Gilmer

Gilmer gives you a town gathering and a lake outing within the same trip. The Yamboree brings neighbors together around the courthouse square and other venues each fall. At other times, a Civic Center event or a walk near Lake Gilmer can be a reason to explore this part of Upshur County.

What's happening

Begin with Gilmer events on East Texan. The city event calendar and Gilmer Area Chamber calendar are other publisher resources to keep handy. For a particular festival or performance, the organizer's page will have the details that help you plan.

The East Texas Yamboree Association confirms October 14–17 for the 2026 Yamboree. Parades, music, livestock shows, exhibits, and the carnival offer several ways to take part in a tradition tied to Upshur County's sweet potatoes. You can choose a few activities and leave time to enjoy being in town.

The organizer's 2026 schedule includes a location key. Some activities are downtown, while others are at the Civic Center, Yamboree Park, or another venue. The festival homepage also links this year's map and Yam Taxi information. Those are useful companions to the schedule when putting your day together.

A few places to start

• Gilmer Civic Center: At 1218 U.S. Highway 271 North, the center hosts concerts, fine arts, trade shows, and community gatherings. Its city page has a venue calendar and contact information. If you're coming to a performance, check that listing for the show's own arrangements. The center also has information for people planning a gathering of their own.
• Fox Stephens Field: The city identifies the airport as home to the Flight of the Phoenix Aviation Museum. If aviation history is part of your interest in Gilmer, use the city's contact information to ask about current visiting arrangements before making that your next stop.

Make time for the lake

Lake Gilmer sits west of downtown along FM 852. The city identifies the park and Kelsey Creek Sanctuary Nature Trails entrance on Armadillo Road, just off Cherokee Trace. Its lake page links trail, location, and lake maps, which can help you choose where to begin. You might make the trails the main outing or add a walk to a day in town. Keep that map handy when heading out; the lake and the courthouse square are separate stops.

Keep these links handy

The Gilmer Area Chamber shares community news and supports local business and tourism. The city website has town notices, meeting information, maps, and contacts.

These resources were checked October 3, 2026. There's room here for neighbors to share the places they return to and the gatherings a visitor might otherwise miss.