Tyler's Saturday of Fall Fun: A Free Church Festival, Tigers and Trick-or-Treating in the Pines
Saturday, Oct. 24, brings a free community fall festival at Tyler First Assembly, Prowl-O-Ween at Tiger Creek, a campus trunk-or-treat at UT Tyler and Parktober at Tyler State Park.
The roses have had their week in Tyler. This Saturday, Oct. 24, belongs to fall festivals, and families can fill the whole day without driving far.
Morning: Prowl-O-Ween at Tiger Creek
Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary holds Prowl-O-Ween from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 17552 FM 14. On a normal day visitors tour with a guide. For this event, guests check in and walk the sanctuary at their own pace. The day includes keeper talks, training and enrichment demonstrations, candy, a pumpkin decorating booth, free face painting, yard games, local vendors and food trucks. A hayride carries guests from the gravel parking lot to the front gate, and costumes are encouraged.
Tickets are sold online in limited numbers, and the sanctuary recommends buying ahead because the event can sell out. Its tour season ends Oct. 31, so this is one of the last chances to visit this year.
Late afternoon: UT Tyler trunk-or-treat
UT Tyler's annual Trunk or Treat runs from 5 to 7 p.m. in Parking Lot 16 as part of the university's Fall Fest. It is free and open to the public. Only student groups and campus offices can host cars.
Evening: Fall Spectacular at Tyler First Assembly
Fall Spectacular runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Tyler First Assembly of God, and admission is free. The event listing gives the address as 5309 Rhones Quarter Road and promises carnival games, a hayride, bounce houses, a puppet show, candy, food trucks, popcorn, cotton candy and giveaways.
"You don't have to be part of our church to join us," the church says. "Everyone is welcome." Opening the doors to the whole town with no strings attached is a good way for a church to love its neighbors.
All evening: Parktober at Tyler State Park
Tyler State Park has its own Saturday lineup. A ranger tells spooky stories starting at 5 p.m., a costume contest follows at 5:30, and Parktober Trick or Treat through the park starts at 6. The night before, Friday, Oct. 23, the park hosts Art in the Park at 5 p.m.
The park is at 789 Park Road 16. Entry is $6 for adults and free for children 12 and under. It often reaches capacity, and the park recommends reserving day passes online or by calling (512) 389-8900. The lake and the Whispering Pines Nature Trail, laid out by the Civilian Conservation Corps, make the drive worth it even without the candy.
Plan ahead
Check each organizer's page before you go. Outdoor schedules can shift with the weather, and ticketed events can sell out.
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