Small-town festivals are an essential part of Texan culture, celebrating everything from local history and ethnicity to music, food, and art. Each year, hundreds of small towns across the state host festivals that draw neighbors together, with the additional incentive to entice us to visit and spend a few dollars to support local businesses. These festivals also offer an opportunity to experience the unique charm and hospitality of Texas while also providing a platform for artisans, artists, and musicians to showcase their talents.
Outside the “Red Poppy Capital of Texas” there is no shortage of festivities to explore in the Lone Star State. This month, have a closer look at some family friendly options near Georgetown and what makes them so special.
FROM SPOOF TO SUCCESS
The history of that quirky Oatmeal Festival starts with the typical Texas type of moxie that, quite literally, put Oatmeal on the map. At its founding in the 1840s, the community was a group of German settlers living near Oatmeal Creek. Many say the name was an Americanization of the family that owned the area’s first gristmill — Othneil. It did have a post office by 1853 but, for decades, official state maps did not include Oatmeal because there was no highway intersection.
Finally, in 1978, a resident named Ken Odiorne had a brilliant idea to spoof the Texas chili cookoff cliché and create a unique event that would draw visitors and attention to his little community. As Oatmeal had only 20 residents, Ken wrote to all the major producers of oatmeal cereal for assistance. National Oats, the maker of 3 Minutes Oats, responded and the Oatmeal Festival was born.
GET YOUR SPOON READY
The festival has become a beloved tradition and every Labor Day, rain or shine, draws visitors from all over the state to enjoy oatmeal-themed treats, games, and live music. In addition to putting the small town back on the map, it raises money for local initiatives, including college scholarships for high school students, and construction of a community center in Oatmeal and open-air pavilion in Bertram.
Just 30 minutes from Georgetown, save the date, September 30 – October 1, for this annual testament to the ingenuity and humor of small-town Texans. This year’s event features the Miss Oatmeal Pageant, live music, barbecue dinner, live auction, pet parade, and the grand parade, as well as kids zone and vendor booths.
TURKEY, TOURISM, AND TRADITION
Cuero has a rich agricultural history and an annual festival to celebrate the farm product that made it famous: the turkey. In 1908, the first processing plant opened on the edge of town, making it easier for farmers to deliver flocks to a central location for processing and shipping. Since it was 1908, there weren’t any trucks around so getting the birds to town was no easy feat. Resourceful farmers herded the turkeys on foot like a cattle drive and the annual trek through the streets began to draw visitors from far and wide.
And the crowds grew. In 1912, the city hosted the first official Turkey Trot and more than 30,000 people flocked to Cuero to see the spectacle of 18,000 turkeys being herded down Main Street snapping up corn scattered in the streets to keep them moving. The town leaders added agricultural shows, a carnival, big band dances, a football game, floats and gowns decorated with turkey feathers, and the crowning of the first Turkey Queen, Minnie Lee Mangham.
Legend has it that visiting entrepreneurs were struck by the days-long population explosion and noticed merchants renting out rooms and selling hot meals. They suggested local business leaders create an event around it and the idea for the Cuero Turkeyfest was born.
With the turkey industry slowly moving out of town and turkeys themselves unable to march in the parades anymore, the original Turkey Trot race bowed out in 1972 but a committee formed to keep the festival and the Turkeyfest continued, sans round-up, with many turkey-themed activities and contests.
Save the date, October 13-15, 2023, and witness the “World’s Largest Turkey Fryer” just a two-hour drive from Georgetown . Visitors will also enjoy live music performances, carnival rides, a turkey calling contest, turkey race, and more.
CZECH OUT FLATONIA
The Czhilispiel Festival has been a beloved annual event in Flatonia since 1973 and is a great way to experience the unique culture and hospitality of the area. The festival’s name is a playful Czech take on the word chili and the German word spiel, meaning play. The 2023 festival is a family-friendly event that takes place October 27-29 and includes a pageant, 5K, and Halloween costume contest.
Flatonia was established in 1873 and named for pioneer merchant F.W. Flato. It was known as a melting pot for immigrants from all over western Europe, including English, German, Bohemian, Czech, and Italian. Today, while still a small town, it is a well-known spot for train watchers, with one of Texas’ longest-standing manually operated railroad switching towers featuring North-South and East-West cross rails.
The festival began as a fundraiser to support a local Flatonia student’s medical school education. At the time, Flatonia did not have a doctor, so the community organized a Czech heritage festival and chili cook-off, Czhilispiel, to raise money for his tuition. The student agreed to serve the community for five years after completing medical school, but ended up staying longer and made a lasting impact on the town’s medical care. Today, Czhilispiel continues to use proceeds from the festival to support scholarships and community services.
One of the main attractions of the Czhilispiel Festival is the czhili cook-off, which draws participants from all over Texas to compete for the title of best chili. Other food vendors offer a variety of Czech and Texan cuisine, including kolaches, sausages, and barbecue. In addition to the food, the Czhilispiel Festival features live music performances, carnival rides, and a variety of games and contests, such as the young farmers egg toss, tricycle races, and jalapeño eating contest. There is also a parade, beer garden, and marketplace featuring local artisans and craftspeople.