5 Ways to Beat the Summer Heat

August is a hot month for Texans with temperatures soaring to 100 degrees. This year, summer temperatures seem to be more mild compared to previous year's but let's face it, it's still hot out there. Below are five ways you can beat the heat when you visit Athens this month:

1) Enjoy outdoor activities during the morning hours
The East Texas Arboretum is a wonderful place to visit to see the beautiful gardens and walk nature trails. Open daily from dawn to dusk, consider visiting the Arboretum in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the extreme temperatures. The Athens Farmer's Market opens at 8 a.m. every Saturday through October. This is a good opportunity to get outside early and buy local produce or other homemade items. The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center offers a monthly Bird and Nature Walk that begins at 9 a.m. the second Saturday of the month or fish anytime from the TFFC casting pond.

2) Visit places that are indoors during the heat of the afternoon
Athens has a number of indoor shopping opportunities from boutiques to art galleries that offer a break from the heat. For a list of shopping opportunities, click here to download our shopping guide. You can also tour the Henderson County Historical Museum, open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Friday and Saturday. Take the kids bowling at the Athens Bowling Center, where they can also play at the arcade or indoor miniature golf. Enjoy a movie matinee at Cinema 4.

3) Get Wet
Athens is surrounded by several lakes and offers a number of opportunities to get wet this summer. Take the boat out on Lake Athens or go jet skiing. Staying overnight at an Athens hotel? Enjoy complimentary access to the Cain Center to swim or workout, simply by showing your hotel room key to the front desk attendant. Are you scuba certified? Hunt for sunken treasure at the Athens Scuba Park.

4) Evening Entertainment
Be entertained at the Henderson County Performing Arts Center in August with Annie Get Your Gun. The Texas Gospel Music Hall will feature Tribute Quartet in concert this month. Bring the family to Family Fun Friday Nights at the East Texas Arboretum or relax on the patio with a taste of Texas wine at Tara Vineyard and Winery.

5) Drink Plenty of Fluids and Wear Sunscreen
Don't forget to drink plenty of fluids during your visit and if you will be spending time outdoors, you'll want to be sure and pack your sunscreen.

Annual TFFC Fourth of July Fireworks Show Less Than A Week Away

Fireworks light up the skies over the
Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center and
adjacent Lake Athens.

The annual Fourth of July fireworks show at the The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is almost here and will take place on Thursday, July 4. The show will last approximately one-half hour and is one of the biggest in East Texas.

The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for regular paid visitation. Free admission for the fireworks show will start at 4 p.m.

Visitors are encouraged to fish in the stocked casting pond while waiting for the fireworks, which will begin at dark.

No license is required to fish, and bait and tackle are furnished for free as long as supply lasts. Fishing ends approximately 30 minutes before the fireworks begin.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase, and people are encouraged to bring picnics. KCKL (FM 95.9) will broadcast patriotic music during the show.

Pets, alcohol, tobacco products and private fireworks, including "snap caps" and sparklers, are not allowed.

The show is a Keep Athens Beautiful event and is sponsored by the City of Athens, local businesses and individuals.

The event has become an area tradition, with many people dressing in red, white and blue in keeping with the holiday theme.

Parking is available in the main TFFC parking lot and in an overflow parking area on Peninsula Point Road. Persons using the overflow parking area may enter through Gate C, which is across the street from the parking area. For more information about the event, please click here.

Ready..Set..Glow Run

The Cain Center will be hosting an evening 5k/10k family-friendly event at 8:30 p.m. on July 27th.

Glow sticks and other glowing attire will be handed out as well as Glow in the Dark t-shirts for those that register early.

Come enjoy the warm summer night in colorful display of glowing sticks, necklaces, glasses, bracelets, and lights along with other cool stuff!

Please click here for more information and to download a registration form, or contact the Cain Center at 903-677-2001.

East Texas Arboretum Presents New Summer Events

The East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society will be hosting a series of Family Fun Friday Nights this summer on the grounds of the East Texas Arboretum.

