Oatmeal Festival Facebook page photo
The quirky little festival originally designed to put the tiny Texas town of Oatmeal back on the map keeps rolling on. Nearly five decades ago it came to the attention of a resident in the Oatmeal community that his beloved hometown had fallen off of the official state map (yes, paper maps were indeed a thing, look it up.) Instead of boiling over, ideas started simmering, cooking up the very first Oatmeal Festival. The 1978 festival, a community effort, was so well received it became an annual tradition.
The 49th annual Oatmeal Festival will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2026 offering a bowl full of fun for everyone. While the festival celebrates the community of Oatmeal the festivities take place in the neighboring big city of Bertram. Events are centered in downtown Bertram at the intersection of Vaughan St. & Gabriel St. The festival is free to attend with opportunities for shopping a variety of vendors as well as festival food and drink vendors.
A 3.3 mile fun run spills onto the streets of downtown Bertram at 8 a.m. kicking off the festival and all kinds of free wacky-fun for which the festival is known. The morning antics of festival mascot “Oatie” and his nemesis “The Grits Guzzler” add to the charm of this quirky festival.
Schedule of Events
8:00 a.m. – 3.3 Mile Run for Your Oats
8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Car Show
9:30 a.m. – Pet Parade from Wheeler Park to festival stage
10:30 a.m. – Grande Parade rolls down Vaughan Street
11:30-noon – Wacky Games (tortilla toss, cow chip kicking, stick horse racing, and more)
Noon – Oatmeal Bake-off winners announced
Noon – Washer tournament (behind city hall)
Noon-4 p.m. – Kids Zone (kiddie train, backyard games, oatmeal dig, and more)
Noon-5 p.m. – Live music performances on the festival stage
7-10 p.m. – Street Dance featuring Eley Buck Davis and Ben Watson and The Hired Guns
Good to know before you go:
Bring your own seats.
Arrive early to snag a great parade viewing spot.
Oatie and The Grits Guzzler typically only appear before and during the Grande Parade. Photo ops are available for early festival goers.
Dress for the Texas weather and wear comfortable shoes.
Visit the Oatmeal Festival’s website for more information.
