Schedule
A Full Day of Fun
in Downtown Bertram
Free admission, all ages, all day — here’s everything happening at the 2026 Oatmeal Festival. Show up, soak it in, and be part of a Texas tradition nearly five decades in the making.
3.3 Mile “Run for Your Oats”
Presented by Bertram Fitness & PEC
Festival day kicks off at a sprint! Runners wind 3.3 miles through the heart of downtown Bertram — come cheer them across the finish line before the rest of the day’s fun begins. Awards follow around 9:30 am.
📍 Festival Stage · Vaughan & Grange Streets
Want to run? Pre-register online, or pick up your packet in person Friday evening (5:30–7:30 pm) or day-of starting at 7:00 am — a late fee applies after pre-registration closes.
Register to Run →Car Show
Presented by P&R Propane, Jr & Vicki Baladez, and Hill Country Manufactured Homes
Back for its second year after a 20-year hiatus — and it’s grown into a real crowd favorite! This year’s show features four official groups: vintage, hot rod, truck, and motorcycle. Cars arrive and stage 8:30–10:00 am, on display through 2:00 pm. Voting runs 10:30 am–12:15 pm, with awards — Mayor’s Choice and 8 Honorable Mentions, no classes or categories — presented at 1:00 pm.
📍 Check-in: Vaughan & Henna Streets — exact display street still being finalized
Registration is required. Want your car in the Grande Parade too? Just mention it when you register — parade and non-parade vehicles stage in separate areas.
Register Your Car →Pet Parade
Presented by Hill Country Humane Society
Get ready for the cutest parade of the day! Pets dressed in their finest strut from Johnnie Mae Wheeler Park to the Festival Stage — it’s a quick, one-block walk, so get there early to grab a good spot. Winners are announced shortly after arrival at the stage.
📍 Johnnie Mae Wheeler Park → Festival Stage
Registration opens at 8:30 am at the Wheeler Park sign-up table — about an hour before the walk begins. No pre-registration needed.
View Pet Parade Flyer →Grande Parade — Don’t Miss This One
This is the big one! Floats, horses, community groups, and the Car Show lineup roll down Vaughan Street in one of the Hill Country’s most beloved parade traditions. This year’s theme is “Bertram Proud: Celebrating America 250,” led by 2026 Grand Marshal Lanny Stone. Watch for Oatie and the Grits Guzzler making their annual appearance — including the Guzzler’s famous “arrest” by the Police Chief. Claim your curb early for the best view!
📍 W. Vaughan Street at FM 243 → East Street
Want to enter? No fee, no cap on entries. Judged entries check in 8:00–9:00 am (judging at 9:15 am); non-judged lineup begins 9:30 am. Registration closes Monday, September 21.
Register for the Parade →Oatie & the Grits Guzzler
Two beloved festival characters roam the grounds during the morning hours — but only through the Grande Parade. The Texas heat limits how long volunteers can be in costume, so catch them early if you want a photo.
The Grits Guzzler is brought to life each year by a different volunteer — the character’s look may change, but the mischief never does.
Oatie
The festival’s beloved mascot — a giant oatmeal container spreading smiles wherever he goes. Oatie represents everything the Oatmeal Festival stands for: community, fun, and Bertram pride since 1978.
The Grits Guzzler
A festival prankster on a mission to convince everyone to “Eat Grits, not Oats!” — complete with dramatic dry-grits theatrics. The Guzzler always meets their fate in a playful “arrest” by the Police Chief during the Grande Parade. The Guzzler always vows to return. They always do.
Oatmeal Bake-Off
Presented by Synergetic Engineering – 3 Day Design
Whose oatmeal recipe reigns supreme in Burnet County? Entries are dropped off in the morning and judging begins at noon. Winners are announced at the Festival Stage at 3:30 pm, between music sets — a great time to cheer on your favorite baker.
📍 Drop-off & judging: Bertram Volunteer Fire Dept. · 163 W Vaughan St
📍 Winners announced: Festival Stage · Vaughan & Gabriel
Want to enter? Bring your dish between 9:30–11:30 am and sign in on-site. No late entries. BVFD pans/dishes may be picked up 2:00–4:00 pm.
