This weekend in Texarkana, TX

Line up for a race that ends on a refreshing note. After you finish, pick up a whole watermelon to enjoy as a post-run treat.

The Shreveport Farmers Market brings a recurring pop-up marketplace to Festival Plaza in downtown Shreveport, Louisiana. Vendors from within 150 miles offer seasonal produce, jams and jellies, sauces, roots and herbs, meats from farm-raised livestock, fresh-baked bread, prepared foods, handmade art, and other dry goods. It highlights locally grown and handcrafted items from area producers and makers.

Mahjong for Mercy, presented by The Cottage together with Jenifer Doege of Let’s Go Mahjong, blends friendly competition with a meaningful cause at The Remington Suite Hotel & Spa. Friends, supporters, first-time players, and seasoned enthusiasts are welcomed into a carefully planned mahjong experience shaped by the warmth and polish of premier events nationwide, creating a beautiful day centered on connection and purpose. Proceeds benefit the Build Mercy Capital Campaign, which is working to establish a permanent home for Mercy Christian Academy in Shreveport. Through an extraordinary gift, the former Shreve City Baptist Church building was donated to serve as the school’s future campus, and the campaign is raising over $2 million to renovate the facility so it meets code and becomes a safe, attractive, and lasting environment for learning. This transformation aims to expand access to high quality Christian education, academic excellence, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to grow in faith and purpose. Individual tickets are $130 and include a chair, two morning sessions and two afternoon sessions of play, breakfast, lunch, an event swag bag, one raffle entry, and valet parking. A table ticket is $520 and provides four tickets, with each participant receiving the same play schedule, meals, swag bag, raffle entry, and valet service. A very limited lunch-only ticket is $50 and includes a special treat, a raffle entry, and valet parking, with mahjong play not included. The day flows from breakfast and check-in to a morning open-play session, continues with lunch and a program, then features an afternoon open-play session, with a raffle drawing closing the event. For those wishing to extend the experience, discounted rooms are available at The Remington Suite Hotel & Spa using promo code Lucky10. Every ticket, sponsorship, and donation through this event helps move the vision forward to create a permanent home where future generations of students can learn, grow, and flourish.

The Centenary Gold Dome hosts the inaugural Shreveport-Bossier 3-on-3 Basketball Championship, bringing together standout local talent for a fast-paced day on the court. Teams will compete for more than $5,00 in cash prizes, and the action stretches beyond the brackets with a dunk contest, live DJ sets, local food trucks, and interactive activities that keep the crowd engaged. Entry is $10 at the door. Team registration is $100. Sponsorship packages and food truck vendor opportunities are available for brands seeking visibility. For details, contact Matt Snyder at (318) 272-3139 or Deidra Robertson at (318) 425-3222.

Enjoy a hot meal with friendly service, available to-go only. There is no dine-in option, so plan to pick up your meal.

Get ready for the Hobbit 2-Headed Giant Prerelease, a sealed-format event where you will build your deck from a special prerelease kit. The event runs for four rounds, with pack prizes awarded based on match wins. Anyone preregistering online gets a discounted entry fee. Whether you are new or experienced, this is a great chance to jump into the format and compete for prizes.

Oakwood Home for Women is hosting its 2026 banquet at the Shreveport Convention Center. Tickets and tables are available, and participation helps support women in recovery.

Jump into a One Piece beginner-friendly deck party to celebrate the release of the latest 6 Starter Decks. This is a tournament where you’ll need to use one of the specified Starter Decks (ST-31 through ST-36), keeping things balanced and welcoming for newer players. Each participant will get a participation pack, and winners will receive a winner pack, with entry priced at $30 plus sales tax.

Country music star Gretchen Wilson headlines the 50th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival concert, bringing the chart-topping songs and powerful vocals that defined her rise. She burst onto the scene with Redneck Woman, has sold more than eight million albums, topped the Billboard charts, and earned honors from the CMA, ACM, AMA, CMT, Billboard Music, and the GRAMMYs. Her debut, Here for the Party, achieved five-times platinum status, and All Jacked Up set a record at the time for the highest debut by a female country artist. Momentum continues in a new chapter of her career. Wilson won Season 13 of The Masked Singer and appeared on the CBS/Paramount+ series THE ROAD with Blake Shelton and Keith Urban, serving as tour manager and on-air mentor. Her Still Here for the Party Tour delivers energetic sets filled with favorites, and she is re-recording Here for the Party with guest artists. The festival’s 50-year celebration includes arts and crafts, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, plenty of food, the Watermelon Olympics, and chilled Hope watermelons. The concert serves as the grand finale of the celebration. Sponsorship opportunities and Early Bird ticket details will be announced.

Austin Meade is set to perform at Whiskey River Country in Texarkana. The show starts at 9:30 PM and tickets are available via Bandsintown.

Bigfoot Running Company presents a summer running experience at Stoner Avenue Skate Plaza, set on a course with park scenery, shady stretches, and warm-weather views. Participants can choose from the Kids Dash, 1 Mile, 5K, Quarter Marathon, or Half Marathon, creating an inclusive atmosphere for both newcomers and seasoned runners. Every distance includes a finisher medal and a soft race tee. The 5K, Quarter Marathon, and Half Marathon feature chip timing, and awards include Bigfoot trophies and age group honors. A DJ keeps energy high at the rally tent, while snacks, water, and multiple aid stations support participants along the way. Families can take advantage of youth pricing for runners 12 and under at $15 for the 5K and Quarter Marathon. Referral rewards offer $20 back after five friends register, and teams can access group discounts. Opportunities to volunteer, or volunteer and then run, are also available. Designed for personal best chasers and those soaking up the season alike, the focus stays on fun, safety, and a positive participant experience.

The Summer Meltdown Half Marathon takes runners through a scenic course that mixes parks, trails, shaded paths, and nature, with aid stations along the way for water and support. The race kicks off at 7:00 AM with the national anthem, followed by results and awards available right at the registration tent after you finish. There is also a post-race celebration with snacks, refreshments, music, and a cool treat from Kona Ice.

Take part in Commander Play Day at Barksdale, featuring games of Magic in the Commander format with friends. Enjoy playing together and make the most of a shared Commander experience.

Join the Yu-Gi-Oh! OTS tournament every Sunday at Gamers XP. It’s a two-player trading card event where you battle to knock your opponent’s Life Points down to zero. The entry fee is $10, the format is an Official OTS Tournament, and participants receive 2 OTS packs plus 1 Participation Booster Pack. Prizing goes to top finishers.