Hey Tyler!
This weekend has a little something for everyone. The Brick Street Revival songwriter festival takes over Liberty Hall Friday and Saturday, Felipe Esparza is doing four shows at Rose City Comedy, and Movies in the Park is back at Bergfeld Saturday night. If you need something to do before school picks back up, this is your weekend.
There's also something worth your two cents: Texas Parks and Wildlife is taking public comment on a proposed state park right up the road on Lake Palestine. And over at Boulter Middle School, kids are already back in class — the first Tyler ISD campus to start the new year.
Let's get into it.
In today's edition:
🏞️ A new state park could be coming to Lake Palestine
🎸 Brick Street Revival takes over Liberty Hall
⚾ The Knockouts wrap up their season at Mike Carter Field
🎬 Movies in the Park returns to Bergfeld
Tyler Lowdown
🏞️ A proposed state park on Lake Palestine is open for public comment Texas Parks and Wildlife is asking Texans to weigh in on buying roughly 650 acres on the shores of Lake Palestine, in Henderson County between Tyler and Athens. A local landowner is willing to sell, and the tract includes woods, pastures and several small ponds — well suited for camping, boating, swimming, paddleboarding, fishing, hiking and more. State officials say Northeast Texas has long been underserved by the state park system. Comments are open online until 5 p.m. on August 19. Read more
🎒 Boulter Middle School is the first Tyler ISD campus back in class Boulter students returned Monday, kicking off the 2026-27 year weeks ahead of the rest of the district — most Tyler ISD campuses start August 12. The early start is part of Boulter's move to the Accelerated Campus Excellence model, which adds instructional days, extends the school day to 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and puts a higher concentration of state-designated top teachers on campus. Principal Nathan Harbour called the first day the start of something special for students, families and staff. Read more
🏗️ Golden Road Park is in line for upgrades — and the City wants your project ideas Tyler City Council approved applying for a $750,000 Texas Parks and Wildlife grant to renovate Golden Road Park in East Tyler, with the City matching 50%. The work is nuts-and-bolts rather than flashy: new and renovated restrooms, plumbing and drainage repairs, better lighting, fencing, bleachers, and eventually shade structures and benches. Council also opened public comment on the Half Cent Sales Tax annual work program — the roughly $20 million a year that funds Tyler's capital projects. Residents submitted 188 project ideas this spring, which narrowed to about 61 new candidates. That comment period runs through September 20. Read more
💻 Tyler's IT department is finally getting a building built for it For more than 25 years the City's IT team has worked out of the third floor of City Hall. That space is out of room — the department now runs more than 440 servers, and the server room has maxed out its 20 tons of air conditioning with nowhere to add more. A new ground-floor facility is being built specifically for the job, with better cooling, a modern backup generator and protection from severe weather. The department handles cybersecurity, phone systems and websites for Tyler, provides IT services for Whitehouse, and manages server infrastructure for local 911. The move is expected to wrap up before the end of the year. Read more
