Good Morning Neighbor! 🤠
Santa packs up his lawn chair this weekend, and then the boots come out. Christmas in July runs through Sunday across downtown Smithville, Smithville Brewing throws its 4-year anniversary party Saturday afternoon, and the Bastrop County Museum joins in with a Main Street Lemonade Crawl and photos with a summer Santa. Then Tuesday the Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo rolls into Mayfest Hill Park for one of the county's longest-running weeks, opening with team roping and a barrel racing jackpot before the full CPRA rodeo nights next weekend.
One quick favor before we dig in: we've been nominated in Bastrop Best, and a vote from you would mean a lot. Vote for Bastrop Current here.
Let's dig in.
Earlier this week: we walked through Christmas in July in Smithville and previewed rodeo week. Catch up on Monday's issue here. Headed to Bastrop or Elgin this week? Our town guides have more on where to eat, shop, and explore.
🎒 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 of the Week | Cedar's Coppice | Bastrop
Coffee, wine, books and plants in one quiet room | Bastrop, Texas
A coppice is a stand of trees cut back to the ground so they grow back stronger. Owner Shelby White named her downtown Bastrop cafe after that idea, and it fits.
The name traces back to her late father, who shared her love of cedar trees and was the inspiration for the whole place. Shelby tells that story in her own words on the shop's website, and it is worth a read. Read her full story here.
What she built is a vintage cafe and wine bar where slowing down is the entire point. Coffee in the morning, a book in the afternoon, a glass of wine or a craft beer in the evening. The shelves carry things you cannot get at a chain: locally grown plants, art from Bastrop County artists, and books you will not find on an endcap somewhere. Nobody rushes you out.
A few things worth doing there:
☕ Morning coffee and a small bite | the reason most regulars first walk in
🍷 Beer and wine | the cafe turns into a quiet evening bar after work
🪴 Shop the local vendors | plants, art from area residents, and an unusual book selection
📖 Just sit | the stated purpose is to "cut back" the stress and let the calm grow back
Visit Cedar's Coppice 📍 709 Chestnut St, Bastrop, TX 78602 📞 (512) 409-3373 🗓️ Closed Monday | Tue-Sat 8am-8pm | Sun 8am-3pm 🌐 Website | Facebook | Instagram
🗓️ Bastrop County Events | July 23-29, 2026
Thursday, July 23
🥋 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
🎄 Christmas in July | Day 1 | all day | Downtown Smithville | Four days of specials, sales, and sweet treats across about twenty downtown businesses. Golden Girls Boutique
⚡ Spark Your Imagination Exhibit | 10am-5pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | The hands-on electricity exhibit is in its final stretch, closing Aug 1. $8 adults, free for kids 12 and under. Bastrop County Historical Society
👶 Baby Sensory Lap Reading | 11am-1pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Lap reading paired with sensory play for the littlest readers. Free. Bastrop Public Library
🛒 Elgin Farmers Market | 4-7pm | Veterans Memorial Park, 109 Depot St, Elgin | Local produce, meats, and baked goods. SNAP/EBT welcome. Elgin Farmers Market
🏈 Sam Miller Memorial Camp | Final Night | 6-7:30pm | Erhard Field, Bastrop | BYFO's annual youth football camp honoring Sam Miller, with all proceeds going to a scholarship fund for families in need. Bastrop Youth Football Organization
🎱 Christmas in July Bingo | 6:30pm | Smithville Brewing Company, 661 NW Loop 230, Smithville | Holiday-themed bingo in the taproom. Free to play. Smithville Brewing
🏛️ July Quarterly Meeting | Bastrop State Park History | 6:30-8pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Lead Interpretive Ranger Madalyn Miller on the Lost Pines ecosystem and the Civilian Conservation Corps legacy. Free and open to the public. Bastrop County Historical Society
Friday, July 24
🧘 Slow Flow Yoga 9-10am and Fit & Strong Aerobics 10:15-11:15am | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Free. Elgin Parks & Recreation
🫧 Preschool Storytime | Bubbles | 10:30am | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Stories, rhymes, and a lot of bubbles. Free. Bastrop Public Library
