Good morning, Bastrop County! 🤠
With the Homecoming Rodeo dust finally settled, the week eases into the end of summer rhythm. The Farm Street Opry brings live country music to the Convention Center on Thursday night, homemade cardboard boats race across the Elgin pool on Saturday, live music fills the Copper Shot patio downtown, the farmers and Sunday markets roll on, and a beloved home-decor boutique on Main Street lets us in on a barnyard secret you have to read to believe.
Let's dig in.
🎒 Free | 2026 Back to School Guide
Our 2026 Bastrop County Back to School Guide is out, and it's free. Sixteen pages of first days, Meet the Teacher nights, $10 sports physicals, daycares, after-school care, and fall sports deadlines, every date checked against the source. Get the free guide
👥 Join the conversation
Our Bastrop Current Community Group on Facebook is where neighbors drop flyers, ask for recommendations, and share what they stumbled into last weekend. Several of this week's listings started right there. Come join us.
🎶 Featured Event | The Farm Street Opry | Bastrop
First-Thursday live country music at the Convention Center
Once a month the Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center turns into a foot-stomping honky-tonk, and August's show lands right in our week. On Thursday, August 6, The Farm Street Opry returns with guest performances by Craig Howell and Gene Hendricks, backed by the awesome talents of the Farm Street Opry Band. Doors open at 5:30pm, so come early for what The Roadhouse bills as the "Best Burgers in Bastrop County," then settle in for a 7pm show. Admission is just $7.50, and kids under 10 get in free, one of the best-value family nights on the calendar.
Details 🗓️ Thursday, August 6 | doors 5:30pm, show 7pm 📍 Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut St, Bastrop, TX 78602 🎟️ $7.50 admission, under 10 free 📞 512-332-8981 🌐 farmstreetopry.com
🛋️ Featured Business of the Week | Black & White Interiors | Bastrop
Concept-to-completion design and a treasure-packed boutique on Main Street | Bastrop, Texas
Walk the 1000 block of Main Street in downtown Bastrop and you will find a shop that feels less like a store and more like a beautifully lived-in home. That is Black & White Interiors, the design studio and boutique that Desiree Laux opened back in 2014 on a simple belief: that great interior design "isn't a luxury afforded only by the wealthy." Whether you are furnishing a brand-new build or just refreshing a tired corner, her hands-on, budget-minded approach meets you where you are, from a full concept-to-completion project to a single perfect find you carry home that afternoon.
And oh, the finds. The boutique is organized like a series of little worlds to wander through: The House for textiles, rugs, lighting, art, mirrors, and furniture; the General Store for candles, gifts, and seasonal goods; the Kitchen Table for dinnerware, drinkware, and linens; the Bath Barn for soaps and skincare; a Boutique corner of jewelry, handbags, hats, and apparel; and Tiny Treasures for the littlest ones. Expect Texas-proud touches too, from framed longhorn art to a hand-painted state flag, mixed in among terracotta vases, farmhouse signs, and whimsical decor that makes you smile.
Now for that secret. We heard from a reliable source 😉 that the folks behind Black & White Interiors also keep 163 chickens on their land out in Dime Box, and yes, their farm-fresh eggs are for sale right here at the store, tucked in among the throw pillows and candlesticks. Home decor and a dozen eggs on the same trip. Only in Bastrop County.
What to look for
A styled vignette for your living room, think teal velvet, a cowhide-look rug, and a longhorn print to anchor it all
Farmhouse decor and signs, terracotta vases, and playful pieces like the polka-dot ceramic hen
A hat, a handbag, or a gift from the boutique corner while you browse
A carton of those famous farm-fresh eggs on your way out
Visit Black & White Interiors 📍 1015 Main Street, Bastrop, TX 78602 📞 512-514-1810 🗓️ Mon 12 - 5pm | Tue - Sat 11am - 5pm | Sun 12 - 5pm 🌐 Website | Shop Online | Facebook
🗳️ Vote for us | Bastrop County Best 2026
🗓️ Bastrop County Events | August 3 - 9, 2026
Monday, August 3
🎬 Movie Monday | 2 - 4pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Free weekly movie afternoon for kids as library programs return from summer break. Bastrop Public Library
🧶 Macramé for Beginners (Prime Timers) | 2 - 4pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | A relaxed beginner macramé class for the 55-and-up crowd. City of Elgin
🐉 Tween Dungeons & Dragons | 4 - 5:45pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Weekly D&D adventure for ages 11-14. Bastrop Public Library
💃 Zumba with Juanda | 6 - 7pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | High-energy dance-cardio to shake off Monday. City of Elgin💃 Zumba with Juanda | 6 - 7pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | High-energy dance-cardio to shake off Monday. City of Elgin
Tuesday, August 4
📚 Baby Bookworms Story Time | 10:30am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Free songs, rhymes, and stories for babies and toddlers. Elgin Public Library
🎤 Open Mic Night at Cedar's Coppice | 6:30pm | Cedar's Coppice, 709 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Bring a song or a poem to July's featured business - coffee, beer, and wine downtown. Cedar's Coppice
🏛️ Elgin City Council Meeting | 6:30pm | Elgin City Hall, Elgin | Open to the public; a budget workshop is posted for the same evening. City of Elgin
