This week is sponsored by
Ph.D. Pool Care has kept Bastrop County pools clear since 2016. Weekly service with all chemicals included, no contracts, and same-day emergency equipment repair. Call 512-945-2121 for a free quote.
⏰ Good morning, Bastrop County
Well, summer break is officially ending just as the temps go up even higher. You might want to plan a lot of indoor activities, because the forecast has us at 100 or better nearly every day this week, topping out around 101 on Wednesday with a heat index near 102! Stay hydrated and stay safe!
Backpacks earn their keep starting Wednesday in Elgin and Smithville, and Thursday in Bastrop. So that means meet-the-teacher nights fill up Monday and Tuesday. Then the fun starts: the Central States Dwarf Car Nationals take over Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige for three straight nights, Frontier Bank in Smithville throws a free all-day second-birthday party with snow cones and cookies, the Bastrop County Museum opens its doors for the Day of Giving, and Copper Shot has live music three nights running before closing the weekend with National Rum Day. Grab a glass of sweet tea and let's dig in.
🏁 The Dwarf Car Nationals Take Over Paige | Aug 13 - 15
Cotton Bowl Speedway, 1175 CR 202, Paige | at the corner of Highway 290 and County Road 202
Three nights, one dirt oval, and a field of cars that look like somebody shrank a 1930s coupe and dropped a motorcycle engine in it. That is a dwarf car, and the association that races them has a slogan that tells you everything: half the size, twice the fun.
The Central States Dwarf Car Association Nationals is the biggest thing on Cotton Bowl Speedway's calendar this month, hosted by the Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas. DCRST is a nonprofit that runs a circuit from Pleasanton to Alvin to Waco, with three divisions and drivers ranging from teenagers to men and women in their seventies. The CSDCA side pulls cars in from Oklahoma and Colorado, so this is a deeper field than a normal Saturday night in Paige.
The three nights
🔧 Thursday, Aug 13 | Practice | The quiet night, and the one where you can actually watch the crews work.
🏁 Friday, Aug 14 | Night One | The first full race night.
🏆 Saturday, Aug 15 | Night Two | Championship night, with Sport Compacts by Montalvo Motorsports on the card too.
Know before you go
⏰ Grandstands open at 5pm and the opening ceremony is at 7pm. Pit gates open at 3pm Saturday.
🎫 Tickets for all three nights are sold online through the speedway. Kids 6 and under get in free, and military and seniors 65 and up get a discount with ID at the gate. Buy tickets
🧊 Personal-size coolers are allowed, no glass bottles.
👶 It is loud. Bring ear protection for the little ones and a cushion or stadium seat for the aluminum.
It is about twenty minutes east of Bastrop on 290, which makes it the closest thing we have to a real weekend away that still gets you home the same night. Buy tickets | Cotton Bowl Speedway schedule | Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas
🗓️ Bastrop County Events | August 10 - 16, 2026
Monday, 🗓️ August 10
🤠 Soul Circuit: Juneteenth Rodeos in Texas | Exhibit Opens | museum hours from 10am | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | A traveling Humanities Texas exhibition of photographs of Black cowboys and cowgirls on the Texas Juneteenth rodeo circuit, on view through September 19. Bastrop County Historical Society
🧵 Smithville Stitchers Quilt Guild | 10-11am | Smithville | Second-Monday guild meetup, visitors welcome. Call 979-716-0629 for the meeting place. Smithville Area Chamber
🐍 Wildlife Explorer | 1:30pm | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | Throw an atlatl, start a fire without matches, and meet a live snake and turtle. $25. LCRA Parks
