Good morning, Bastrop County! 🤠
It is the biggest weekend of the summer. The Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo rides through its final nights, the Grand Parade rolls down Cedar and Hill Streets on Saturday morning, and there is a brand-new Mutton Bustin' pre-show for the little buckaroos. Over at the Opera House, Anything Goes takes its final bow, and out on Highway 21 a homegrown coffee trailer just dropped three new Refreshers built for 100-degree afternoons.
Let's dig in.
🎒 New | Free 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, tax-free weekend, daycares, after-school care, and fall sports deadlines, every date checked against the source and gathered in one place.
👥 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 came straight from there. Come join us.
☕ Featured Business | Horizons Coffee Bar | Bastrop
Craft coffee and three new summer Refreshers on Hwy 21 | Bastrop, Texas
If you have driven Highway 21 near Bastrop State Park lately, you have probably spotted the navy trailer with the bold diamond logo tucked into the new Shell station next to The Roadhouse. That is Horizons Coffee Bar, a family-run coffee trailer that has quickly become one of Bastrop's favorite morning stops, and this month it is turning heads for something cool: a new lineup of summer Refreshers.
The husband-and-wife team behind Horizons fell in love with craft coffee culture, then set out to bring that same warmth and connection home to Bastrop County, Texas. Their tagline says it all: "Brewed for Every Horizon." Behind the window you will find bold espresso, cold brew, and made-to-order lattes in flavors from hawaiian salted caramel to red velvet cake, plus a full wall of Crimson Cup teas. Even the cold foam is thoughtful, whipped fresh with every order using 100 percent skim milk for a light, creamy finish without the extra calories.
But the story this week is the Refreshers. Made with caffeine for a genuine pick-me-up, each one comes with your choice of sparkling water for a bubbly kick or coconut milk for a smooth, tropical twist. There are three to try right now:
Strawberry Dragonfruit | the vibrant magenta showstopper, sweet and fruity over ice (This is the lightly sweet, refreshing drink I had, pictured above!)
Watermelon Lemonade | bright, tart, and made for a hot Texas afternoon
Watermelon Lemonade with Coconut Milk | the same summer flavor gone creamy and tropical
One more reason to root for them: Horizons has been nominated in four Bastrop County Best 2026 categories, including Best Cafe/Coffee Shop, Best Food Truck, Best Customer Service, and Best New Business. Voting is open through August 17 (details in Planning Ahead below).
What to order
A summer Refresher (Strawberry Dragonfruit, Watermelon Lemonade, or the coconut-milk version), from about $4.50
The signature Horizons Mocha, hot, iced, or frozen, from $5.75
A Flavored Latte in salted brown sugar or hawaiian salted caramel, from $5.25
A Cold Brew for the drive, from $4.50
Visit Horizons Coffee Bar 📍 146 TX-21, Bastrop, TX 78602 (in the Shell station next to The Roadhouse, across from Bastrop State Park) 📞 512-270-9201 🗓️ Mon-Fri 7am-2pm | Sat 8am-2pm | Closed Sunday (card and digital payments only) 🌐 Website | Facebook | Instagram
🗓️ Bastrop County Events | July 30 - August 5, 2026
Thursday, July 30
🤠 Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo | rodeo slack during the day, vendors from 6pm | Bastrop Rodeo Arena, 25 American Legion Dr, Bastrop | Food and merchandise vendors are on-site through Saturday from 6pm to close. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
🎱 Music Bingo with Jeff Petty | 6:30pm | Smithville Brewing Company, Smithville | Free to play, prizes for the winners. Smithville Brewing
⚽ Last day for Smithville youth football & cheer | SYFA registration closes today. SYFA
Friday, July 31
🤠 Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo | gate 6pm, rodeo 7:30pm | Bastrop Rodeo Arena, Bastrop | The $15 gate covers both the rodeo and the dance. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
🥩 Prime Rib Night | 5-9pm | The Front Room Wine Bar, 116 Main St, Smithville | Reservations 512-237-3626. The Front Room Wine Bar
🎉 Community Block Party | 6-8pm | Veterans Memorial Park, 209 Depot St, Elgin | Free, all ages, closing out Parks and Recreation Month with a DJ and lawn games. Elgin Parks & Recreation
