What parks can kids play at in Sherman?
Sherman Parks and Recreation takes care of more than 20 parks and places to play. Here are a few to try:
Pecan Grove Park
A big park with an East side and a West side. It has a disc golf course, and it hosts the Fourth of July fireworks.
Lucy Kidd-Key Park
Home of the free Hot Summer Nights concerts and the Sherman Arts Fest. It is named after Lucy Kidd-Key, who led a famous music college in Sherman.
Old Settlers Park
A gathering place since 1909, when a club of early settlers bought the land.
Sherman Dog Park
A place for dogs to run and play off the leash.
Other parks include Fairview Park, Herman Baker Park, Binkley Park, Fielder Park and Martin Luther King Jr. Park. See the full list at ShermanParks.com.
What is inside the Sherman Museum?
The Sherman Museum is at 301 S. Walnut Street, downtown. It is inside Sherman's old library, which was built in 1914 with money from Andrew Carnegie. He paid for libraries in towns all over America.
The museum's collection has more than 50,000 objects about Grayson County and the Red River area. Only some of them are on display at one time. Check the hours before you go.
What events happen in Sherman every year?
| Event | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Summer Nights | Thursday nights in summer (it started in May in 2026) | Free outdoor concerts at Lucy Kidd-Key Park |
| Lights on the Lake | Around the Fourth of July | A concert and fireworks at Pecan Grove West Park |
| Sherman Arts Fest | September | Art, crafts and food at Kidd-Key Park and downtown |
| Christmas Parade | December | A holiday parade downtown |
Dates change every year. Check the City of Sherman calendar before you go.
What is Lake Texoma?
Lake Texoma is a giant lake on the border of Texas and Oklahoma. Its name is a mix of the two state names: Texas + Oklahoma. It is a short drive north of Sherman.
- The lake was made when Denison Dam was finished in 1944.
- It covers about 89,000 acres. That is about 139 square miles of water!
- About 6 million people visit every year to fish, swim, boat and camp.
- It has striped bass, a fish that usually lives in salt water. It is the only place in Texas where they keep having babies on their own.
- Eisenhower State Park is on the lake. It is named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was born in nearby Denison.
What can you see at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge?
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge is on the edge of Lake Texoma, northwest of Sherman. It has a wildlife drive and hiking trails.
It is named after a little town called Hagerman. About 250 people once lived there. When the government built Denison Dam, the families moved away. The refuge was created on February 9, 1946, and President Harry Truman signed the order.
Now more than 300 kinds of birds visit, including snow geese. You might also spot river otters, box turtles and lots of butterflies. Bring binoculars!
Where can you watch sports in Sherman?
- Sherman Bearcats: Friday night football and other high school sports.
- Austin College Kangaroos: college games, with a kangaroo mascot named Rowdy 'Roo.
- Sherman Shadowcats: a summer baseball team that plays in the Texas Collegiate League in 2026.
What are fun day trips from Sherman?
- Denison: visit the birthplace of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
- Dallas: about an hour south, with big zoos, museums and pro sports.
- Oklahoma: Durant, Oklahoma is about 31 miles away.
Questions people ask
What is Sherman, Texas known for?
Sherman is known for its history as the “Athens of Texas” because it once had many colleges, for Austin College, for its big new chip factories, and for being close to Lake Texoma.
Is Lake Texoma close to Sherman?
Yes. Lake Texoma is a short drive north of Sherman, on the border of Texas and Oklahoma.
Are there free things to do in Sherman?
Yes. Sherman has more than 20 parks and play places, and the Hot Summer Nights concerts at Lucy Kidd-Key Park are free.
Where are the Fourth of July fireworks in Sherman?
Sherman's Lights on the Lake celebration, with a concert and fireworks, is held at Pecan Grove West Park.
Where do these facts come from?
- Sherman Parks and Recreation: Parks and facilities
- The Sherman Museum: About Us
- Texas Highways: Carnegie libraries in Texas
- KXII: Hot Summer Nights concert series (May 2026)
- KXII: What to know before Lights on the Lake (July 1, 2026)
- Vendorsmap: Sherman Arts Fest
- Wikipedia: Lake Texoma
- Friends of Hagerman NWR: History of the Town of Hagerman
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Hagerman NWR
- Wikipedia: Sherman, Texas