✏️ Meet the Teacher | Smithville ISD | Brown Primary 3:30-5pm, Smithville Elementary 4:30-6pm | Smithville | Classrooms open the day before Smithville's first day. Smithville ISD
🎒 Meet the Teacher Night | Bastrop ISD Elementary | 4:30-6pm | all BISD elementary campuses | Find the classroom, drop off supplies, and shake a hand before Thursday's first bell. Bastrop Middle School also runs 6th grade Bear Camp 1-3pm. Bastrop ISD
🍎 Meet the Teacher Night | Elgin ISD | 5-7pm | Booker T. Washington Elementary, 510 Martin Luther King Blvd, and Elgin Intermediate, 902 W 2nd St, Elgin | BTW takes 3rd-5th grade at 5pm and PK-2nd at 6pm; Elgin Intermediate runs 5-7pm for 6th graders. Elgin ISD
🎟️ Member Preview Nite | Soul Circuit | 5-6:30pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Members get the first look at the new exhibit before it opens to the public. Bastrop County Historical Society
Tuesday, 🗓️ August 11
🤝 Chamber U | 8:30-10am | Bastrop Regional Chamber Board Room, 927 Main St, Bastrop | A free session on getting real value out of a Chamber membership. Bastrop Regional Chamber
💪 Fit For Us | 11am-1pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Free resistance-band and bodyweight class for moms and caregivers, with a healthy-eating segment for kids 2-5. Bastrop County Cares
🧘 Qi Flow | 12:30-1:30pm | Bastrop Recreation Center, 1008 Water St, Bastrop | A one-time Taoist movement and HeartMath meditation class for balance and grounding, and the only August date. $8 for non-members. City of Bastrop Recreation
🐻 Bastrop High School Bear Camp | 3:30-5pm, parent meeting 5pm | Bastrop High School, Bastrop | Orientation for 9th graders and new students, with a parent meeting in the cafeteria after. Cedar Creek Middle runs its own 6th grade orientation 2:30-4:30pm. Bastrop ISD
🔧 Tween Maker Space | 5-6pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Hands-on building for tweens, something different every month. Free. City of Elgin
Wednesday, 🗓️ August 12
🎒 First Day of School | Elgin ISD | all day | Elgin | Wildcats are back in the building. Elgin ISD
🐯 First Day of School | Smithville ISD | all day | Smithville | Tigers start the year the same morning. Smithville ISD
🍽️ PrimeBite Food Truck Ribbon Cutting | noon-1pm, ribbon at 12:30pm | Chestnut Grove Food Truck Court, 316 Schaefer Blvd, Bastrop | The Chamber welcomes a new food truck to town. Come hungry. Free. Bastrop Regional Chamber
🎲 Senior Game Day | noon-3pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Cards, board games, and good company. Free. City of Elgin
📈 Level Up Your Career | Find Your Career Path | 5:30-7pm | First National Bank, 489 State Hwy 71, Bastrop | A free workshop from Bastrop County Cares and Workforce Solutions on mapping out a career, not just finding a job. Smithville Area Chamber
🌠 Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight | after dark | anywhere with a dark sky, and Buescher State Park near Smithville has some of the darkest around | The Perseids peak overnight Wednesday into Thursday. No ticket needed, just a blanket and about 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust. Check the park calendar before you drive out. Buescher State Park
Thursday, 🗓️ August 13
🔔 First Day of School | Bastrop ISD | all day | Bastrop | Bears are back. Watch for buses and give yourself an extra ten minutes. Bastrop ISD
🥬 Elgin Farmers Market | 4-7pm | Veterans Memorial Park, 109 Depot St, Elgin | Produce, meats, and baked goods, with live music from local singer Hannah JustHannah at 5pm. SNAP accepted. Elgin Farmers Market
🛍️ Sip, Shop & Stroll | Supplies to Rise! Edition | from 5pm | Downtown Elgin, Elgin | Second-Thursday downtown night with shops open late and a back-to-school theme. Free. Elgin Chamber of Commerce
🏁 Dwarf Car Nationals | Practice Night | grandstands open 5pm | Cotton Bowl Speedway, 1175 CR 202, Paige | The Nationals open with a practice night on the dirt, see the feature above. Tickets