🛍️ Christmas in July at Golden Girls Boutique | store hours, Fri & Sat | 114 Main St, Smithville | Storewide sale, sweet treats, a festive drink while you shop, scratch-off discount cards, and free Christmas coloring books for the kids. Golden Girls Boutique
🍽️ Summer Food Distribution | 3-4pm New Life Baptist Church, 175 S Hwy 95 and 5-6pm First Baptist Church, 13916 County Line Rd, Elgin | Free meals for kids and teens ages 1-18, no registration or ID needed. Smithville Chamber
📚 Reading with a Cause | Final Day | tickets due by 11:59pm | Bastrop Public Library | Last call to turn in summer reading tickets online. Bastrop Public Library
🎸 Texas Hillcountry Rockers | 6:30-9:30pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | Psychedelic rock classics on the back patio. Free. Copper Shot Distillery
🎭 Anything Goes | 7:30pm | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | Cole Porter's high-seas musical comedy, with a final weekend Jul 31 - Aug 2. Bastrop Opera House
🎶 Fallon Frank | 7:30-10:30pm | Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard, 601 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Austin pop and Americana singer-songwriter. Free. Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard
🎶 Bud Vargas | 7:30-10:30pm | Gracie's, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Friday night on the patio. Free. Gracie's
🌟 Saturday, July 25 | The Big Day
🍳 FBC Men's Ministry Breakfast & Washer Tournament | 8am-2pm | First Baptist Church, 305 Hudgins St, Smithville | All men welcome, free. Smithville Chamber
🦷 Health on Wheels Dental Van | 8am-3pm | Career Tracks, 404 Fawcett St, Smithville | Free exams, extractions, and fillings for the uninsured. Appointments 512-237-2772. Smithville Chamber
🥬 Eden East Farm Market | 9am-1pm | Eden East Farm, 1910 Main St, Bastrop | Hyper-seasonal produce straight from the farm. Free entry. Eden East Farm
🎄 Christmas in July | all day | Downtown Smithville | The heart of the weekend: sales, treats, and holiday cheer across twenty downtown shops. Golden Girls Boutique
🛒 Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market | 10am-2pm | 1302 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Produce, local honey, baked goods, flowers, and makers. Free. 1832 Farmers Market
🎅 Christmas in July at the Museum | 10am-5pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Downtown Bastrop's version: museum store sidewalk sale, a Main Street Lemonade Crawl, and photos with Santa in his summer gear. Free to browse. Bastrop County Historical Society
🎂 Smithville Brewing 4-Year Anniversary Party | starts 3pm, live music from Briana Adams at 7pm | Smithville Brewing Company, 661 NW Loop 230, Smithville | Four years of the taproom, celebrated right in the middle of Christmas in July weekend. Free entry. Smithville Brewing
🏁 Summer Showdown | Night One | gates 5pm, racing 7pm | Cotton Bowl Speedway, 1175 County Rd 202, Paige | The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series headlines, with Stock Cars, SportMods, Factory Stocks, and Sport Compacts. Ticketed. Cotton Bowl Speedway
🎉 Summer Jubilee | 6:30-8pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | The summer reading program's closing celebration. Free. Bastrop Public Library
🎭 Anything Goes | 7:30pm | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | Bastrop Opera House
🎶 Ben Zuniga | 7:30-10:30pm | Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard, 601 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Texas guitarist working from blues to Americana. Free. Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard
🎶 Woot Talley & The Box | 7:30-10:30pm | Gracie's, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Saturday night live music. Free. Gracie's
Sunday, July 26
🛒 Smithville Farmers Market | 10am-1pm | James H. Long Railroad Park, 100 NW 1st St, Smithville | The weekly market closes out Christmas in July with locally grown and handmade goods plus live music. Free. Smithville Market
🎶 Derek Skelton | 12-2pm | Gracie's, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Sunday lunch music. Free. Gracie's
🎭 Anything Goes | Matinee | 2:30pm | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | Bastrop Opera House
