A Tyler tradition with events held throughout October, the Texas Rose Festival is a celebration of Texas heritage and history as well as everyone’s favorite flower. Now in its 83rd year, the Texas Rose Festival kicks off with a ribbon cutting in the Tyler Rose Garden Center, where you can view thousands of beautiful roses on display. Multiple events are scheduled throughout the weekend, all showcasing what makes Tyler the “Rose Capital” of the country. The top event is the Rose Parade, where you’ll see rose-decorated floats with the theme of “Museum of the Majestic.”

There’s also a coronation of the Texas Rose Festival Queen, a luncheon, an arts and crafts fair with local artists and vendors, and classes and seminars about the care and keeping of that gorgeous bloom. Events are scattered throughout Tyler, so you’re right in the heart of the action at Orion at the Cascades.

Texas Rose Festival
When: Oct. 13 – 16
Where: Multiple locations throughout Tyler, TX
https://www.everfest.com/e/texas-rose-festival-tyler-tx

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr Feist, Michael – FunnyFence – catchthefuture

Combining two popular desserts into one tasty treat, Great American Cookies offers cookie cakes perfect for a birthday, a holiday celebration, or a gift to just show someone you care. Great American Cookies is the originator of the cookie cake and was founded in 1977.

This location in Tyler, just nine minutes down the road from Orion at the Cascades, is known for its well-decorated cakes and great customer service. There are cakes themed for every occasion imaginable, and each creation is personalized with hand-drawn icing. If you don't need a cake, there are also cookie platters, “Double Doozies" (two cookies stacked with icing in between), and three different kinds of brownies. You can choose your order online or in the store, and each cookie is baked to your order. Convenient and delicious, Great American Cookies is a top spot in the area for celebration desserts.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Vanilla and lace

Movie lovers get front-row seats to new pieces of cinema at the Downtown Tyler Film Festival each year, and that's exactly what its founders had in mind when they started it in 2011. They wanted to create a local film festival that gave budding filmmakers an outlet but also granted moviegoers access to indie flicks they normally couldn't catch at the theater.

Now in its fifth year, the Downtown Tyler Film Festival continues to bring fresh films to the Liberty Hall Theater on West Erwin Street. From September 21st to 24th this year, pay $5 to enjoy one of the nights of film at the festival. In addition to the screenings, the festival also incorporates panels with film experts, receptions and dinners with the people behind the films, and awards for the very best productions. Mark your calendar to be part of the fun this year.

Downtown Tyler Film Festival
When: September 21 – 24
Where: Liberty Hall Theater, 110 W. Erwin Street, Tyler, TX 75702
Cost: $5+
www.tylerfilmfest.com
www.everfest.com/e/downtown-tyler-film-festival-tyler-tx

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr MoreLife81