will be served at the Historic Pilgrim Cemetery, FM 861, Elkhart, Texas while tours and talks are given about the history of the cemetary and church,  it’s connections to the city of Palestine, John Wayne, Indian chiefs, and more. 2-4pm.
Every day during Dogwood Trails Celebration – Main Street Architectural Scavenger Hunt – Find the architectural gems of the Main Street district. Pick up your ‘Hunter Tips’ at the Visitor Center, or print them off the Main Street website. For more info call 903.723.3014
Every day during Dogwood Trails Celebration- Palestine Art Tracks Sculpture Exhibit – a juried outdoor sculpture exhibit in the Main Street District. Visit Palestine Main Street for more info or download the free PalestineTX app for iPhone and Android.
March 19-22 Crawfish Boil at the new Hambone’s Cajun Grill, 213 Crawford, next to Oxbow Bakery, 11am til the crawfish runs out!

March 26-28 –  14th Annual Palestine Old Time Music and Dulcimer Festival at the Musuem For East Texas Culture –  400 Micheaux, Palestine, TX

March 28^th, 2015—Main Street Farm & Flower Market, 8am to 4pm. Palestine Farmer’s Market.
March 27-29- A Weekend at the Ivy Payne Wildlife Refuge – End of County Road 134, near Elkhart. Nature tours on 480 acres of hills & bottomlands of Parker Creek. 4pm Fri, 9am & 1:30pm Sat, 9am Sun. Covered pavilion w/ bathrooms & kitchen. Free.

March 28^th, 2015—Bunnies on Main Street, 10am to 2pm.  Pictures with the Easter Bunny by Lee Loveless Photography Studio – 101 W. Oak, Downtown Palestine.

 March 28 & 29- Texas State Railroad Dogwood Special Brunch Train, departing 10:15 a.m. from Palestine Depot. Enjoy nature tourism at its best with nature’s spectacular show in our East Texas forests.  Adult $80 Child $50, Under 2 Free.

March 28-29 – Easter Egg Express at Texas State Railroad – Rusk Depot, 11am & 2pm. The Easter Egg Express is a train ride full of fun, family and entertainment. Take a train ride to meet the Easter Bunny! Enjoy an Easter egg hunt, hayride, games, food vendor and more! Trains depart Rusk Depot at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tickets: Adult $25, Child: $15, Under 2: Free. www.texasstaterr.com

March 28- 2nd Annual Egg-Normous Easter Egg Hunt.  11am-1pm at the Athletic Complex on Armory Road.  More than 15,000 stuffed eggs will be hidden for children ages 1-10 to find. The children will be divided into three age groups: 1-3 years, 4-7 years, and 8-10 years. Each age group will hunt eggs in their very own athletic field. Prized golden eggs will be among the hidden eggs in each age group, and the winning notes inside can be exchanged for prizes at the stage in the center field after the hunt. BYOB–(Bring your own Basket!) Other activities scheduled for this event include a rabbit petting farm, bounce houses, concessions, DJ / music, face painting, a visit with the Easter Bunny, and much, MUCH more! Don’t forget to bring your camera! Admission and parking is FREE!  For more information, please call 903.731.8435.
March 28- Cooking Class Under the Dogwoods at Sabor A Pasion. Enjoy the East Texas scenery, but transport yourself to Easter in Southern Italy. Learn authentic recipes for this most Holy day and finish with a meal around our handmade Tuscan table. Reservations necessary. Call 903-729-9500.

March 28- Dogwood Book Festival (with New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine author of the Morganville Vampire Series), Storyteller extraordinaire Jaan Powers will perform tales for the young and the young at heart. Learn how to write the next best seller, as well as discover the ins and outs of the publishing world. There will also be children’s activities, as well as many authors of every genre with books for signing. Free. 10am-2pm at Palestine Public Library – 2000 S. Loop 256

March 28 – Bistro Dining at Restaurant Aubergine: 3 course prix fixe menu. Call for reservations. 6pm to 9pm. 903-729-9500, BYOB.

