The residents and businesses of Center enjoy a quality of life which embraces the advantages a rural lifestyle has to offer.
Community Events
The annual Shelby County Grill Fest started out as a way to have some fun while trying to control a local feral hog population. It is now a sanctioned cook-off with a festival atmosphere.
The annual What-A-Melon Festival is sponsored by the Center Rotary Club and is a celebration of the famous "Shelby County Watermelons" still grown to this day. The event is held at the Downtown Historic Center Square. Events include a watermelon weighing contest, children's tent, watermelon “biggest bite” contest, carnival rides, arts and crafts, and food booths. Added in 2012, was the first annual "What-A-Melon Crawl" 5K.
The annual East Texas Poultry Festival is sponsored by the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce. This three-day festival is held inside the Downtown Historic Center Square and includes arts and crafts booths, food booths, 3-day carnival, live entertainment, parade and poultry judging and auction. Also added in 2012, was the first annual "Chicken Run" 5K.
Recreation Opportunities
With over 1,200 miles of shoreline, Toledo Bend is the largest man-made lake in Texas and is only 15 miles from Center. Take a scenic drive through the Sabine National Forest and catch a sight of the abundant wildlife and birds.
The Center park system is second to none for a community of its size. The parks includes new equipment, pavilions, bathrooms and in Portacool Park a new Splash Pad Waterpark has been opened. In 2017, an expansion of Portacool Park opened with a large pavillion, an extended walking trail, and horseshoe pits.