Good Morning Neighbor! 🎄
Santa is trading his sleigh for a lawn chair and heading to Smithville. Thursday through Sunday, about twenty shops, cafes, and watering holes across downtown Smithville celebrate Christmas in July, each one cooking up its own specials, sales, and sweet treats for four days of midsummer holiday spirit. The timing could not be better, because Smithville Brewing Company also turns four years old Saturday with an all-afternoon anniversary party. And circle next week on the calendar: the Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo, one of the county's longest-running traditions, kicks off July 28 at Mayfest Hill Park.
One big favor first! We’ve been nominated in Bastrop Best. It would mean a lot if you would take the time to vote for us!
Let's get into it.
Last week in Bastrop County: Kids Day brought the foam party back to Community Gardens and we spotlighted Quinto Patio in Smithville. Catch up on Thursday's issue here. Headed to Bastrop or Elgin this week? Our town guides have more on where to eat, shop, and explore.
👥 Join the conversation
This week's feature came straight from our Bastrop Current Community Group on Facebook, where neighbors share flyers, events, and local finds every day. Headed to Smithville this weekend? Snap a photo and share it with us.
🎄 Featured Event of the Week | Christmas in July | Smithville
Four days of holiday spirit in the middle of summer | Downtown Smithville, Texas | July 23-26
Because each business runs its own specials on its own days, the best way to plan your visit is to follow the participating shops on Facebook for the details. Here's what we've confirmed so far:
🎱 Thursday | Christmas in July Bingo | 6:30pm | Smithville Brewing Company | Free to play, with holiday-themed fun to kick off the weekend. Smithville Brewing
🛍️ Friday & Saturday | Golden Girls Boutique | Storewide sale, sweet treats, a festive drink while you shop, scratch-off discount cards with purchase, and free Christmas coloring books for the kids. Golden Girls Boutique
🎂 Saturday | Smithville Brewing 4-Year Anniversary Party | starts 3pm, live music from Briana Adams at 7pm | The brewery celebrates four years, right in the middle of the holiday weekend. Smithville Brewing
🛒 Sunday | Smithville Farmers Market | 10am-1pm | Railroad Park | The weekly market joins the fun to close out the celebration. Smithville Market
The full lineup of participants reads like a walking tour of downtown: Bella's Cottage Antiques, Golden Girls Boutique, The Front Room Wine Bar, Faire La Nouba, Texas Trails Antiques, Olde World Bakery, Main Street Gifts and More, XO By Hannah, Quinto Patio, Smithville Brewing Company, Scene 77, Twig, Mosaic, Fat Cat Cafe, Duende, Smitty's Small Town Wonders, Smithville Farmer's Market, Huebel's, Hope Floats Cafe & Gelato, Panama Rose, and Lost Pines Artisan Alliance.
Christmas in July 📍 Downtown Smithville, Texas 🗓️ Thursday, July 23 - Sunday, July 26 🎟️ Free to stroll | specials vary by shop 🌐 Follow the shops on Facebook
🗓️ Bastrop County Events | July 20 - 26, 2026
Monday, July 20
⚡ Spark Your Imagination Exhibit | 10am-5pm, Mon-Sat through Aug 1 | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | The hands-on electricity exhibit winds down its final two weeks. $8 adults, free for kids 12 and under. Bastrop County Historical Society
🌿 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
🚶 Chemn Walking Club | 8-11am | Chemn Cafe, 114 N Main St, Elgin | A free morning walking group out of the cafe. Chemn Cafe
🧱 LEGO RAMA | 3-4:30pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Free, elementary and tween-friendly. City of Bastrop Library
🧘 Restorative Yoga with Patti | 6-7pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | A gentle restorative session. Elgin Parks & Recreation
🎤 Open Mic Night w/ Robert Kraft | 6-8pm | Gracie's, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Free to attend. Gracie's
Wednesday, July 22
🥬 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
🧘 Vinyasa Slow Flow Yoga | 9-10am | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | A slow-flow class with Kelly and Barbara. Elgin Parks & Recreation
📖 Little Bookworms Storytime | 10:30am | Smithville Public Library, 507 Main St, Smithville | Weekly storytime for little ones. Free. Smithville Public Library