View Bake-Off Flyer →Wacky Games — Free for All Ages
Only-in-Texas silly competitions the whole family will love — tortilla toss, egg toss, cow chip kicking, and the stick horse race. Bring your competitive streak (or just your laugh) — ribbons awarded for every game, and you won’t want to miss a minute of it!
📍 Vaughan Street
Free to enter. Sign up on-site right after the Grande Parade wraps up, approximately 11:30 am–12:00 pm.
View Wacky Games Flyer →Washer Tournament
Presented by James Engineering
A Texas backyard classic, and a longtime Bertram family tradition. Grab a partner and battle it out in this double-elimination bracket behind City Hall — a great spectator sport, so come cheer on your favorite team!
📍 Behind City Hall, Bertram · Contact Neal or Shelbie Denton on-site
Walk-up sign-up: 10:30–11:45 am · Games begin at noon · Entry fee: $20/person or $40/team
View Tournament Flyer →Kids Zone
Presented by Atmos Energy, Bertram Centre & DIJ Construction Inc.
A free, open-play wonderland inside Johnnie Mae Wheeler Park packed with yard games — Giant Jenga, Four Across, sidewalk chalk, hula hoops, jump ropes, and more. Just outside the park, hop aboard the Kiddie Train for a ride around the festival grounds, or get your face painted noon–4:00 pm. Don’t miss the crowd favorite: the Oatmeal Dig, where kids dig through a kiddie pool filled with oatmeal to uncover hidden toy surprises inside. Thanks to our generous sponsors, it’s all free for kids to enjoy — open all afternoon, no ticket required — bring the whole family!
📍 Johnnie Mae Wheeler Park · Free admission · All ages
Live Art & Raffle
Watch local artist Libby Bratt bring a mural to life right before your eyes on Vaughan Street as the festival unfolds around her. Then try your luck in the raffle for a one-of-a-kind Hill Country–inspired acrylic painting by local artist Sara Mack — tickets are $5 each, with all proceeds benefiting the Oatmeal Festival Scholarship Fund. The drawing is held on the Festival Stage at 3:45 pm, right before the final musical act; you don’t need to be present to win.
📍 Vaughan Street
Raffle ticket sale location to be announced.
100+ Vendor Booths
Local artisans, Texas wineries, craft food, herbal goods, and small businesses line Gabriel and Grange Streets between Hwy 29 and South Street — open all day. Browse, taste, shop, and find something you’ll love.
See who’s vending this year →Food Court
The festival food court is in the City Hall rear parking lot off Gabriel Street — food concession vendors set up there all day long with plenty of options for the whole family.
📍 City Hall rear lot · off Gabriel Street
Festival Stage
The main stage is in the City Hall front parking lot at the corner of Vaughan and Gabriel Streets. Bring a lawn chair — live music runs noon through 5:00 pm with the evening street dance to follow.
📍 City Hall front lot · Vaughan & Gabriel
Downtown Bertram Is Open
Local small businesses throughout downtown Bertram will be open on festival day. A wonderful way to explore the town, grab a bite, or find a one-of-a-kind keepsake while you’re here.
Music All Day Long
The Festival Stage at Vaughan & Gabriel comes alive with live music from noon through 5:00 pm. All four performers are confirmed — bring a lawn chair!
Bring your lawn chairs!
After the sun sets, the party moves to the street. Grab your boots and join us for a free Texas street dance under the stars on Vaughan Street — no ticket, no cover, just great music and good company.
📍 Festival Stage · Vaughan & Gabriel Streets · 7:00 – 10:00 pm
Eley Buck Davis
Independent Texas singer-songwriter with award-winning original music — warming up the crowd and getting everyone on their feet ahead of the headline set.
Ben Watson and The Hired Guns
A Highland Lakes favorite bringing classic Texas country, honky-tonk, and dancehall western swing built for two-stepping. The perfect way to close out a perfect festival day — grab a partner and get ready to dance!
Good to Know
Mark Your Calendar
September 26, 2026 — downtown Bertram, Texas. Free admission, all ages, all day. Want to do more than watch? Register to participate or apply for a vendor booth.