Good Morning Neighbor! 🎭
Community Gardens throws its free foam party and 25-foot water slide back open Saturday for a second round of Kids Day. Down in Smithville, CASA hosts a 1950s casino sock hop to raise money for kids in the county's foster care system, and the Bastrop Opera House's "Anything Goes" opens Friday for a run through the first weekend of August. If you haven't made it out to Corvette Invasion yet, the largest Corvette show in Texas is still free to the public Saturday morning. And this week's Business Spotlight takes us to Smithville, where Quinto Patio serves up Tex-Mex, live music, and margaritas inside the historic Vasek Garage.
Let's dig in.
Last week in Bastrop County: the largest Corvette show in Texas rolled into Bastrop for a free weekend car show. Catch up on last week's issue here. Heading to Elgin or Smithville this week? Our town guides have more on where to eat, shop, and explore.
👥 Join the conversation
Our Bastrop Current Community Group on Facebook keeps growing, with neighbors posting events, photos, and local finds every day. Got a flyer or a favorite spot? Share it with us.
🌮 Featured Business of the Week | Quinto Patio | Smithville
Tex-Mex, live music, and a full bar inside the historic Vasek Garage | Smithville, Texas
The same family that has run Anita's Mexican Restaurant in Bastrop since 1998 brought that same kitchen to Smithville. Quinto Patio opened November 2, 2024 inside the historic Vasek Garage building on 2nd Street, and it quickly became the kind of spot where locals show up weekly, not just for special occasions. Corn and flour tortillas are made fresh in-house every day, the patio fills up on weekend nights for live music, and the full bar keeps the margarita flights coming.
The menu leans into everything a good Tex-Mex kitchen should: puffy tacos, sizzling fajitas, enchiladas smothered a half dozen different ways, and an all-day breakfast menu for the folks who want migas at 2pm. Regulars on Google rave about the frozen margaritas and come back "every Tuesday" for tacos with their moms. It is a family restaurant in the truest sense, and it is quickly becoming Smithville's answer to a Friday night out.
A few things worth ordering:
🌯 Anita's Plate | $15.99 | a cheese enchilada, tamale, and crispy taco, named for the sister restaurant in Bastrop
🌮 Puffy Taco Plate | from $12.99 | handmade taco shells, a Tex-Mex classic done right
🍹 Frozen Margarita | ask about the flight | the drink regulars say to order first
🥙 Street Tacos | $15.99 | pastor or barbacoa, topped with cilantro and onions, served with lime
🍰 Tres Leches Cake | $6.99 | the dessert reviewers call out by name
🫓 Chalupa Plate | $12.99 | two bean-and-cheese chalupas with rice and beans
Visit Quinto Patio 📍 114 NE 2nd St, Smithville, TX 78957 📞 (512) 237-1001 🗓️ Tue-Thu 11am-9pm | Fri-Sat 8am-10pm | Sun 8am-3pm | Closed Mondays 🌐 quintopatiorestaurant.com | Facebook | Instagram
🗓️ Bastrop County Events | July 16-22, 2026
Thursday, July 16
🔌 Spark Your Imagination Exhibit | 10am-5pm daily through Aug 1 | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Hands-on exhibit exploring the science and history of electricity, developed with Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative. Included with museum admission. Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center
🥋 Tai Chi Chuan | 5 Basic Stances | 7:45-8:45am | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Morning tai chi with Master Boaz. Elgin Parks & Recreation
💻 Tech Ready, Job Steady | Next Level | 10am-12pm | Smithville Recreation Center, 106 Royston St, Smithville | Free digital-skills and job-readiness workshop. Bastrop County Cares
💼 Level Up Your Career | Preparing for the Interview | 5:30-7pm | First National Bank, 489 State Hwy 71, Bastrop | Free interview-prep workshop with Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area. Register ahead. Bastrop County Cares
🛒 Elgin Farmers Market | 4-7pm | Veterans Memorial Park, 109 Depot St, Elgin | Produce, meats and baked goods, live music from Dani the Violinist 5-6pm. Elgin Farmers Market
🚐 Care-A-Van Smithville | 5-7pm | 101 Ken Blaschke Dr, Smithville | Mobile resource van. Free. Bastrop County Cares
🤝 Smithville Chamber July Mixer | 5-7pm | VFW Post 1309, 557 Loop 230 W, Smithville | Casual networking, members and prospective members welcome. Smithville Area Chamber
🎨 Tote Bag Painting for Tweens | 6-8pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Register through Elgin Parks & Rec. Elgin Parks & Recreation
Friday, July 17
🧘 Slow Flow Yoga with Melodie | 9-10am | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Elgin Parks & Recreation
🏃 Fit & Strong Summer Aerobics | 10:15-11:15am | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Elgin Parks & Recreation
🦁 Lucas Miller | The Singing Zoologist | 10:30am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | A high-energy family show mixing live music, animal facts and audience participation. Free. Elgin Public Library
🎉 Meet the PARD Team | 5-7pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Come meet the Elgin Parks and Recreation staff. Free. Elgin Parks & Recreation
🏁 Corvette Invasion | Meet & Greet | 7pm | Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Sold out, registered participants only. Spectators, Saturday's car show is free. Corvette Invasion
🎸 Twisted Round | 7:30-10:30pm | Gracie's, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Live music on the patio. Gracie's
🌟 Anything Goes | Opening Night | 6:30pm | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | Cole Porter's high-seas musical comedy opens, running weekends through Aug 2. Ticketed. Bastrop Opera House