📈 Tyler added about 1,200 jobs last year as unemployment ticked up New Texas Workforce Commission data covering June 2025 to June 2026 shows the Tyler metro area — essentially Smith County — added roughly 1,200 nonfarm jobs, about 1% growth. Statewide, Texas added 177,900 jobs at a 1.2% rate. Tyler Economic Development Council CEO Scott Martinez put the local number at about three jobs a day and called that solid for a market this size. At the same time, Smith County's unemployment rate rose from 3.8% to 4.5%, which the report attributes largely to more people entering the labor force. Martinez pointed to Hiland Dairy's $100 million processing plant and a new business park north of Loop 323 as signs of continued momentum. Read more
⚖️ The new courthouse comes with new staffing costs At Tuesday's Smith County budget workshop, Facilities Director Ed Nichols asked for two additional custodians and two maintenance mechanics to cover the new courthouse, which is nearly four times the size of the current building and has six more elevators and 62 restrooms. Nichols said more staffing requests will follow in future budget years. Commissioners also heard from Pct. 4 Constable Josh Joplin, who raised concerns about the aging Pct. 4 building in Winona and, along with Pct. 2 Constable Wayne Allen, requested an additional deputy. Joplin also argued the county's other 33 law enforcement positions should see pay comparable to recent sheriff's office raises. County Judge Neal Franklin has said the coming budget could be tighter than the current one. Read more
Tyler Events
Thursday, July 30
Tyler Farmers Market 4850 Old Bullard Rd, Tyler | Thursday July 30 | 7:00 AM | Learn more
Open Makerspace Tyler Public Library | Thursday, July 30 | 3:00 PM | Learn more
Trolls Free Admission Hometown Cinemas, Jacksonville | Thursday, July 30 | 10:00 AM | Learn more
Yarn Club Lillie Russell Memorial Library | Thursday, July 30 | 4:00 PM | Learn more
Tyler Knockouts Christmas in July Game Mike Carter Field, Tyler | Thursday, July 30 | 7:00 PM | Learn more
Live Jazz Night Rose City Comedy, Tyler | Thursday, July 30 | 7:00 PM | Learn more
Emily Glover Live The Grove, Tyler | Thursday, July 30 | 7:30 PM | Learn more
Friday, July 31
Dino Olympics Tyler Public Library Friday, July 31 | 10:30 AM | Learn more
Tyler Knockouts Closing Night Game Mike Carter Field, Tyler | Friday, July 31 | 7:00 PM | Learn more
Mama V & the LoneStar Revival Live Fresh by Brookshire’s | Friday, July 31| 6:00 PM | Learn more
Quentin Moore Live The Grove, Tyler | Friday, July 31 | 7:30 PM | Learn more
Felipe Esparza Live Rose City Comedy, Tyler | Friday, June 31 | 7:00 & 9:00 PM | Learn more
Brick Street Revival: Singer/Song Writer Festival: Sean McConnell & Wade Bowen Liberty Hall, Tyler | Friday, July 31 | 8:00 PM | Learn more
Dr. Factenstein’s Karaoke Brisket Love, Lindale | Friday, July 31 | 7:00 PM | Learn more
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Saturday, August 1
Tyler Farmers Market 4850 Old Bullard Rd, Tyler | Saturday, August 1 | 7:00 AM | Learn more
Aloha Artisan Market Circle M Crawfish, Big Sandy | Saturday, August 1 | 9:00 AM | Learn more
Brick Street Revival: Singer/Song Writer Festival: Songwriters Workshop Liberty Hall, Tyler | Saturday, August 1 | 9:00 AM | Learn more
Bookish Book Club Laurel & Pearl Bakery, Tyler | Saturday, August 1 | 9:30 AM | Learn more
Mineola Farmers Market Farmers Market Pavilion, Mineola | Saturday, August 1 | 10:00 AM | Learn more
Dutch Oven Cookin’ Tyler State Park | Saturday, August 1 | 10:00 AM | Learn more
Saturday Brunch with Tommie Jo Live The Grove, Tyler | Saturday, August 1 | 10:30 AM | Learn more
Journey Center Benefit Car Show LifeSource Community Church, Lindale | Saturday, August 1 | 11:00 AM | Learn more
Line 5 Live Fresh by Brookshire’s | Saturday, August 1 | 6:00 PM | Learn more
