Posted by Mid Lake Campground | Toledo Bend Lake, Texas
There is a certain point each year when East Texas begins to feel different.
The mornings turn a little cooler. The sunlight becomes softer. Summer’s long afternoons give way to evenings that seem made for sitting outside, and suddenly pumpkins, hayrides, local food, and fall festivals feel exactly right.
For guests visiting Toledo Bend in September, the Broaddus Annual Fall Festival & Pumpkin Patch offers a perfect reason to step away from the lake for a few hours and celebrate the changing season.
Hosted at Ironosa Hills in Broaddus, the festival brings together many of the things people love most about small-town fall: hayrides, live music, food trucks, local artisans and vendors, pumpkin carving, and activities for the whole family.
It is the kind of afternoon that feels unmistakably East Texas.
When Lake Season Meets Fall Festival Season
Fall is one of the most enjoyable times to experience Toledo Bend.
The intense heat of midsummer begins to ease, yet the lake remains inviting. Fishing continues, mornings are comfortable, and evenings become perfect for campfires.
It is also when communities throughout East Texas begin celebrating the season.
That means a fall trip can give you two vacations in one.
Spend one part of your day surrounded by water and pine forests, then trade your fishing rod for a hayride and pumpkin patch in the afternoon.
You do not have to choose between a lake getaway and a traditional fall weekend.
Here, you can have both.
A Classic Small-Town Fall Afternoon
There is something wonderfully nostalgic about a fall festival.
Children run toward pumpkins.
Families wander between vendor booths.
The smell of food drifts across the grounds.
Music plays somewhere nearby.
And nobody seems particularly concerned about keeping to a schedule.
The Broaddus Annual Fall Festival embraces exactly that kind of afternoon.
With local artisans and vendors alongside food trucks and seasonal activities, visitors can browse, snack, explore, and simply enjoy being outside together.
For travelers, it is also an opportunity to experience the community rather than merely drive through it.
Find the Perfect Pumpkin
Of course, no fall festival would feel complete without pumpkins.
The pumpkin patch gives families an opportunity to pick out a favorite, take seasonal photos, and bring a little piece of East Texas fall home with them.
Add pumpkin-carving contests into the mix and things get even more festive.
For children, it becomes an activity.
For parents, it becomes a photo opportunity.
And for everyone else, it is an excuse to embrace the season even if the temperatures still occasionally remind you that you are in Texas.
Hayrides, Food & Local Finds
The festival offers more than pumpkins.
Hayrides bring a classic country element to the day, while local artisans and vendors provide an opportunity to discover handmade goods and support area businesses.
Food trucks mean you can arrive hungry and turn the festival into lunch or an early dinner.
And as the afternoon continues, live music helps carry the celebration into the evening.
It is casual, family-friendly, and easy to enjoy at your own pace.
Stay for the Concert
One of the nicest things about this festival is that the day does not simply end when the afternoon activities begin winding down.
A concert is scheduled for the evening, giving visitors a reason to stay a little longer.
After an afternoon spent exploring the pumpkin patch, enjoying the food, and browsing vendor booths, settle in and let live music close out the day.
It is the kind of transition that makes the festival feel like a full experience rather than a quick stop.
Make It a Fall Weekend at Toledo Bend
Instead of driving in only for the festival, turn the event into a weekend.
Wake up beside Toledo Bend and enjoy a quiet morning on the water.
Go fishing while the temperatures are cooler, take a walk along the shoreline, or simply enjoy coffee outside.
Then head toward Broaddus for the festival.
The following day can be entirely different—perhaps a picnic at Sabine Pendleton Park, a drive through Hemphill, or another morning fishing Toledo Bend.
Back at Mid Lake Campground, end the weekend around the fire as the temperature drops and the stars come out.
That is East Texas in the fall: simple, comfortable, and difficult to leave.
Your Fall Home Base at Mid Lake
Mid Lake Campground puts you close to the lake while giving you easy access to the small towns and seasonal events that make Sabine County worth exploring.
Our cabins and RV stays make it easy to build a weekend around fishing, fall activities, local dining, and plenty of time outdoors.
Come for the festival.
Stay for the lake.
And somewhere between the pumpkin patch and a quiet Toledo Bend sunset, you may discover that fall is one of the best seasons to experience this part of Texas.
Event Information
Event: Broaddus Annual Fall Festival & Pumpkin Patch
Date: September 26, 2026
Festival Hours: 9:00 AM–4:30 PM
Concert: 5:00 PM
Location: Ironosa Hills, Broaddus, Texas
Activities: Hayrides, live music, food trucks, pumpkin carving contests, local artisans and vendors
Vendor/Sponsor Contact: bobby@ironosahills.com
Mid Lake Campground | Near Hemphill, Texas | Toledo Bend Lake