🌟 Saturday, July 18 | The Big Day
🥬 Eden East Farm Market | 9am-1pm | Eden East Farm, 1910 Main St, Bastrop | Free entry. Eden East Farm
🏁 Corvette Invasion | Car Show | 9am-1pm, awards 2pm | Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut St, Bastrop | The largest Corvette show in Texas, still free to the public. Corvette Invasion
🛒 Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market | 10am-2pm | 1309 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Produce, honey, baked goods, makers. 1832 Farmers Market
🍞 Sourdough For Beginners | 11am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Learn to build and care for a sourdough starter, from mixing dough to baking. Free. Elgin Public Library
🧁 Daddy & Daughter Cupcake Decorating | 10am-12pm | 15 American Legion Dr, Bastrop | Free, registration required. Bastrop County Cares
🫧 3rd Annual Kids Day at Community Gardens | 10am-4pm | Community Gardens, 1067 TX-71, Bastrop | Foam party, 25-ft water slide, dunk tank, vendors. Free entry, wristbands for activities. Community Gardens
🎨 Summer Welcome Mat Painting | 10am-3pm | Smithville General Store, 108 NE 2nd St, Smithville | Ticketed workshop. Smithville General Store
🎻 July Music in the Museum | 12-1pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Free bluegrass jam. Bastrop County Historical Society
💦 Splash Day + Live Music | 3-11pm | Smithville Brewing Company, 661 NW Loop 230, Smithville | Waterslide and splash pad, live music 7-9pm. Free entry. Smithville Brewing
🎈 Birdee's Block Party | 3-7pm | The Birdsong Bar & Patio, 1200 NE Loop 230, Smithville | The Birdsong Bar & Patio
🎰 CASA Casino Sock Hop | 5:30-10:30pm | Smithville Recreation Center, 106 Royston St, Smithville | 1950s casino night benefiting CASA of Bastrop, Fayette & Lee Counties. Ticketed. CASA BFL
🎭 Anything Goes | 7:30-9:30pm | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | Ticketed. Bastrop Opera House
🎤 Bastrop Comedy Club | 8pm | Film Alley Bastrop, 1600 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Ages 17+, ticketed. Film Alley Bastrop
Sunday, July 19
🛒 Smithville Farmers Market | 10am-1pm | James H. Long Railroad Park, 100 NW 1st St, Smithville | Free. Smithville Market
🎸 Town & Country Boys | 12-2pm | Gracie's, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Live music on the patio. Gracie's
🎨 LPAC Teen Art Club | 2-4pm | Lost Pines Art Center, 1204 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Ages 13-18. Free. Lost Pines Art Center
🎭 Anything Goes | Sunday Matinee | 2:30-4:30pm | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | Ticketed. Bastrop Opera House
🍺 Live Music Sunday + $5 Frozen Slushies | 4-6pm | Smithville Brewing Company, 661 NW Loop 230, Smithville | Free entry. Smithville Brewing
Monday, July 20
🌿 Family Nature Quest | 10:30am-12:30pm | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | Self-guided nature-play stations for families, ages 4-10. $10/person. LCRA Parks
🎬 Movie Monday | 2-4pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Free family movie screening with snacks. City of Bastrop Library
Tuesday, July 21
🧱 LEGO RAMA | 3-4:30pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Free, elementary and tween-friendly. City of Bastrop Library
🎤 Open Mic Night w/ Robert Kraft | 6-8pm | Gracie's, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Free to attend. Gracie's
Wednesday, July 22
🫧 Preschool Storytime: Bubbles | 10:30am | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Bubble-themed stories, rhymes and songs. Free. City of Bastrop Library
🧗 High Ropes and Zip Line | 10:30am | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | 30-ft ropes course plus zip line, all safety gear provided. $45/person. LCRA Parks
🔮 Planning Ahead
A few things worth marking on your calendar:
🏛️ Thu Jul 23 | Quarterly Meeting | Bastrop State Park with Ranger Madalyn Miller | 6:30-8pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Free talk on the history of Bastrop State Park, from the Lost Pines ecosystem to the Civilian Conservation Corps legacy. Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center
🚗 Sat Jul 25 | Urbanfest Car Show | 10am-5pm | Elgin | A second car show rolls into the county a week after Corvette Invasion. City of Elgin
🎄 Sat Jul 25 | Christmas in July at the Museum | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Sidewalk sale and photos with summer Santa. Bastrop County Historical Society
🎠 Jul 28 - Aug 1 | Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo | Mayfest Hill Park, 25 American Legion Dr, Bastrop | One of the county's longest-running traditions, with barrel racing, CPRA rodeo nights and the Grand Parade through downtown Saturday Aug 1. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
🎉 Fri Jul 31 | Community Block Party | 6-8pm | Veterans Memorial Park, Elgin | Free, all ages, with DJ Reeseboi. Elgin Parks & Recreation
🎨 Sat Aug 1 | Art After Dark | 6-8pm | Lost Pines Art Center, 1204 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Free closing reception for the Members Showcase plus summer youth camp student work. Lost Pines Art Center
🏁 Saturdays | Race Night at Cotton Bowl Speedway | gates 5pm, racing 7pm | 1175 County Rd 202, Paige | Weekly dirt-track racing continues through the summer. Cotton Bowl Speedway
🎁 July Referral Prize | $50 to Numero 28
Share your unique referral link below with one friend who'd love a weekly dose of Bastrop County. Every referral through your unique link is an entry to win a $50 gift card to Numero 28 in Bastrop, with our winner drawn at the end of July.
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 Thursday.
Marilyn - The Bastrop Current