🎸 Rock ATX Live Music | 7-10pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | 70s, 80s, and 90s hits on the patio. Copper Shot Distillery
🎭 Anything Goes | Final Weekend | 7:30pm | Bastrop Opera House, Bastrop | The last weekend for Cole Porter's musical. Bastrop Opera House
🌟 Saturday, August 1 | The Big Day
🥬 Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market | 9am-1pm | Downtown Bastrop | Local produce, bakers, and makers. Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market
🎊 Homecoming Grand Parade | 10am (lineup from 8am) | Cedar & Hill Streets, downtown Bastrop | Registration at the corner of Cedar and Hill closes at 9:30am. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
🏆 BHS Hall of Fame Induction | 11:30am | Jerry Fay Wilhelm Center for the Performing Arts, 1401 Cedar St, Bastrop | Honoring Bastrop High School's newest inductees. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
🎂 4-H Cake Auction | 12pm | American Legion, Bastrop | Annual fundraiser supporting local 4-H awards and youth projects. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
⚡ Spark Your Imagination | Final Day | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Last chance for the hands-on electricity exhibit. Bastrop County Historical Society
🃏 Texas Hold'Em Tournament | sign-up 2pm, cards 3pm | American Legion, Bastrop | $20 buy-in, buy-backs available. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
🎨 Art After Dark | 6-8pm | Lost Pines Art Center, 1204 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Free closing reception for the Members Showcase with live music by The Understudies. Lost Pines Art Center
🐏 NEW! Mutton Bustin' Pre-Show | 6:45pm (gate 6pm) | Bastrop Rodeo Arena, Bastrop | $15 admission covers the rodeo and dance; $30 entry to ride, sign up at the Diamond Cross booth starting at 6pm. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
🤠 Diamond Cross Rodeo | gate 6pm, rodeo 7:30pm | Bastrop Rodeo Arena, Bastrop | $15 covers the rodeo and dance; beer and concessions inside the arena. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
🎶 Live Music, Lowland Revelry | 9pm-12am (gate 8:30pm) | The Showbarn, Bastrop | $15 covers the rodeo and dance, beer available. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
⚽ Last day for Bastrop youth soccer | BYSO registration closes today. BYSO
Sunday, August 2
🛍️ Smithville Sunday Market | 10am-1pm | James H. Long Railroad Park, Smithville | Local vendors, makers, and finds. Smithville Market
🎭 Anything Goes | Closing Performance | Bastrop Opera House, Bastrop | The final performance of the run, check curtain time at the link. Bastrop Opera House
Monday, August 3
🧶 Macramé for Beginners (Prime Timers) | 2-4pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | A beginner class for older adults. City of Elgin
💃 Zumba with Juanda | 6-7pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | High-energy world-dance cardio. City of Elgin
Tuesday, August 4
📚 Baby Bookworms Story Time | 10:30am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Free lap-sit songs and rhymes for babies. Elgin Public Library
🏛️ Elgin City Council Meeting | 6:30pm | Elgin City Hall, Elgin | Open to the public. City of Elgin
Wednesday, August 5
🩸 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
📚 Bébé Bilingüe Story Time | 10:30am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Free bilingual early-literacy story time. Elgin Public Library
🔮 Planning Ahead
🗳️ Vote through Aug 17 | Bastrop County Best 2026 | Voting is open for your favorite local businesses, including this week's featured Horizons Coffee Bar (nominated in four categories). Cast your ballot for the shops, restaurants, and people that make Bastrop County home. Bastrop County Best
🏫 Sat Aug 8 | Family Make N Take, School Days | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | A hands-on family craft to kick off the new school year. Bastrop County Historical Society
🎒 Mid-August | Back to School | Bastrop, Elgin, and Smithville ISD classes resume in the coming weeks. Watch for our 2026 Back to School Guide above. Bastrop ISD Calendar
🚂 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 Thursday.
Marilyn - The Bastrop Current