It's that time of the year when festivals around the region start kicking in. The Dogwood Trails Festival takes place Saturday, March 21 in Historic Downtown Palestine, Texas. This year’s theme is “Dogwoods Through the Decades." Festival highlights include live music and entertainment, a parade, beer garden, arts and crafts, Kids Zone and much more. The Dogwood Trails Festival kicks off the three weekends, the last two weekends in March and the first weekend in April of the 77th Annual Dogwood Trails Celebration. More than 90 arts and crafts and food vendors will be in downtown Palestine from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission to the festival is a $1 gate charge, children 12 and under get in free. All proceeds from the gate go to support local non-profit organizations.

The Kids Zone will host a variety of games, entertainment and activities for children of all ages. The Family Stage will be located in the Kids Zone and will host Professor QB the Clown and the band Phat Johnny and the Buicks.

The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. at the Anderson County Courthouse and travel down Ave. A, turn right onto Main Street, turn right onto Tennessee Street, right onto Lacy Street, and back to the courthouse.

The beer garden and festival bands will be in Old Town Palestine in the Hollow. The beer garden opens at 11 a.m. and the bands hit the Saw Dust Stage starting at 1 p.m. Jerrett Zoch and the OSR Band will play from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Tyler and the Tribe will play from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Festival bands are sponsored by Ben E. Keith Beverages.

“The festival is a great way to kick off the three week-ends of the Dogwood Trails Celebration,” said Marc Mitchell Executive Director of the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce. “We have great entertainment and activities planned for the whole family.”

Other Dogwood Trails Celebration events include the 14th Annual Old Time Music & Dulcimer Festival, the Texas State Railroad Dogwood Brunch Train, the Historic Texas Theatre’s productions of “Love, Sex & the IRS, Boston Porter’s Bull Riding event, and much more.

For more information on the Dogwood Trails Festival please call the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce at 903-729-6066 or visit TexasDogwoodTrails.

Palestine, Texas is about 163 miles from Texarkana.

Here's a video of the band Tyler and the Tribe.

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