Fun Activities For Residents (or Visitors) In or Near Hopkins County
Whether you’ve lived here all your life or just arrived, Hopkins County continues to draw people to the area and is part of the reason that those who’ve grown up here, decide to stay and raise their families here too. Sulphur Springs (and the surrounding area) offers a variety of activities and here are some of the local favorite things to do:
1. Hopkins County Week-long Dairy Festival.
Besides the Southwest Dairy Museum’s hours, open Monday thru Friday, an annual festival kicks off the summer with a carnival, a Friday Glow Night of hot air Balloons, ending with a parade and pageant. The Friday Glow night allows kids and adults get up and close to watch hot air balloons fill up and take off in the night sky. Something for the whole family to enjoy!
2. Fitness & Fun.
Besides a walking and jogging path around Lake Coleman down the road from the downtown square, you can plan a Disc Golf Frisbee game with this map. Or bring your skateboards to the skateboard park at Buford Park or small children to play at the Kid’s Kingdom playground that got a new face lift in 2022. You can also enter the whole family in fun runs like the annual Hopkins County Turkey Trot. Not to mention the various gyms available. Buford Park also holds the annual Stew Fest on its grounds in the fall.
3. Holidays Events.
An annual fireworks display sparks up the 4th of July on the square. Streets are blocked off and people bring their chairs to sit and watch the lights burst over the courthouse. At Christmas, the Lion’s Lighted Christmas Parade draws crowds from Buford Park all the way down to the downtown square and beyond. People line the streets to watch all the floats usher in the Christmas spirit. During patriotic holidays, U.S. flags are displayed up and down the streets of Sulphur Springs.
4. On the square.
Keep up with all the downtown happenings such as Friday night movies, markets on the square, live outdoor concerts, fireworks and other calendar-packed items on the Sulphur Springs Facebook page. Or go to this page and discover boutique shops, locally-owned restaurants, coffee & sweet café’s, make your own soap, or pot your own plants at the Plant Niche’, or buy wine at the Phinesse’ Farms Winery shop. Or find custom-made Ice cream, coffees, and shakes at Magic Scoop General Store Ice Cream Parlor where teens, and kids alike, hang out upstairs in the large game room space. You can also get tickets to watch live plays in the newly renovated at the Community Players Main Street Theatre.
5. Off the square.
Restaurants and coffee chains can also be found such as Chili’s, IHOP, Schlotzsky’s, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, and a list of others found here. etc.. Plus Classic Lanes Bowling gives you more than a ball and pins, this family-friendly place includes Axe Throwing, large arcade area, food, and adult beverages. Or for paintballers, you can go for the less painful experience at the Northeast Texas Gellyball. For video-gaming enthusiasts, VR Social brings all the fun for you and friends playing interactive, virtual reality 3-D games.
6. Nearby Lake Activities.
To the north of Sulphur Springs, Cooper State Park received a fresh load of white sand for their beaches for those wanting to swim. The park also offers lots of wooded walking trails, horse trails, and RV camp sites. To the south of Sulphur Springs is the world renowned Lake Fork, known for its fishing tournaments and lakeside homes. But it’s to the east at Lake Cypress Springs and Bob Sandlin that many locals spend recreational time during vacation, weekends, or holidays, to ski, go tubing, and sit around campfires with friends in RV parks. Need a place to eat while out on the water? Then pull up your boat or jet ski to one of the many docks and eat (or lodge) at The Cove Restaurant and store with volleyball area and recently built cabins on the water in this cove of Lake Cypress Springs. You can also rent cabins at Deer Lake Cabins or spend a day or week at Lake Bob Sandlin State Park where you’ll find trails, playground, fishing pier, RV park, and rustic cabins.
Local and new arrivals have plenty of fun opportunities to gather with friends and family. Stay up-to-date in order that you don’t miss an event.
About the Contributor: Janet Martin Realty is a multi-million-dollar real estate company in Sulphur Springs that works with clients nationwide. However, their greatest success continues to be the strong bonds and relationships they’ve built within the community. It is because of their clients that this team of realtors have ranked as some of the top producers in Hopkins County and are one of the top-tiered independently-owned real estate companies in the local area. The office is located at 1325 South Broadway Street in Sulphur Springs across the street from Starbucks.
