Things to Do in Noonday, Texas
Noonday is a small farm community southwest of Tyler best known for its famous sweet onion. Beyond the onion, its location near Lake Palestine and the city of Tyler puts plenty of recreation and attractions within easy reach.
Here's what to do in and around Noonday.
The Noonday Sweet Onion
By local tradition, a true 'Noonday Onion' is grown within ten miles of town. The town's Noonday Onion Festival, which celebrated the crop, was put on hold in 2002 and returned in 2003 as rival festivals before fading from the calendar, so check the city's events page for current happenings.
In season, look for Noonday Sweet Onions at area farm stands and markets. They're the easiest way to taste the crop that put this small farm town's name on the map.
Lake Palestine Recreation
Just to the west, Lake Palestine is one of the largest and most popular lakes in the region, offering boating, fishing, water skiing, canoeing, camping, and lakeside relaxation across its broad waters. It's the recreational anchor for this part of the Tyler area and an easy outing from Noonday.
Around the lake you'll find marinas, resorts, and family fun: Lake Palestine Resort offers a grill, boat slips, swimming, cabins, and rentals, while the Villages Resort has offered a climate-controlled indoor waterpark (check current hours). The popular Pine Cove Christian Camps, near Lake Palestine, just west of Noonday, host summer overnight, day, and family camps plus winter programs such as Winterfest for youths and families.
Tyler and Beyond
Because Noonday sits just southwest of Tyler, the attractions of East Texas's hub are only a short drive away: the world-famous Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, the Caldwell Zoo, museums, golf courses, shopping, and dining. Tyler State Park, north of the city, adds a spring-fed lake with hiking, biking, swimming, and camping.
Between its sweet-onion heritage, the recreation of Lake Palestine, and the attractions of nearby Tyler, Noonday offers a well-rounded menu of things to do — small-town charm with big-area amenities close at hand.
Concerts & Shows Near Noonday
Listings from Ticketmaster, updated October 12, 2026. Tickets are sold by Ticketmaster; we don't check these dates ourselves, so confirm on the ticket page.
- Thu, Nov 19 · 7:30 PM Oak Ridge Boys · UT Tyler Cowan Center, Tyler · 8 mi · Country
- Sat, Nov 28 · 7:00 PM Eli Young Band · Red Rooster IceHouse, Hawkins · 31 mi · Country
FAQ: Things to Do in Noonday
Noonday is best known for its sweet onion. Its Onion Festival was put on hold in 2002 and later faded from the calendar, so check the city's events page for current happenings. Nearby Lake Palestine offers boating, fishing, a resort waterpark, resorts, and Pine Cove Christian Camps, while Tyler's attractions — the Rose Garden, Caldwell Zoo, and more — are just a short drive away.
No recent edition appears on the city's events calendar. The festival was put on hold in 2002 and returned in 2003 as rival city and growers' festivals. Check the City of Noonday for current events. By local tradition, a true 'Noonday Onion' is grown within a ten-mile radius of the town.
Yes. Lake Palestine, a large reservoir popular for boating, fishing, water skiing, and camping, lies just west of Noonday. The lake area includes resorts, marinas, a resort waterpark, and the nearby Pine Cove Christian Camps, making it the main recreation hub near town.
Pine Cove Christian Camps is a large camp facility near Lake Palestine, just west of Noonday, offering summer overnight, day, and family camps plus winter programs such as Winterfest and a New Year's family weekend — a well-known destination in the area.
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Noonday in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
Things to Do in East Texas
What to do in East Texas, checked against official sources: Tyler's Rose Garden and Caldwell Zoo, Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas State Railroad, state parks, museums and festivals.
Read Guide →East Texas Festivals and Annual Events
Season-by-season guide to East Texas festivals and events — Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas Rose Festival, the Yamboree, Wonderland of Lights and more, checked against each host's own site.
Read Guide →Best Day Trips from Tyler and East Texas
Drive-time guide to day trips from Tyler: state parks, small towns, museums, and lakes within about 30 minutes, an hour, and up to three hours.
Read Guide →Best Lakes in East Texas
A fact-checked guide to 17 East Texas lakes, from Lake Fork's trophy bass and Caddo Lake to Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn and Lake Tawakoni. Sizes, species, access and rules come from TPWD.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
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