🍺 Live Music Sunday w/ Julie Nolen + $5 Frozen Slushies | 4-6pm | Smithville Brewing Company, 661 NW Loop 230, Smithville | Free entry. Smithville Brewing
Monday, July 27
📚 Bastrop Public Library closed for staff development, reopening Tuesday at 10am. Bastrop Public Library
🧘 Mommy & Baby Yoga | 10am-12pm | 216 W 3rd St, Elgin | An hour of yoga and programming, then an hour of free books, resources, and giveaways for moms. Free. Smithville Chamber
⚡ Spark Your Imagination Exhibit | 10am-5pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | One week left. Bastrop County Historical Society
🤠 Tuesday, July 28 | Rodeo Week Begins
🚶 Chemn Walking Club | 8-11am | Chemn Cafe, 114 N Main St, Elgin | A free morning walking group out of the cafe. Chemn Cafe
📖 Baby Bookworms | 10:30-11am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Stories and songs for the youngest readers. Free. Elgin Public Library
🧘 Restorative Yoga with Patti | 6-7pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | A gentle restorative session. Elgin Parks & Recreation
🐴 Bastrop County Team Roping | books open 6pm, close 7pm, roping 7:30pm | Rodeo Arena, Mayfest Hill Park, 25 American Legion Dr, Bastrop | Opening night of Homecoming & Rodeo week: #11.5 handicap, open to Bastrop and surrounding counties, buckles to first in the average. Free to watch, $150 to enter. Beer and concessions open. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
Wednesday, July 29
🧘 Vinyasa Slow Flow Yoga | 9-10am | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Elgin Parks & Recreation
🥬 Eden East Farm Market | 9am-1pm | Eden East Farm, 1910 Main St, Bastrop | Free entry. Eden East Farm
🍽️ Summer Food Distribution | 10-11am Zion Chapel Church, 301 B J Mayes Rd and 1-2pm Shiloh Community Center, 408 Shiloh Rd, Bastrop | Free meals for kids and teens ages 1-18. Smithville Chamber
📖 Little Bookworms Storytime | 10:30am | Smithville Public Library, 507 Main St, Smithville | Weekly storytime for little ones. Free. Smithville Public Library
🐴 4D Jackpot Barrel Racing | exhibitions 5-7pm, racing 7:30pm | Rodeo Arena, Mayfest Hill Park, Bastrop | Walk-ups welcome. $45 entry plus a $5 office fee per horse. Beer and concessions open. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
🔩 Mike Mathison Memorial Horseshoe & Washer Tournament | sign-ups 5:30pm, start 6pm | American Legion back room, Bastrop | A rodeo-week tradition, with proceeds supporting the local American Legion Post. $20 per event. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
🔮 Planning Ahead
🤠 Jul 30 - Aug 1 | Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo continues | Mayfest Hill Park, 25 American Legion Dr, Bastrop | Rodeo slack Thursday, then full CPRA rodeo nights Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm with Mutton Bustin' and a free calf scramble, plus live music at the Showbarn both nights. The Grand Parade rolls through downtown Saturday, Aug 1 at 10am, followed by the 4-H Cake Auction at noon. Friday's $15 gate covers both the rodeo and the dance; weekend passes $30, kids 10 and under free. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
🎱 Thu Jul 30 | Music Bingo w/ Jeff Petty | 6:30pm | Smithville Brewing Company, Smithville | Smithville Brewing
🥩 Fri Jul 31 | Prime Rib Night | 5-9pm | The Front Room Wine Bar, 116 Main St, Smithville | Reservations 512-237-3626. The Front Room Wine Bar
🎉 Fri Jul 31 | Community Block Party | 6-8pm | Veterans Memorial Park, 209 Depot St, Elgin | Free, all ages, closing out Parks and Recreation Month with DJ Reeseboi, lawn games, and big blue building blocks. Elgin Parks & Recreation
🎭 Jul 31 - Aug 2 | Anything Goes | Final Weekend | Bastrop Opera House, Bastrop | Last chance for Cole Porter's musical. Bastrop Opera House
⚡ Sat Aug 1 | Spark Your Imagination closes | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Final day for the hands-on electricity exhibit. Bastrop County Historical Society
🎨 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, with live music by The Understudies. Lost Pines Art Center
🏫 Sat Aug 8 | Family Make N Take | School Days | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Bastrop County Historical Society
🚂 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
🎁 July Referral Prize | $50 to Numero 28
Last week to enter. 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