With the advent of cooler weather, fall festivals abound across North Texas.

Last weekend it was Sherman Arts Festival and Rally Round Greenville, while this weekend's highlights include Autumn in Bonham Bike Rally, McKinney's inaugural Spirit of the Cowboy and the 27th Annual Bois d'Arc Bash in Commerce.

The 30th Annual Sherman Arts Festival attracted thousands of people to the downtown area for a weekend of entertainment, great food, and early Christmas Shopping. And, just in time for fall gardens, Grayson County Master Gardeners held their annual Fall Plant Sale on the Grayson County Courthouse lawn.

Crowds flocked to Sherman Municipal Lawn for the 30th Annual Sherman Arts Festival

In Greenville, the Seventh Annual Rally Round Greenville featured a weekend of events, including music by Chris Knight in addition to the Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Cotton Patch Classic Bike Race and Tour.

The Tejas Brothers entertain Saturday evening during Rally Round Greenville.

Several cities have festivals planned for next weekend, as well.

Bicycle enthusiasts will be heading to Bonham September 22 for the 26th running of Autumn in Bonham Bike Rally, which will offer a variety of rides depending on the riders' level of expertise.

A family tours Fannin County on a bicycle built for five at a previous Autumn in Bonham Bike Rally.

In McKinney, the Wild West comes galloping into Chestnut Square Historic Village September 21-22 for a fascinating cowboy festival that will be attended by 11 celebrities from classic TV shows and the great movie westerns from the 1950s and 1960s.  Burton Gilliam of Blazing Saddles will be there, along with Robert Fuller of Laramie fame, Denny Miller of Wagon Train and James Hampton of F Troop, just to name a few.

Burton Gilliam of Blazing Saddles.

This is your chance to get a ride in an authentic Butterfield stage coach, grab a cowboy meal from a chuck wagon circle up, see Dutch oven cooking demonstrations at Chestnut Square or watch a blacksmith at work over a forge.

 In Commerce, the 27th Annual Bois d'Arc Bash will get underway Friday, September 21 and run through Sunday, September 23. Music begins at 5:00 p.m. Friday with Panimation Steel Drum Band and Graham Wilkinson takes the stage at 9:30 p.m. Friday night.

Entertainment for Saturday gets started in style with Bois d'Arc Dixieland Jazz Band at 11:30 a.m.  There will be a wine tasting on the Commerce Square from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  The Bois d'Arc Bash Classic Car & Truck Show will be held on the square Saturday, with awards handed out at 3:00 p.m.

Bois d'Arc Dixieland Jazz Band

Jerry Lytle (far right) found this large, downed bois d'arc tree and, with help from the City of Commerce, had the tree brought to an empty downtown lot. Commerce has been officially designated as the Bois d'Arc Capital of Texas. Commerce High School alumni pose in front of the tree during the 2011 Commerce Bois d'Arc Bash..

2012 Sherman Arts Festival photos

Street Musicians by Pat Pierce.

Pumpkins are always in demand at this event.

Sherman Animal Control adoption program had already found forever homes for three dogs and a cat by noon. This handsome dog was still waiting to meet his new master.

Kettle corn was popular with the crowd...

...so was face painting!

Volunteers man the Grayson County Habitat for Humanity booth.

A choir entertains the crowd.

One of many amazing wood carvings.

The North Texas e-News crew picked up garlic chives and Egyptian onions at the Grayson County Master Gardeners Annual Plant Sale.

Rally Round Greenville Main Stage photo

Jason Walton (right) entertains the crowd at Rally Round Greenville, accompanied by Colton O'Neill, a phenominal young guitarist.

photos by Allen Rich