Frontier Village and Museum in Denison held the first of its Living History Days series on Saturday, April 4, 2026, giving visitors a chance to reflect on the life of settlers by touring some of the oldest homes and cabins in Grayson County while watching hands-on demonstrations by re-enactors like the village blacksmith firing up his forge and "Cousin Peggy" as she knits a scarf.

The Fannin Agricultural Association, Inc. announces its fourth annual Steaks on Main Ribeye Cook-Off and Dinner, scheduled for April 11, 2026, at the Fannin County Courthouse, located at 101 E. Sam Rayburn Drive in Bonham. In addition to the traditional cook-off and dinner, this year’s event will introduce a youth steak competition and an appetizer competition. This year’s event will feature The Bellamy Brothers as the headlining act, with an opening performance by Tanner Legg & the Heaters.

“Arts in Bloom is a free, family-friendly festival that invites everyone to experience the creativity and charm of Downtown McKinney. It’s a chance to enjoy art, music, and local businesses while making meaningful memories with family and friends. We love seeing the community come together to celebrate what makes our downtown so special,” said Andrew Jones, Cultural District Director. photos by Allen Rich

The 2026 Texoma Earth Day Festival is just over two weeks away, with a full lineup of educational workshops, live entertainment, recycling stations and family-friendly activities planned for April 18 at the Sherman Municipal Building, 405 N. Rusk St. The event runs 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

2016 – death of Merle Haggard, American singer-songwriter and guitarist. Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 – April 6, 2016) was an American country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential figures in country music, he was a central pioneer of the Bakersfield sound. With a career spanning over five decades, Haggard had 38 number-one hits on the US country charts, several of which also made the Billboard all-genre singles chart. Haggard overcame a troubled childhood, criminal convictions and time in prison to launch a successful country music career. In 1960, he attended a Johnny Cash concert at San Quentin Prison, where Cash sang "Folsom Prison Blues." This had a profound influence on Haggard who, upon his release in 1960, set out to forge a career as a singer-songwriter. He gained popularity with his songs about the working class; these occasionally contained themes contrary to the anti–Vietnam War sentiment of some popular music of the time. In 1972, after Haggard had become a country music star, then-California governor Ronald Reagan granted him a full and unconditional pardon for his past crimes.