Good morning, Tyler!

Can you believe it's almost October?

Pumpkin spice is upon us, Halloween is just around the corner... and pretty soon it'll be 2026! We'll be more than a quarter century into the new millenium. Let that sink in for a moment.

On a more positive note... there's a lot to do around Tyler this week! And, quite a bit more on the way as we head into the holiday season.

The growth around town also continues to amaze me. I've spent most of my life in this area, and watching the explosion of growth in Tyler over the past few years is enough to make my head spin. 

Earlier this week, we were driving down South Broadway as the sun was setting and passed the new Parkside development. As I glanced over at the construction, I could actually see the baseball fields in Faulkner Park from Broadway. Wild!

Seeing growth in the area, and the opportunity and promise it brings, is exciting. But seeing so many trees gone in a matter of days? Not so exciting.

Alright, alright... enough of that, without further ado, let's dive into what's happening in Tyler!

Could a trolley or light rail be in Tyler’s future?
Consultants floated a limited trolley on existing tracks, with long-term links to regional transit. Public input is open. 🚋 Read more

Tyler’s first-ever rodeo sells out
The East Texas State Fair debuted its first-ever PRCA rodeo and sold-out in its inaugural opening weekend. 🐴 Read more

Tyler’s growth spurt: downtown, northside, southside, everywhere
Not just one headline — lots of them: downtown’s big rebuild (new utilities, streets, and green space) plus a reimagined Blackstone Hotel on the way. (read more) North Tyler adds a 282-acre business-park site with new sewer lines and Amazon’s 140k-sf delivery station gearing up for the holidays (100+ jobs). (read more) South side lands BJ’s Wholesale Club (about 104–106k sf with a fuel center) at Parkside. (read more) And the first Oxxo is set for I-20 at FM 14. 🏗️ 🛒 🚚(read more)

Kindness at a crash scene turns into a reunion
Two strangers jumped in to help after a Tyler wreck, then found each other again thanks to Facebook. Faith in neighbors: restored. 🤝 Read more

🎡 East Texas State Fair | East Texas State Fair Grounds | Tyler | 9/19 - 28 | Learn more
Still going! Rides, food, exhibits, rodeo… everything. Plus, live music every night.

🥨 Oktoberfest | ETX Brewing Co. | Tyler | 9/27 | Learn more
Steins, brats, and live tunes. Kicks off at 11am.

🚗 Iron Horse Festival Car Show | Downtown | Mineola | 9/27 | Learn more
Classic rides roll in at 8am as part of Mineola’s festival.

🐛 Life of Bugs | Tyler State Park | Tyler | 9/27 | Learn more
Hands-on nature program for kids at 11am.

🛍️ First Monday Trade Days | Canton Grounds | Canton | 10/2 - 5 | Learn more
Not Tyler… but close enough that we gotta mention it! A sprawling market with thousands of vendors — a great day trip.

🧺 Vendor Fair | Bergfeld Park | Tyler | 9/27 | Learn more
Local makers and goods from 11am–3pm.

🐱 Purse Palooza Fundraiser (O’Malley Alley Cat Rescue) | True Vine Brewing Co. | Tyler | 9/27 | Learn more
Fundraiser with designer purse giveaway and much more; starts at 7pm.

🐦 Intro to Birding | Tyler State Park | Tyler | 9/27 | Learn more
Ranger-led beginner bird walk at 9am. Bring binoculars if you have them.

🌕 Full Moon Paddle | Tyler State Park | Tyler | 10/3 | Learn more
Ranger-led evening paddle at 7pm; registration required.

🏃 Piney Woods Ultra (5k/10k/25k/50k) | Tyler State Park | Tyler | 9/27 | Learn more
Trail races from 5k to 50k with morning start waves.

🏈 Tyler High vs Highland Park | Rose Stadium | Tyler | 9/26 | Learn more
Friday Night Lights — kickoff at 7pm.

🏈 Tyler Legacy vs North Forney | Rose Stadium | Tyler | 10/3 | Learn more
District matchup under the lights — kickoff at 7:30pm.

🎨 Downtown Tyler Art Festival | Downtown | Tyler | 9/27 | Learn more
Local artists, vendors, and live demos.

🎵 Drifted Harmony (Live) | Mercados Tyler | Tyler | 9/26
Live music on the patio starting at 6pm.

😂 AJ Wilkerson (Stand-Up) | Rose City Comedy | Tyler | 9/26 - 27 | Learn more
National touring comic; 9pm shows; 18+.

🎶 “WICKED” Dress-Up & Sing-Along (PG) | Liberty Hall | Tyler | 9/27 | Learn more
Costumes encouraged for this 2pm family matinee sing-along.

🎤 Jenn Ford | FRESH | Tyler | 9/26 | Learn more
Free outdoor set on the patio at 6pm.

🎸 Rafael Espinoza & the Rockabilly Railroad + The Train Horns | FRESH | Tyler | 9/27 | Learn more
Free outdoor set on the patio at 6pm.

📚 Silent Book Club | Sola Bread Co. | Tyler | 10/4
Bring any book; sip and read together at 10am.

🌙 Friday Night Market Nights | Dreams of Green Garden Center | Flint | 9/26 | Learn more
Food trucks, vendors, live music. 5–8pm under the lights.

🎼 Seasons of Love (ET Men in Harmony) | First Christian Church of Tyler | Tyler | 9/27
Barbershop chorus concert at 2pm; free (love offering welcomed).

🎭 The Miracle Worker (Opening) | Tyler Civic Theatre Center | Tyler | 10/3 | Learn more
Classic drama opens this weekend.

🎸 Randy Rogers Band | UT Tyler Cowan Center | Tyler | 10/3 | Learn more
Country favorite live on campus at 7pm.

🎵 Tyler Halverson | Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q | Tyler | 9/26 | Learn more
A unique take on classic country at 7pm.

That's a wrap for this week.

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Have a great weekend!

Eric
From Tyler