🎶 Sound Bowl Meditation with Erin Nicole | 5:30-6:30pm | Lost Pines Art Center, 1204 Chestnut St, Bastrop | An hour of crystal sound bowls and guided relaxation under the gallery's high ceilings. Bring a mat, blanket, and pillow. $35. Lost Pines Art Center
🥂 Alive After 5ive | 5:30-7pm | Pluto's Wine Bar, 924 Main St, Bastrop | The Chamber's monthly after-hours mixer, hosted this month by UX Web Co. Free. Bastrop Regional Chamber
🌱 Smithville Community Gardens Meeting | 5:30-6:30pm | Smithville Recreation Center, 106 Gazley St, Smithville | Free and open to anyone who wants to dig in. Smithville Area Chamber
🎸 Carter Hampton Live | 6:30-8:30pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | A solo acoustic set to open the weekend early. Copper Shot Distillery
Friday, 🗓️ August 14
🎂 Frontier Bank 2-Year Anniversary Celebration | 10am-5pm | Frontier Bank, 107 NW Loop 230, Smithville | A free all-day party with TJ's snow cones from 1-5pm, custom cookies, games with prizes, and Buckaroo Bucks for Kids Club members. Smithville Area Chamber
🥪 Cooking Club | Sandwiches | noon-1pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Bring a sandwich to share and taste everyone else's. Free. Elgin Chamber of Commerce
🏁 Dwarf Car Nationals | Night One | grandstands 5pm, opening ceremony 7pm | Cotton Bowl Speedway, 1175 CR 202, Paige | The first full race night, see the feature above. Tickets
🏈 Elgin High School Meet the Teacher Night | 6:30-7:30pm | Old Wildcat Stadium, Elgin | High school families meet teachers out at the stadium. Free. Elgin ISD
🎸 Stray Dog & The Wolves | 7-10pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | High-energy Austin blues on the Main Street patio. Copper Shot Distillery
🎮 Teen Takeover | 7-8:30pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | The library after hours belongs to the teens. Free. City of Elgin
🌟 Saturday, 🗓️ August 15 | The Big Day
🦫 Beavers, Birds and Butterflies of Buescher Lake | 9-10am | Buescher State Park, 100 Park Road 1E, near Smithville | A ranger-led lakeside walk while the beavers are still out. Park entry fee applies. Buescher State Park
✏️ Back to School Market at Bastrop Beauty House | from 9am | 398 Old Austin Hwy, Bastrop | A first-week-of-school market with local vendors, shopping, and self-care. Free to browse. Event page
🥬 Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market | 10am-2pm | 1302 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Produce, grass-fed beef, eggs, honey, plants, and makers, every Saturday year-round. Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market
🏺 Texas Antique and Pottery Show | 10am-3pm | Paige Community Center, 117 Main St, Paige | Rare Texas stoneware and antiques, including pieces that have never been offered for sale before. Event page
🏛️ Bastrop County Historical Society Day of Giving | 11am-2pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | The second annual behind-the-scenes day. Go inside the Collections, tour the Research Library, and get a sneak peek at what is coming next. Donation-based admission. Bastrop County Historical Society
🧩 Puzzle Tournament | 1-3pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | First 10 teams to arrive compete, one or two people per team, same puzzle, fastest solve wins. Free. Elgin Chamber of Commerce
🎤 Phil Hurley Live | 2-4pm | The Front Room Wine Bar, 116 Main St, Smithville | A veteran touring guitarist and an afternoon glass of wine on Main Street. The Front Room Wine Bar
👢 Line Dancing with Envision Dance | 3:30-4:30pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | A guest instructor teaches new steps. Wear closed-toe shoes. Free. Elgin Chamber of Commerce
🏁 Dwarf Car Nationals | Championship Night | grandstands 5pm, opening ceremony 7pm | Cotton Bowl Speedway, 1175 CR 202, Paige | Championship night plus Sport Compacts, see the feature above. Tickets
