East Texas Offers Variety of Valentine's Weekend Events

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East Texas is offering a wide range of events and activities for Valentine's Day weekend, including haunted houses with a romantic twist, a trail running series, a visit to an animal rescue ranch, a Mardi Gras celebration, an art event at a state park, and a dueling piano show. The weather is expected to be mixed, with rain on Saturday but a nice Sunday.

Why it matters

With Valentine's Day falling on a weekend, East Texas is providing a diverse array of options for couples and singles alike to celebrate or distract themselves from the holiday. The events cater to different interests and age groups, showcasing the region's vibrant community spirit and entertainment offerings.

The details

The Intimate Doom haunted house in Kilgore and Vampira's Curse at Doc Wilkes House of Horrors in Longview are putting a romantic spin on their typical haunted attractions for Valentine's weekend. The Run the Pines Trail Series is hosting a 5K-20K run/hike event at a Tyler park, while the Sanctuary of Hope animal rescue in Murchison is offering guided tours. Nacogdoches is celebrating Mardi Gras with beer, music and food at Fredonia Brewery and Chambers Smokehouse, and Tyler State Park is hosting an art event focused on nature. Finally, the Dueling Pianos: The Killer Keyz show in Athens promises high-energy entertainment.

• The Intimate Doom and Vampira's Curse haunted houses are open on Friday and Saturday.
• The Run the Pines Trail Series event takes place on Saturday morning.
• The Sanctuary of Hope animal rescue tour is on Saturday at 11 a.m.
• The Beads and Brews Mardi Gras event in Nacogdoches is on Saturday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• The Tyler State Park art event is on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• The Dueling Pianos: The Killer Keyz show in Athens is on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.