Origination & History of the Oatmeal Festival
Nearly Five Decades of
Texas Tradition
From a quirky spoof to a beloved Hill Country institution — the story of the Oatmeal Festival and the communities that built it.
The year it all started — a small-town idea that caught fire
Annual festival in 2026 — still going strong every September
Nonprofit supporting youth scholarships and community programs
How It All Started
The festival was born from a simple observation. Ken Odiorne, a resident of the Oatmeal community, noticed that the town of Oatmeal had been left off the official State of Texas map. With no major highway intersection, the mapmakers had simply skipped it. Ken decided something had to be done.
Taking inspiration from the chili cook-offs popular across Texas, Ken dreamed up a festival to put Oatmeal back on the map. He wrote to every major oatmeal cereal producer in the country asking for support. Only one responded: National Oats, the maker of 3 Minute Oats. With that, the Oatmeal Festival was born.
🌙 The Night the Festival Was Born
The idea didn’t start in a committee room. On one obscure night in late spring of 1978, Ken Odiorne sat in the living room of Robert and Rachel McAlister at his residence in the Oatmeal community. Out of that conversation, the concept of an “Intergalactic Oatmeal Cook-Off and Bertram Acceleration Days” was born. The idea spread like wildfire — everyone wanted to help.
The first festival on Labor Day Weekend 1978 was a great success. In November 1979, the Oatmeal Festival Association was formally established as a non-profit organization to benefit local civic organizations. In 2016, the association was officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit — and the festival has kept growing ever since.
A Legacy of Community Support
Over the decades, the Oatmeal Festival has done far more than draw a crowd. Funds raised have provided college scholarships for local high school graduates every year. The festival has also helped build an open-air pavilion in Bertram and a community center in Oatmeal. Additional support has gone to local events including the Easter Egg Hunt, Santa’s Workshop, and the Burnet County Livestock Show.
Key Milestones
The First Festival
Ken Odiorne launches the “Intergalactic Oatmeal Cook-Off and Bertram Acceleration Days” on Labor Day Weekend. It was an immediate hit.
Oatmeal Festival Association Founded
Formally established as a nonprofit in November 1979 to benefit local civic organizations.
501(c)(3) Incorporation & Two Committees
The association officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The festival evolved into two complementary events — Friday Night in Oatmeal and Saturday in Bertram — each with its own planning committee.
Bertram Moves to Late September
After years of feedback about the Labor Day heat, the Bertram committee moved Saturday’s festival to the last Saturday in September — a cooler, more comfortable time in the Texas Hill Country.
49th Annual Oatmeal Festival
The festival continues September 26, 2026 in downtown Bertram — nearly five decades of tradition and still going strong.
Two Towns, One Tradition
The Oatmeal Festival is rooted in two distinct Hill Country communities — the small town of Oatmeal and the city of Bertram. Each brings its own history and character to the celebration.
🌾 About Oatmeal, Texas
The town of Oatmeal sits about 6 miles southwest of Bertram on Farm Road 243 in southeastern Burnet County. It is the second oldest community in the county, surpassed only by Hamilton — now known as Burnet.
The name traces back to a German family named Habermill who settled near Oatmeal Creek in 1849. Their family name loosely translates to “Oatmeal” in English, and the creek — and eventually the community — took on that name.
The historic Oatmeal schoolhouse, built in 1858, served the community until 1907 and is one of the oldest school structures in Burnet County. The Oatmeal Cemetery is among the oldest in the county as well.
🚂 About Bertram, Texas
Bertram was founded when the Austin and Northwestern Railroad came through in 1882. The town was named after Rudolph Bertram, the largest stockholder of the Austin banking firm that financed the railroad.
What started as a railroad stop grew into a thriving Hill Country community. By 1916, Bertram was shipping the largest cattle shipment ever recorded in Texas. The town was incorporated in 1972 with Marrs D. Wyatt as its first mayor.
Today Bertram serves as the gateway to the Texas Hill Country and the proud home of the Oatmeal Festival’s Saturday celebration.
📸 Historical Archives — Coming Soon
We are currently scanning a large collection of historical photos, brochures, and articles from festivals past — including rare materials from the very first festivals in the late 1970s. Check back soon for a growing archive of Oatmeal Festival history.
Be Part of the Tradition
Join us September 26, 2026 in downtown Bertram for the 49th Annual Oatmeal Festival. Free admission — all ages welcome.
See All Activities Become a VendorImages from the 1980 Oatmeal Festival Brochure