Family Fun Friday Nights will feature a family-friendly movie along with other activities for the kids. The first event will kick off this Friday night, June 21st with Jurassic Park Night and a Dino Bone Dig. Light concessions will be available for guests. Events open at 7:30 p.m. and the movie will start at dusk.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend Family Fun Friday Nights on July 19th for Beach Blanket Bingo, a Slip-n-Slide and a Professional Dog Show. On August 16th, come out to the East Texas Arboretum for Ferris Bueller's Night, a Sock Hop and a Car and Motorcycle Show.

Admission is $4 per car for members and $5 per car for non members. For more information, please contact the East Texas Arboretum & Botanical Society at 903-675-5630.

City of Athens Promotes Tourism with New HD Video

In today's competitive tourism market, video is not an option but a must. With this in mind, the City of Athens Department of Tourism has teamed up with Phillips Productions of Dallas, Texas to produce the City's first tourism video to attract visitors to the City of Athens.

The City of Athens Department of Tourism has been working closely with the staff at Phillips Productions to produce a high quality video that brings to life the experience and ideas of what visitors can see and do here. "Athens has so much to offer visitors and our goal was to produce a video that speaks directly to the visitor and that captures the natural beauty that is Athens,” said Sherri Skeeters, tourism coordinator for the City of Athens Department of Tourism.

Michael Grant, director of marketing and strategic planning of Phillips Productions said, "Our company has a rich tradition in the art of storytelling. We used this powerful resource to produce a unique approach to the Athens video. We believe the storytelling technique is an authentic experience that viewers will enjoy while seeing all the things that make Athens a special place to visit."

The video captures stunning imagery and the charm of Athens from its nature trails and gardens to historic sites and outdoor adventures, and offers an invitation to viewers to get away for a while, relax and enjoy some new and exciting scenery.

The new video is available on the City of Athens Department of Tourism’s website at www.AthensTX.org and will be used to further promote Athens as a visitor destination through Texas tourism websites, including online advertising and promotions for the Department of Tourism.

What's blooming at the East Texas Arboretum?

Teresa Glasglow, Executive Director of the East Texas Arboretum & Botanical Society, included a bloom report in her recent newsletter. Here's what Teresa had to say about what's blooming at the Arboretum:

"The warmer weather has given the East Texas Arboretum a chance to plant a little earlier than usual. Poppies are starting to bloom now; and remember they do not last long. The largest concentration of poppies this year are in the Master Gardener's Dream Garden area behind the Wofford House. Larkspur are full of buds and will be showing off color anytime now. We let these beautiful flowers just pop up where they want every year.

While you're strolling through the gardens this year, check out one the Arboretum's new finds; the orange esperanza. Some of the other plants in bloom are Azaleas, Moss Rose, Gerber Daisy's, Pansies, Violias, Roses, and the list grows each day.

Early last summer, the Arboretum dedicated the new "Garden in the Forest". This new trail area is 1/3 of a mile long and is paved with small areas of landscaping. Perfect for parents with smaller children and strollers. The entrance is located at the far east side of the parking lot."

For more pictures of the Arboretum in bloom, click here to check out our "Spring Blooms" board on Pinterest.

East Texas Arboretum Gears Up for Spring Gala, Night in Vegas

The East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society is gearing up for their annual Spring Gala on Saturday, May 4th.

The theme of this year's event will be Night in Vegas. Pit your skills against Lady Lucky at the Pink Pavilion. The Wofford House will be transformed into an Italian eatery, featuring delicious cuisine by Sharon Locke. Elope with your sweetie at the Vegas Style wedding Chapel. Have some cake, be entertained by Elvis and win something fabulous at the silent auction.

Tickets are $50 per person and includes your meal, drinks, and entertainment. Proceeds from the annual Spring Gala support the Gardens and Education program at the East Texas Arboretum.

Contact the East Texas Arboretum office at 903-675-5630 for tickets, which may be purchased by check, cash or credit card.

Come have fun for a good cause!