Goodman Mystery Dinner: The Chef's Secret 624 N. Broadway Ave., Tyler | Saturday, Aug. 1 | 6:00 PM | Learn more
Darrin Morris Live The Grove, Tyler | Saturday, August 1 | 7:30 PM | Learn more
Felipe Esparza Live Rose City Comedy, Tyler | Saturday, August 1 | 7:00 & 9:00 PM | Learn more
Don Louis Live True Vine Brewery, Tyler | Saturday, August 1 | 8:00 PM | Learn more
Brick Street Revival: Singer/Song Writer Festival Liberty Hall, Tyler | Saturday, August 1 | 8:00 PM | Learn more
Movies in the Park Bergfeld Park, Tyler | Saturday, August 1 | 8:30 PM | Learn more
Sunday, August 2
Sunday Brunch with Eve’s Road Live The Grove, Tyler | Sunday, August 2 | 10:30 AM | Learn more
Casual Sunday Brunch Rose City Comedy, Tyler | Sunday, August 2 | 10:00 AM | Learn more
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Monday, August 3
Horror Book Club Tyler Public Library | Monday, August 3 | 5:30 PM | Learn more
Monday Open Mic Rose City Comedy, Tyler | Monday, August 3 | 7:30 PM | Learn more
Little Brushes: Summer Camp Pinot’s Palette, Tyler | Monday, August 3 | 1:00 PM | Learn more
Tuesday, August 4
Tyler Farmers Market 4850 Old Bullard Rd, Tyler | Tuesday, August 4 | 7:00 AM | Learn more
Carols & Community Youth Choir Interest Meeting The Hub at Bethesda Church, Lindale | Tuesday, August 4| 10:00 AM | Learn more
Baby Storytime Tyler Public Library | Tuesday, August 4| 10:30 AM | Learn more
Minions: The Rise of Gru Free Admission Hometown Cinemas, Jacksonville | Tuesday, August 4 | 10:00 AM | Learn more
Teens & Tweens Dungeons & Dragons Club Tyler Public Library | Tuesday, August 4 | 5:00 PM | Learn more
Adult Game Day Lillie Russell Memorial Library | Tuesday, August 4 | 10:00 AM | Learn more
1st Tuesdays Trivia Parry’s Pizza, Tyler | Tuesday, August 4 | 7:00 PM | Learn more
Wednesday, August 5
Minions: The Rise of Gru Free Admission Hometown Cinemas, Jacksonville | Wednesday, August 5 | 10:00 AM | Learn more
Toddler Story Time Tyler Public Library | Wednesday, August 5 | 10:30 AM | Learn more
Wine Down Wednesday Live Music The Grove, Tyler | Wednesday, August 5 | 6:00 PM | Learn more
Dr. Factenstein’s Trivia Night Rose City Comedy, Tyler | Wednesday, August 5 | 7:00 PM | Learn more
Dr. Factenstein’s Trivia Night ETX Brewery Co., Tyler | Wednesday, August 5 | 7:00 PM | Learn more
Open Mic Comedy Ricks on the Square, Tyler | Wednesday, August 5 | 7:00 PM (sign ups @ 6:30PM) + Free entry and free to sign up!
Thursday, August 6
Minions: The Rise of Gru Free Admission Hometown Cinemas, Jacksonville | Thursday, August 6 | 10:00 AM | Learn more
Live Jazz Night Rose City Comedy, Tyler | Thursday, August 6 | 7:00 PM | Learn more
Dr. Factenstein’s Trivia Night True Vine Brewery, Tyler | Thursday, August 6 | 7:00 PM | Learn more
Upcoming
Natalie Cuomo Rose City Comedy, Tyler | Friday & Saturday, August 7 & 8 | 7:00 PM | Learn more
Tyler Home Town Dance True Vine Brewery, Tyler | Friday, August 14 | 7:00 PM | Learn more
Toadies True Vine Brewery, Tyler | Friday, August 21 | 8:00 PM | Learn more
Love Thy City W. T. Brookshire’s Conference Center, Tyler | Saturday, August 22 | 10:00 AM | Learn more
Family Circle Fun Run 110 E. Houston St., Tyler | Saturday, Aug. 8 | 7:00 AM | Learn more
BeatleGras True Vine Brewery, Tyler | Saturday, October 24 | 8:00 PM | Learn more
That's the week, Tyler. Whether you're catching a songwriter at Liberty Hall, sending the Knockouts off on closing night, or just spreading a blanket out at Bergfeld on Saturday, we hope you find something worth getting out the door for.
Got an event, a tip, or a story we should know about? Just hit reply — we read every one.
See you next week!
Eric & April
From Tyler