Texas Porch
Annual Event Stories & local character

The Texas Rose Festival in Tyler has run every October since 1933

Smith County History & Culture

The first festival was held in Tyler in 1933 under the name East Texas Rose Festival, timed to the peak of the fall rose bloom. It was renamed the Texas Rose Festival during the Texas Centennial in 1936. The festival grew alongside the rose industry and became a major regional event. It continues each October.

If you are moving to or visiting Tyler in the fall, the festival draws large crowds and affects local traffic and hotel availability. It is one of the older annual festivals in East Texas.

Content last revised 2026-07-11

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