Palestine
Around Palestine
Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Texas · 59k people
Palestine
“Dogwood Capital of Texas”
Where dogwoods bloom and the pines whisper
Piney Woods GreenBurnt Orange
Welcome to Palestine, where the piney woods meet the lake. Grab some brisket and enjoy the slow pace. Don't forget to ask about the dogwoods when spring rolls around.
Clubs for Palestine
No clubs for Palestine yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Palestine. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Palestine. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Texas State Railroad Historic steam train running between Palestine and Rusk through the forest.
- Lake Palestine Large reservoir for fishing, boating, and lakeside recreation.
- Davy Crockett National Forest Pine and hardwood forest with hiking and camping near Crockett.
- Mission Tejas State Park State park with trails and a replica of the first Spanish mission in East Texas.
- Fairfield Lake State Park Lakefront park with camping, fishing, and birdwatching.
- Historic Downtown Palestine Old town square with brick streets and preserved 19th-century buildings.
- Outdoors Fish for bass on Lake Palestine
- Outdoors Hike the trails in Davy Crockett National Forest
- With kids Ride the Texas State Railroad
- With kids Swim and picnic at Lake Palestine
- Evenings Dance at a honky-tonk
- Evenings Listen to local bands at downtown bars
- Locals love Barbecue joints
- Locals love Honky-tonks
Through the year
- Dogwood Trails Celebration April Spring festival with guided drives and hikes through blooming dogwoods.
- Anderson County Fair July County fair with livestock shows, carnival rides, and local food.
- Davy Crockett Festival October Crockett's annual celebration with live music, arts and crafts, and a parade.
- Texas State Railroad Seasonal Excursions Year-round Historic train rides with themed events like pumpkin patch trains in fall.
- Lake Palestine Bass Tournaments Spring and fall Regular bass fishing competitions on the lake.
East Texas climate: hot, humid summers and mild winters. Best to be outside in spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal – mild days and low humidity.
Getaways
- Tyler Visit the Tyler Rose Garden and the Discovery Science Place.
- Nacogdoches Explore the oldest town in Texas with historic brick streets and Millard's Crossing.
- Huntsville See Sam Houston's statue and the Texas Prison Museum.
- Corsicana Check out the Collin Street Bakery and the historic downtown.
Local flavour
Rooting for Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Texas A&M Aggies, Texas Longhorns
Eat and drink
- Texas barbecue (brisket, ribs) Smoky, slow-cooked meats are a staple in local joints.
- Chicken fried steak A classic Southern comfort dish served with cream gravy.
- Pecan pie A sweet dessert made with local pecans, common in East Texas.
- Sweet tea A refreshing, sugary iced tea that accompanies most meals.
- Kolaches Czech-inspired pastries, popular across Texas, often filled with fruit or sausage.
Where people go
- Barbecue joints Casual, wood-paneled spots serving smoked meats and sides.
- Honky-tonks Country bars with live music, dancing, and a welcoming local crowd.
- Historic town squares County courthouses and old brick storefronts that anchor small towns.
- Pine forests Dense stands of loblolly pines that define the landscape and provide shade.
- Lakes like Lake Palestine Reservoirs popular for fishing, boating, and lakeside recreation.
Heritage and traditions
Palestine and the surrounding East Texas towns are proud of their deep railroad history, the spectacular spring dogwood blooms, and a relaxed small-town pace where everyone knows their neighbors.
This time of year in Palestine
- Hunting season Fall Deer and dove hunting are popular, with many families spending weekends in the woods.
Say it like a local: “Fixin' to” — About to do something.
Festivals
- Crockett Dogwood Festival April Celebrates the blooming dogwoods with crafts, food, and a parade.
- Fairfield Freestone County Fair September Classic county fair with livestock shows, carnival rides, and local produce.
Landmarks with a story
- Freestone County Courthouse Historic 1880s courthouse in Fairfield, a landmark of the county seat.
- Houston County Courthouse Historic courthouse in Crockett, dating to the 1880s, with a distinctive clock tower.
- Palestine Carnegie Library Built in 1914 with Carnegie funds, now a cultural center and event venue.
- Old Palestine Cemetery Historic burial ground with graves from the 1800s, including early settlers and veterans.
Food traditions
- Crawfish boils Springtime tradition in East Texas, often at churches and community centers, with spicy boiled crawfish, corn, and potatoes.
- Catfish fries Friday night fish fries at churches and volunteer fire departments, serving fried catfish with hush puppies.
- Deer sausage Hunters make sausage from deer meat, often smoked and shared with neighbors during deer season.
- Hot pepper jelly A local specialty, often made with jalapeños or other peppers, served over cream cheese with crackers.
Music and arts
- East Texas blues A regional blues style with roots in the early 20th century, influenced by Blind Lemon Jefferson.
- Country music Honky-tonks and dance halls are common, with local bands playing classic country.
- Southern gospel Church choirs and gospel singings are a strong tradition, especially in rural communities.
A little history
- 1716 Mission Tejas established
- 1872 Railroad arrived in Palestine
- 1960s Lake Palestine created
- 1830s Anglo settlers moved in
Rivalries
- Palestine vs. Crockett high school football Friendly but intense Friday night rivalry.
- Texas A&M vs. Texas Longhorns College football loyalties split households.
- Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans NFL bragging rights between fans.
- Game day High school football
- Game day Bass fishing tournaments
- Outdoors Hunt for deer and dove in the fall
- Outdoors Canoe or kayak on the Neches River
- With kids Attend the Hot Pepper Festival
- With kids Pick pecans and bake pies
People speak with a classic East Texas drawl, stretching vowels and using phrases like 'y'all' and 'fixin' to'. They often say 'mash' for 'press' and 'coke' for any soft drink.
Only here
- The town of Palestine is pronounced 'PAL-uh-steen', not like the Middle East.
- The Texas State Railroad offers vintage steam train rides through the piney woods.
- The Palestine Hot Pepper Festival celebrates the region's love of spicy food.
- Dogwood trees bloom spectacularly in spring, drawing visitors from all over.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce 'Palestine' as 'PAL-uh-steen' to sound like a local.
- Be prepared for hot, humid summers; spring and fall are the best times.
- Try the barbecue and the hot pepper jelly – they're local staples.
- Take a ride on the Texas State Railroad for a taste of history.
- Drive the dogwood trails in April to see the blooms.
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaJacksonvilleTexasWhere the pines meet the tomatoesCrockettTexasPiney woods, river bottoms, and good people.AthensTexasBlack-eyed peas, fiddles, and quiet lake evenings.TylerTexasWhere roses bloom and pines whisper.MexiaTexasWhere the blackland prairie meets the piney woods.CorsicanaTexasFruitcake capital, Texas proud.NacogdochesTexasWhere Texas history meets the Piney WoodsLufkinTexasWhere the pines meet the water
Palestine, TX. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.