Tanglefoot Festival 2025 Kicks Off September 12-13 with Country Music Lineup & Ticket Sale Coming Soon

TEMPLE, TX - The City of Temple is excited to unveil a brand new festival launching this fall featuring incredible country music acts, mouth-watering BBQ, and an outdoor community celebration of the Lone Star State. The new Tanglefoot Music & BBQ Festival will kick off September 12-13 at the MLK Festival Grounds.

The inaugural weekend event is set to take place near Downtown Temple at the MLK Festival Grounds. Following a recent multi-million dollar renovation, this multi-acre and multi-use outdoor greenspace will soon host thousands of music-loving festival-goers of all ages, along with increased accessibility thanks to the City’s Santa Fe Market Trail connecting the grounds to the rest of Downtown Temple.

The name of the festival itself is seeped in Temple history and lore, evoking a sense of nostalgia amongst residents. Tanglefoot was originally a common nickname for the town in its earliest days having been founded 140+ years ago in 1881 as a popular stop along the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad that ran from Corpus Christi, Texas to Santa Fe, Mexico. As a booming railroad town, Temple became well known as a destination where travelers, workers, and locals filled the bustling streets to enjoy lively gatherings, toe-tapping music and true Texas hospitality, while ultimately forging a strong community spirit that continues on to this very day.

The new festival site will feature two outdoor stages showcasing over 20 music acts at the two-day affair, with an emphasis on country music acts that feature homegrown musicians from across the State of Texas as well as acclaimed national touring acts.

In addition to unforgettable performances from award-winning artists, residents and travelers alike can explore over a dozen authentic BBQ joints from some of the country’s most popular pitmasters who will travel to Temple for a rare weekend pop-up to cook up different BBQ styles from across the country - Texas, Kansas City, Memphis, and Carolina styles - not to mention locally-owned businesses and artisans who will be invited to set up shop onsite.

With the goal of offering attendees of all ages a taste of the good life in Temple, organizers have launched this new festival in order to create a lasting cultural celebration each fall, one that evokes a sense of pride amongst residents, while ultimately providing a positive boost to the local economy thanks to out-of-town visitors spending locally.

Stay tuned as more details surrounding this year’s event will be announced in the coming weeks, including the music performance lineup, the list of BBQ pitmasters who will set camp at the inaugural fest, and the full slate of family-friendly activities, local artisans, and community partners involved in the 2025 edition of Tanglefoot Music & BBQ Festival.

The City of Temple will also be sharing more details soon with its local neighbors, including information on street closures, traffic advisories, and more online at www.templetx.gov/news.

For more information, visit www.TanglefootTX.com and follow along on social media at @TanglefootTX.