March 28 & 29 – Sacred Heart Catholic Church Tours- 11am-3:30pm Sat, 3-5pm on Sun. 503 N Queen St 903.729.2463

March 29- The Historic Texas Theatre presents “Love, Sex & the IRS” – 213 W Crawford St – Tickets and showtimes

March 29 – Dogwood Brunch at Sabor A Pasion (plated): Call for reservations. 9am to 12pm. 903-729-9500
March 29- Gingerbread and Coffee will be served at the Historic Pilgrim Cemetery, FM 861, Elkhart, Texas while tours and talks are given about the history of the cemetary and church,  it’s connections to the city of Palestine, John Wayne, Indian chiefs, and more. 2-4pm.

APRIL EVENTS

April 3 & 4th- Easter Egg Express at Texas State Railroad – Rusk Depot, 11am & 2pm. The Easter Egg Express is a train ride full of fun, family and entertainment. Take a train ride to meet the Easter Bunny! Enjoy an Easter egg hunt, hayride, games, food vendor and more! Trains depart Rusk Depot at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tickets: Adult $25, Child: $15, Under 2: Free.
April 3 & 4- Boston’s Buckin BBQ Cook-Off. Mighty bucking good brisket…chicken , ribs & beans. Come on out for the fun or sign up to participate. Don’t forget your tickets for the 50/50 CASH raffle to be given away at the awards ceremony. Check In on Friday , Judging Saturday starting at 11am. Awards 3pm. $100 Entry fee for one category, two or ALL!   Check out  official rules. Donations of $5 for Boston’s Scholarship fund will be accepted at the gate with a big ole “Thank You kindly.” 750 N US HWY 287, Palestine. Contact: Kim Ray 903-731-4943 or [email protected]
Friday, April 3 – Restaurant Aubergine: “Pizza! Pasta! Pavlova!” – Chef Simon Webster serves pizza from his acclaimed wood-fired pizza oven. Featured in Texas Highways Magazine, pizza night features wood-fired pizza, handmade pasta & Chef Webster’s signature New Zealand Pavlova. 6pm to 9pm, BYOB.
Every day during Celebration – Main Street Architectural Scavenger Hunt – Find the architectural gems of the Main Street district. Pick up your ‘Hunter Tips’ at the Visitor Center, or print them off the Main Street website. For more info call 903.723.3014
April 4 – Bistro Dining at Restaurant Aubergine: 3 course prix fixe menu. Call for reservations. 6pm to 9pm. 903-729-9500, BYOB, www.saborapasion.com
April 3 & 4- Sacred Heart Catholic Church Tours- 11am-3:30pm Sat, 3-5pm on Sun. 503 N Queen St 903.729.2463

April 3-5- Palestine Art Tracks Sculpture Exhibit – a juried outdoor sculpture exhibit in the Main Street District. Visit www.palestinemainstreet.org for more info or download the free PalestineTX app for iPhone and Android.
April 5- Easter Sunday Brunch at Red Fire Grille.  Three courses, Reservations required.  $48 per person.  11:30am-1:30pm. 400 N. Queen St, Downtown Palestine.  903-723-2404.
April 5- 7am Easter Sunrise Service at Manley Mountain in Davey Dogwood Park.  Enjoy the sunrise over Palestine and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in drama, music and scripture.  Bring a comfy lawn chair or sit in metal chairs provided.  This non-denominational service is sponsored by First United Methodist Church.  For more information call 903-729-6205.
April 5- Dogwood Brunch (plated): Call for reservations. 9am to 12pm. 903-729-9500.
 
These are just a few of the fantastic events going on during March and April. 3 weekends of amazing events during the Dogwood Trails Celebration, which is my favorite festival of the year. It’s a gorgeous time to get out and enjoy the scenery in Palestine, TX–and of course, a perfect time for a beautiful drive to see the dogwoods in bloom at Davey Dogwood Park.  Spring is coming, hoorah! 😉 Be sure to verify all events before driving out, as hours and dates of operations may change!  I will continue to update these as I receive info on them! Spring is shaping up beautifully in Palestine, TX!
 
Lisa E. Priest is a fan of all things fun in Palestine, TX and local REALTOR® with Picket Fence Realty, Inc. You can reach her via phone or text at 903-948-3343 or email [email protected] or at BuyPalestine.com.