Wednesday, August 5
🥕 Eden East Farm Stand | 9am - 1pm | Eden East Farm, Bastrop | Midweek farm-fresh produce straight from the in-town farm. Eden East Farm
📚 Preschool Storytime | 10:30am | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Free Wednesday storytime for little ones. Bastrop Public Library
📚 Bébé Bilingüe Story Time | 10:30am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Free bilingual songs and stories for little ones. Elgin Public Library
🩸 We Are Blood Community Blood Drive | 12 - 6pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Free to donate, and every pint helps a Central Texas neighbor. City of Elgin
🍽️ Summer Food Distribution | 1 - 3pm | Stony Point Park, 105 Stony Creek Dr, Bastrop County | Free meals for kids and teens ages 1-18, no registration or ID needed. Smithville Chamber
🍷 Happy Hour at Store House Market & Eatery | 5 - 10pm | Store House, 813 Main St, Bastrop | The farm-to-table favorite debuts its new August happy hour menu. Store House
🎱 Bingo Night | 7 - 9pm | Bastrop Beer Company, 1008 Main St, Bastrop | Weekly bingo with a downtown craft-beer backdrop. Bastrop Beer Company
Thursday, August 6
🎶 The Farm Street Opry | doors 5:30pm, show 7pm | Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut St, Bastrop | First-Thursday country music with Craig Howell, Gene Hendricks, and the Opry Band; $7.50, under 10 free. Farm Street Opry
🔬 S.T.E.A.M. for Kids | 10 - 11am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Hands-on science, tech, and art for curious kids. Elgin Public Library
🧶 Fiber Arts & Friends | 10am - 12pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Bring your knitting or crochet and craft in good company. Elgin Public Library
🛒 Elgin Farmers Market | 4-7pm | Veterans Memorial Park, 109 Depot St, Elgin | Local produce, food, and live music every Thursday, SNAP/EBT welcome. Elgin Farmers Market
🏋️ Intro to Strength & Conditioning | 6 - 7pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Beginner-friendly fundamentals with DeShay Fitness. City of Elgin
🧠 Trivia Night | 7 - 9pm | Bastrop Beer Company, 1008 Main St, Bastrop | Test your smarts over a cold one downtown. Bastrop Beer Company
Friday, August 7
💸 Texas Tax-Free Weekend begins | Fri Aug 7 - Sun Aug 9 | statewide | Clothing, shoes, school supplies, and backpacks under $100 are sales-tax-free all weekend, just in time for back to school. Texas Comptroller
☕ Coffee Talk | 9 - 10am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Casual morning conversation over coffee. Elgin Public Library
🧒 Little Learners | 10:30 - 11:30am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Storytime plus a craft for young children. Elgin Public Library
🎸 Live Music: X Factory | 6:30 - 9:30pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | Classic rock on the downtown patio. Copper Shot Distillery
🧑🤝🧑 Tween Invasion | 7 - 8:30pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | A first-Friday, high-energy hangout just for tweens. Elgin Public Library
🌟 Saturday, August 8 | The Big Day
🥬 Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market | 10am - 2pm | 1302 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Local produce, bakers, and makers in the heart of downtown. Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market
🛶 Cardboard Boat Race 2026 | 10am - 12pm | Elgin Municipal Pool, 802 N Ave C, Elgin | Homemade cardboard boats race across the pool in summer's soggiest showdown. City of Elgin
🏫 Family Make N Take: School Days | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | A hands-on family craft to welcome the new school year. Bastrop County Historical Society
🐉 Teen D&D | 3 - 5pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Dungeons & Dragons for teens, new players welcome. Elgin Public Library
🎸 Live Music: The A-TX Rejects | 7 - 10pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | Alt and grunge favorites on the patio. Copper Shot Distillery
Sunday, August 9
🛍️ Smithville Sunday Market | 10am - 1pm | James H. Long Railroad Park, Smithville | Vendors, produce, and makers by the depot. Smithville Market
🍺 Live Music Sunday | 4-7pm | Smithville Brewing Company, 661 NW Loop 230, Smithville | Weekly Sunday live music at the taproom with frozen slushies and scenic views. Smithville Brewing
🔮 Planning Ahead
📬 Thursday | In your inbox: the Tax-Free Weekend issue | Tax-Free Weekend hits Aug 7 - 9, and Thursday's issue has the full savings playbook plus our free 2026 Back to School Guide with every first day. Watch your inbox. Get the guide now!
🗳️ Vote through Aug 17 | Bastrop County Best 2026 | Cast your ballot for the local shops, restaurants, people and newsletter 😉 that make Bastrop County home. Bastrop County Best
🌠 Wed Aug 12 | Perseid Meteor Shower Watch Party | 8:30pm | Buescher State Park, Smithville | Free stargazing on the meteor shower's peak night. Buescher State Park
🍷 Thu Aug 13 | Sip Shop & Stroll | 5 - 8pm | Historic Downtown Elgin | A second-Thursday wine walk with sips, bites, and shopping. City of Elgin
🏎️ Aug 14 - 15 | Dwarf Car Nationals | Cotton Bowl Speedway, Paige | Championship dirt-track racing under the lights. Cotton Bowl Speedway
🚂 Sat Sep 5 | Meet Me at the Depot | 9am - noon | Smithville MKT Depot, Smithville | A brand-new first-Saturdays series kicks off this fall. Visit Smithville
🎁 August Referral Prize | $50 to Numero 28
Share your unique referral link below with one friend who'd 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.
See you next Monday.
Marilyn - The Bastrop Current