What’s Happening in Cherokee County

First United Methodist Church (255 Henderson St., Rusk) will host a 3 p.m. Christmas Eve worship.

 

St. Matthew United Methodist Church (201 S. Bonner St., Jacksonville) will offer a 4 p.m. family service, along with a traditional 11:30 p.m. candlelight service.

 

Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church (760 S. Main St., Rusk) will offer a 4 p.m. vigil Mass in English and a bilingual midnight Mass. 

 

Rusk Bible Church (245 S. Main St., Rusk), will offer a traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight service at 5:30 p.m. The church is at the site of old First Presbyterian Church building that has been lovingly restored and the pipe organ is heard again.

 

First Baptist Church in Alto (235 E. San Antonio Rd., Alto) will celebrate with a 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve candlelight service.

 

Trinity Episcopal Church (1000 S. Jackson St., Jacksonville) will hold a 6 p.m. Christmas Eve service.

 

Rusk Church of Christ (397 S. Main St., Rusk) is celebrating with a 6 p.m. Christmas Eve service.

 

Redemption Rock Church (214 CR 2141, Rusk) will host a 6 p.m. candlelight service. 

 

Central Baptist Church (1909 E. Rusk St., Jacksonville) will have a 6 p.m. Christmas Eve service.

 

Sardis Baptist Church (7868 FM 1857 South, Rusk) will hold its Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m. 

 

Afton Grove Baptist Church (360 CR 4208, Jacksonville) will host a 6 p.m. candlelight Christmas Eve service.

 

First Methodist Church (1031 SE Loop 456, Jacksonville) will offer a 6 p.m. Christmas Eve service. 

 

East Side Baptist Church (1100 Loop 456, Jacksonville) will host a 6 p.m. Christmas Eve service. 

 

Branded by Christ Cowboy Church (5592 Texas Highway 110 North, Rusk) will hold a 6:30p.m. Christmas Eve candlelight service.

 

Peoples Church (14089 US Highway 79, Jacksonville) will host a 6:30 p.m. Christmas Eve service 

 

Covenant Church of East Texas (475 CR 1619, Rusk) will host a 6:45 p.m. Christmas Eve candlelight service.

 

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church (1023 Corinth St., Jacksonville) will celebrate a 7 p.m. vigil Mass in English and a bilingual midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

 

Trail to Christ Cowboy Church (5858 US Highway 79 West, Jacksonville) will offer a 7 p.m. Christmas Eve candelight service.

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (304 FM 235, New Summerfield) will celebrate a 9 p.m. Spanish vigil Mass on Christmas Eve.

Greater New Zion Baptist Church (922 Crockett St., Jacksonville) will hold an 8 a.m. Christmas Day service.

 

Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church (760 S. Main St., Rusk) will celebrate an 8 a.m. Christmas Mass in English.

 

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church (1023 Corinth St., Jacksonville) offers a 9 a.m. English Mass and an 11 a.m. Spanish Mass on Christmas Day.

 

Venerable Antonio Margil Catholic Mission (181 Main St., Alto) will celebrate a 9:30 a.m. Spanish Mass on Christmas Day.

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (304 FM 235, New Summerfield) offers an 11 a.m. Spanish Mass on Christmas Day.

Covenant Church of East Texas will host a student ministry fundraiser, a 3 on 3 co-ed basketball tournament, 11 a.m. Saturday. Cost is $20 per player, open to participants ages 14 and older. Register at ccoet.org/events.

The Comedy at the Cherokee II show – with comedians Cleto Rodriguez, Zachariah Rippey and Adrian Lucio – begins 8 p.m. Friday at the Cherokee Civic Theatre, 157 W. 5th St. in Rusk. Tickets are $10 presale and $12 at the door, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m.

 

Dr. Jasmine Douglas, an addiction medicine and weight management physician at UT Health – Jacksonville, will lead the “Talk with a Doc” topic on “Beyond Opioids: The Full Spectrum of Substance Use Threatening Our Area,” noon Monday at the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, 307 E. Commerce St. RSVP by Jan. 7 to 903-586-2217; lunch will be provided.

The Alto Area Republican Club will meet Tuesday, welcoming several Rublican candidates who are seeking county- and district-wide offices during the 2026 general election.

 

The Rusk Chamber of Commerce will host its 86th annual gala, 6 p.m. Saturday at The Old Foundry Event Venue on US Highway 84 West in Rusk.

Wildlife Revealed will host raptor program at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday at Caddo Mounds State Historic Site, 1649 Texas Highway 21 west of Alto. To learn more, call 936-858-3218.

 

Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce will host its 101st Annual Awards Ceremony, 6 p.m. Thursday at The Jackson at Cherokee Ranch on US 79 East in Jacksonville. Tickets are $75 members, $90 non Chamber member, with tables of 8 set at $1,000. For more information, visit www.jacksonvilletexas.com.

 

This year’s Flamin’ J BBQ fundraiser will be held April 11 at Hazel Tilton Park in downtown Jacksonville.

The 42nd annual Tomato Fest will be held Saturday, June 13, in downtown Jacksonville.