🎸 Robert Parker Jr. | 6:30-9:30pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | A rising Austin guitarist who bridges American roots and psychedelic jam. Copper Shot Distillery
Sunday, 🗓️ August 16
🛍️ Smithville Sunday Market | 10am-1pm | James H. Long Railroad Park, Main & 1st, Smithville | Locally grown, homemade, and handmade, with live music. Free. Smithville Sunday Market
🥃 National Rum Day | 11am-5pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | Rum-forward cocktails all afternoon. Copper Shot Distillery
🐍 Wildlife Explorer | 1:30pm | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | Atlatl throwing, fire building, and live animals. $25. LCRA Parks
🎨 Teen Art Club | 2-4pm | Lost Pines Art Center, 1204 Chestnut St, Bastrop | A free-form studio afternoon for teens. Lost Pines Art Center
🕊️ The Restored Mother | Somatic Grounding & Sound Bath | 6-7:30pm | Main Street Yoga, 918 Main St, Bastrop | An evening built for tired mothers, from postpartum through the school-run years. Somatic grounding, then a sound bath. Main Street Yoga Bastrop
🔮 Planning Ahead
🗳️ Through Mon Aug 17 | Bastrop County Best 2026 | Voting closes at midnight Monday. Last chance to back your favorite local shops, restaurants, and people. Bastrop Regional Chamber
🎬 Fri Aug 21 | Friday Film: Wuthering Heights | 2-4pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Free soda and popcorn, ages 17 and up. City of Elgin
🛍️ Sat-Sun Aug 22-23 | Main Street Market | Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Two days of vendors and makers under one roof. Bastrop Regional Chamber
🍿 Fri Aug 28 | Movies in the Park: The Lorax | park opens 8:30pm, film at 9pm | Fisherman's Park, Bastrop | Free family movie night on the river. City of Bastrop Recreation
🥩 Fri Aug 28 | Prime Rib Night | 5-9pm | The Front Room Wine Bar, 116 Main St, Smithville | Reservations 512-237-3626. The Front Room Wine Bar
🎭 Sat Aug 29 | Bastrop Comedy Club: Josh Firestine | Film Alley, Bastrop | A retired Army Ranger headlines the next stand-up night. Check the venue for the location, they are moving. Film Alley Bastrop
🍶 Sat Aug 29 | Grape Stomp | Rising Sun Vineyard, McDade | Stomp grapes the old-fashioned way out in McDade. Rising Sun Vineyard
🎭 Sep 4-27 | Disney's Newsies | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | The Opera House opens its fall season, opening night Friday September 4. Bastrop Opera House
🚂 Sat Sep 5 | Meet Me at the Depot | 9am-noon | Smithville MKT Depot, Smithville | A first-Saturdays series bringing the historic depot to life. Smithville Area Chamber
🌙 Sat Sep 12 | Nocturn Market | 5-10pm | Elgin | Artisan vendors, food trucks, music, and a whole lot of glowing lights. Free. Elgin Chamber of Commerce
🐗 Oct 22-25 | Hogeye Festival | Downtown Elgin | Mark the calendar now. City of Elgin
👥 Join the conversation
Our community is growing over in the Bastrop Current Facebook group, where neighbors post local happenings, ask for recommendations, and share what they love about home. Sunday evening's sound bath came straight from the group. Come say hello, and if you know something we should cover, drop it in. Join the Bastrop Current community group
🎁 August Referral Prize | $50 to Numero 28
Share your unique referral link below with one friend who would love a weekly dose of Bastrop County, Texas. Every referral through your link is an entry to win a $50 gift card to Numero 28, the Italian wood-fired pizzeria and vineria on Main Street in Bastrop, with our winner drawn at the end of August.
How Did We Do?
Before you go
If you've got a flyer, an event, or a Bastrop County business worth featuring, hit reply. We read every email.
Want your business in front of Bastrop County next week the way Ph.D. Pool Care is this week? Hit reply and ask about sponsoring an issue.
See you Thursday.
Marilyn - The Bastrop Current