Bertram: Festival, Railway and Art Deco

Bertram brings together a local festival tradition with railway and cinema history. The Bertram Flyer travels through the Texas Hill Country; the Globe Theatre is an Art Deco movie theater that opened in 1935, with live music, classic films, and special events. The Oatmeal Festival comprises two linked events in Oatmeal and Bertram. These distinct highlights can help you plan a stay around specific interests and the event dates.

Ride the Bertram Flyer

The Bertram Flyer travels through the Texas Hill Country and crosses a 300-foot wooden trestle bridge over the South San Gabriel River. Its specific length and construction make the river crossing a clearly defined part of the ride. The Flyer also makes a brief stop at the historic 1912 Bertram Depot. The bridge crossing is part of the route; the depot stop, by contrast, is a brief stopover. This lets you distinguish two different parts of the ride: crossing the river and visiting the historic depot.

Oatmeal Festival: two towns, one weekend

Bertram has held the annual Oatmeal Festival since 1978, celebrating the communities of Bertram and Oatmeal. It consists of two linked events: Friday Night in Oatmeal and a Saturday event in Bertram. The festival takes place over Labor Day weekend. The program includes a parade, a pet parade, a fun run, an oatmeal-baking contest, a barbecue fundraiser, live music, and family-friendly activities. Individual activities may vary from year to year. If you are traveling for a particular event, check the dates for that year’s festival. For travel planning, both Labor Day weekend and the event’s location matter.

Cinema and cultural history

The Globe Theatre in Bertram is an Art Deco movie theater that opened in 1935. Its current offerings include live music, classic films, and special events. The opening year places the theater in its historical context; today’s program extends beyond classic film screenings.

A historic building in Oatmeal

Oatmeal is home to the Early Oatmeal School, a limestone building constructed in 1869 that formerly served as both a school and a church. It is listed as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.

Parks and sports facilities

In addition to the municipal pool, Bertram’s Roadside Park has free tennis courts and a playground. If these facilities are important to your plans, check locally for their current status before your trip. The J.O. Wilson Sports Complex is home to Bertram’s Little League ball fields. Local youth use the Bertram Youth Riding Arena for various equestrian events; membership in the nonprofit riding club is required. Mutton busting takes place there during the Oatmeal Festival. Johnnie Mae Wheeler Park in downtown Bertram has a pavilion and is suitable for weddings, an Easter egg hunt, or a lunch break. The parks have distinct uses: Roadside Park offers sports and play facilities, while Wheeler Park is also suited to celebrations and breaks.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Marble Falls, Burnet, Spicewood.

See the overview of the wider travel area: Burnet County.