🫧 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
🎄 Thursday, July 23 | Christmas in July Begins
🎄 Christmas in July | Day 1 | all day | Downtown Smithville | Four days of specials across twenty downtown businesses begin. See the feature above. Golden Girls Boutique
🥋 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
🛒 Elgin Farmers Market | 4-7pm | Veterans Memorial Park, 109 Depot St, Elgin | Local produce, meats, and baked goods. SNAP/EBT welcome. Elgin Farmers Market
🎱 Christmas in July Bingo | 6:30pm | Smithville Brewing Company, 661 NW Loop 230, Smithville | Holiday-themed bingo night at the brewery. Free to play. Smithville Brewing
🏛️ July Quarterly Meeting | Bastrop State Park History | 6:30-8pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Interpretive Ranger Madalyn Miller on the park's history, from the Lost Pines ecosystem to the CCC legacy. Free, open to the public. Bastrop County Historical Society
Friday, July 24
🧘 Slow Flow Yoga 9-10am + Fit & Strong Aerobics 10:15-11:15am | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Elgin Parks & Recreation
🎄 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 kids. Golden Girls Boutique
📚 Reading with a Cause | Final Day | by end of day | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Last day to turn in summer reading tickets. 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 | Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun matinee 2:30pm | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | Cole Porter's high-seas musical comedy continues. This weekend is sold out, but the waitlist is open and a final weekend runs Jul 31-Aug 2. Bastrop Opera House
🎶 Bud Vargas | 7:30-10:30pm | Gracie's, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Friday night live music. Free. Gracie's
🌟 Saturday, July 25 | The Big Day
🎄 Christmas in July | all day | Downtown Smithville | The heart of the celebration: sales, treats, and holiday cheer across twenty downtown shops. Golden Girls Boutique
🥬 Eden East Farm Market | 9am-1pm | Eden East Farm, 1910 Main St, Bastrop | Free entry. Eden East Farm
🛒 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 gets in on the fun too: 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 7pm | Smithville Brewing Company, 661 NW Loop 230, Smithville | The brewery celebrates four years with an all-afternoon party 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 JR Limiteds, Factory Stocks, SportMods, Stock Cars, and Sport Compacts. Ticketed. Cotton Bowl Speedway
🎶 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, homemade, 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
🍺 Live Music Sunday w/ Julie Nolen + $5 Frozen Slushies | 4-6pm | Smithville Brewing Company, 661 NW Loop 230, Smithville | Weekly Sunday music at the taproom. Free entry. Smithville Brewing
🔮 Planning Ahead
The big one first:
🤠 Jul 28 - Aug 1 | Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo | Mayfest Hill Park, 25 American Legion Dr, Bastrop | One of the county's longest-running traditions returns for a full week: team roping Tuesday, barrel racing and the Mike Mathison Memorial Horseshoe & Washer Tournament Wednesday, rodeo slack Thursday, and full CPRA rodeo nights Friday and Saturday with Mutton Bustin' and a calf scramble. The Grand Parade rolls through downtown Saturday, Aug 1 at 10am, followed by the 4-H Cake Auction at noon and live music at the Showbarn both nights. Weekend passes $30, kids 10 and under free. Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
📚 Mon Jul 27 | Bastrop Public Library closed for staff development, reopens Tuesday at 10am. Bastrop Public Library
🎱 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 | The Front Room Wine Bar
🎉 Fri Jul 31 | Community Block Party | 6-8pm | Veterans Memorial Park, Elgin | Free, all ages, with DJ Reeseboi. Elgin Parks & Recreation
🎭 Jul 31 - Aug 2 | Anything Goes | Final Weekend | Bastrop Opera House, Bastrop | Last chance for Cole Porter's musical; currently sold out, waitlist open. Bastrop Opera House
🎨 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
🏫 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. More to come. Visit Smithville
🎁 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 Thursday.
Marilyn - The Bastrop Current