Local News
October 2026 Turkey Fest canceled - KCBD
Turkey Fest in the small Panhandle town of Turkey has been canceled for October 2026, cutting short what would have been the event's eighth year. Organizers announced the cancellation without specifying what forced their hand, saying only that circumstances beyond their control made it impossible to move forward.
Organizers announced the cancellation without specifying what forced their hand, saying only that circumstances beyond their control made it impossible to move forward. The festival had been scheduled for October 15 through 17. Over the years, Turkey Fest built a following in the region, drawing supporters, volunteers, and bands to a town most folks in Lubbock know mainly as the birthplace of Western swing legend Bob Wills.
For people who made the roughly 90-mile drive up to Turkey each fall, there's no replacement on the calendar this year. Organizers say they hope to start something new down the road if things change, but nothing is confirmed. The good news, if you're a Bob Wills fan, is that Bob Wills Day in April is still on. Crews are already working on putting together its usual lineup of events, with the celebration set for the last Saturday in April.
Its future now depends entirely on whether those unnamed circumstances ever shift.
Common questions
Will Turkey Fest come back in future years?
- Organizers say they hope to start something new down the road if things change, but nothing is confirmed. For now, there is no replacement event on the calendar for people who made the roughly 90-mile drive from Lubbock to Turkey each fall.
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