Temple, Texas has the southern hospitality of a small town with big city opportunities. The city is always taking the initiative to identify and meet the needs of its residents and businesses. These opportunities are all made possible through connections within the community — creating a stronger city altogether. Temple hosts several events and volunteer opportunities to care for its people, as well as offers support for local businesses.
Town Festivities
If there’s one way of connecting with the people in your city, it’s through a holiday parade. Join the town this year for Temple’s 75th Annual Christmas Parade. The parade will begin after Mayor Tim Davis lights the City’s Christmas tree. From there, over 100 illuminated entries light up the street where Santa will glide down the parade route on his special float. Watch as the whole city comes together to celebrate the holidays and share the love. The Christmas festivities in Temple don’t stop here. The Winter Wonderland at Wilson gives gifts to children, and the annual Bend of The River Christmas fair has holiday crafts and activities.
Temple isn’t only festive during the holidays. The city engages with its residents year round through various events, including 1st Fridays in downtown Temple. On the first Friday of every month, the town stays open late for live music, culinary specials, and shopping.
Temple residents also come together for annual festivals like Bloomin’ Temple Festival. The festival features live music, locally crafted art, carnival food and games, and a Kidz zone. For health and safety reasons, the festival was cancelled for 2021, but is ready to take off again in 2022.
Culture and Arts
Established in 1991, the Bell County Museum is housed in a Carnegie Library. It shows the history, archaeology and culture of Bell County with both local and national history. It is a very close drive, located in Belton, TX. There’s also an opportunity to learn at a museum in downtown Temple. The Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum has an extensive archive and an outdoor collection of railroad equipment; the museum also hosts events for the whole family.
The Cultural Activities Center brings core subjects to life in their theatrical performances. Education and entertainment join hands in programs for students in kindergarten up to sixth grade, with performance themes reinforcing the school curriculum. Audience engagement is a really big aspect of these shows which can be very beneficial for children who have difficulty learning through traditional education methods.
Lend a Helping Hand
Help young children foster self-confidence and self-empowerment through the Un-Included Club in Temple. The term means to be “Un-included from negativity.” They have several programs like Un-Included from Illiteracy, Obesity, Bullying, and a Leadership Development program. Students in the Un-included from Illiteracy program get to Read for Encouragement, Action, and Discovery (kids R.E.A.D!). Through a variety of topics, the kids can improve their reading skills and at the end of the year, present what they’ve learned in a fun and exciting way. Help your community and the children in it by volunteering at Un-included.
Hosting a range of volunteer opportunities, the Parks & Recreation Department aims to keep Temple’s public parks and facilities clean, safe, and beautiful. Celebrate national Arbor Day by planting a tree in the city of Temple. The impact you have as a resident who participates in Arbor Day is huge. Trees help reduce urban noise, prevent soil erosion, reduce energy costs by cooling neighborhoods, and improve mental and physical health.
Business Outreach
Temple’s community outreach doesn’t just serve residents but businesses as well. Temple fosters high-performing organizations with a bold vision for their community. Systems like Small Business Connect and Workforce Readiness Network help support businesses, making long-term growth and development possible.
Leadership Temple helps current and emerging leaders understand the role of leadership in a community and how it should best be applied for long-term success. Participants are educated about Temple’s history, government, economy, and social issues.
Small Business Connect supports small businesses and entrepreneurs through enhancements of the local economy and the businesses themselves. They host seminars and programs geared toward growth, host meetings with the Small Business Administration and develop initiatives to encourage support of local businesses.
The Workforce Readiness Network identifies areas of need in both business and education, creating an avenue for dialogue and development between the two. They aim to conduct quarterly meetings to identify workforce needs and support career days at Temple High School, Temple College, and Central Texas College.
Temple is a city that cares deeply about its residents and businesses. Whether you’re a small business owner seeking support or a resident looking to connect with your neighbors, there’s truly something here for everyone.