Good Morning Neighbor! 🔥
The Fourth may be behind us, but the county is not done celebrating summer. This weekend the little town of McDade throws its biggest party of the year: the 78th McDade Watermelon Festival, with a Friday night street dance, a Saturday grand parade, seed-spitting and watermelon-eating contests, and a free melon feast to close it all out. Down in Bastrop, Springfest brings a free family day to Fisherman's Park with a kids' play zone, food trucks, and a chance to meet the county's first responders. There is dirt-track racing out in Paige, live music up and down Main Street all weekend, and a full slate of summer storytimes and kids' programs at the libraries. And this week's featured business takes us into downtown Elgin for a cup at Chemn Cafe, the chemistry-themed coffee shop that has become one of the town's favorite gathering spots.
Let's dig in.
👥 Join the conversation
Our Bastrop Current Community Group on Facebook keeps growing, with neighbors posting events, photos, and local finds every day. Headed to the Watermelon Festival or Springfest this weekend? Snap a photo and share it with us.
🍉 Don't Miss | The McDade Watermelon Festival
It is the biggest weekend of the summer out east: the 78th McDade Watermelon Festival rolls in Friday and Saturday, July 10-11, with a street dance, a grand parade, seed-spitting and watermelon-eating contests, live music and BBQ under the oak trees, and the free melon feast to finish. We broke down the whole weekend, plus Springfest and Race Night, in Monday's issue. Catch up on the full guide here.
☕ Featured Business of the Week | Chemn Cafe | Elgin
Where chemistry class meets a really good latte, in the heart of historic downtown Elgin | Elgin, Texas
Walk into Chemn Cafe on North Main and the theme hits you right away, from the periodic-table logo (C-He-Mn-Ca-Fe, spell it out) to the lab beakers on the shelves and a drink menu literally called "The Lab." Since 2019, this educational, design-forward coffee shop has been a gathering place in Elgin's Historic Downtown Main Street District, the kind of spot where students study, remote workers set up for the day, and neighbors linger over a good cup. It is owner-run and endlessly friendly, exactly the sort of small business that makes a downtown feel like home, and the community keeps showing up to prove it.
The coffee is where the experiment really pays off. Chemn now roasts its own beans in-house, single and blend-origin Arabica, so your cup is about as fresh as it gets, and you can grab a bag to take home (they run a Coffee Lovers Special: buy one bag, get the second half off). Beyond the espresso classics, the signature "Lab" lattes lean local and playful, each one a little nod to the area. There is a full pastry case every morning, plus bagels, avocado toast, and paninis when your coffee needs a companion. They also give back, collecting for Teddy's Blessings Boxes right there on the counter.
A few things worth ordering:
☕ A "Lab" Signature Latte | the Elginite (butter pecan, vanilla, cinnamon), the Old McDade (pralines and cream with white chocolate), or the 290 (caramel, peanut butter, chocolate)
🫘 In-House Roasted Beans | freshly roasted Arabica by the bag, buy one and get the second half off
🍓 The Priscilla | a strawberry-cherry lemonade with a chile-lime kick for the adventurous
🥐 A Fresh Danish or Muffin | the pastry case is stocked every morning
🥑 Avocado Toast or a Breakfast Panini | a proper bite to go with your cup
Visit Chemn Cafe 📍 114 N Main St, Elgin, TX 78621 📞 512-827-9747 🗓️ Mon-Sat 8am-4pm, Sun 8am-1pm 🌐 chemncafe.com | Facebook
🗓️ Bastrop County Events | July 9 - 15, 2026
Thursday, July 9
🧘 Mommy & Baby Yoga | 11am-1pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | A gentle postpartum bonding and movement class for new moms and babies. Free. Bastrop Public Library
🎨 Cave Wall Drawings | Kids Craft | 2pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | A prehistoric-themed art activity for kids. Free. 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
💻 Coding Club | 6-7pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | A hands-on coding session for young programmers. Free. Elgin Public Library
🌿 Herbal Medicine Making 101 | 6:30-8:30pm | Elm Forest Farm, Synergy Dr, Bastrop | A hands-on intro to making infused oils, vinegars, syrups, teas, tinctures, and salves. Pay-what-you-can. Rhizome Revival
🎤 Open Mic Night | sign-up 6pm, music 6:30-9pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | The monthly second-Thursday open mic returns to the patio, all talents welcome. Copper Shot Distillery
Friday, July 10
📚 Preschool Storytime | 10:30am | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Stories, rhymes, and songs for little ones, part of the Color Our World summer program. Free. Bastrop Public Library
🤸 Family Field Day | Elgin Parks & Rec | see city calendar for time | 1127 N Main St, Elgin | Games and outdoor fun for the whole family during Parks & Recreation Month. Free. City of Elgin
🔥 Firewild On Main | Summer Pop-Up Social | evening | 201 N Main St, Elgin | Texas-meets-Mediterranean live-fire cooking and Texas spirits in a low-lit downtown Elgin room, no reservations. Firewild On Main
🎶 Judd Wilson & The Fastballs | Live Music | 7-10pm | The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Live music on the patio at Gracie's to open the weekend. The Grace Miller
🎸 Shadow Lane | Live Music | 7-10pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | A cover band running through favorite hits on the patio. Copper Shot Distillery
🍉 McDade Watermelon Festival | Street Dance | Friday evening | Main St, downtown McDade | The 78th annual festival kicks off with a street dance featuring Wyatt Ellis and the Texas Unlimited Band. McDade Watermelon Festival
🎸 The Neighborhood Bullys | Live Music | 9pm-midnight | Liberty Tree Tavern, 117 N Main St, Elgin | Rock and roll every second Friday at Elgin's live-music tavern, no cover. Liberty Tree Tavern
🌟 Saturday, July 11 | The Big Day
🏃 Sweatin' Melons 5K | 7am | downtown McDade | Start Watermelon Festival Saturday with a morning run through McDade. McDade Watermelon Festival
🎉 McDade Watermelon Festival | Grand Parade | 10am | Main St, downtown McDade | The parade rolls through town to open a full day of contests, live music, BBQ, and vendors under the big oak trees. McDade Watermelon Festival
🎈 Springfest | 10am-2:30pm | Fisherman's Park, 1200 Willow St, Bastrop | A free family festival from the Children's Advocacy Center and CASA, with a kids' play zone, food trucks, music, games, and a chance to meet first responders. Springfest
🛒 Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market | 10am-2pm | 1302 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Fresh produce, meats, baked goods, and local makers. 1832 Farmers Market
🇺🇸 Family Make N Take | Betsy Ross Bracelets | 11am-2pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Flag history plus a patriotic bracelet craft, included with museum admission and free for kids. Bastrop County Historical Society
🍉 McDade Watermelon Festival | Prize Melon Auction & Free Melon Feast | 5pm | downtown McDade | The prize-winning melons go up for auction, then the whole crowd digs into the free watermelon feast. McDade Watermelon Festival
🔥 Firewild On Main | Summer Pop-Up Social | evening | 201 N Main St, Elgin | Live-fire, Texas-meets-Mediterranean plates and Texas spirits in downtown Elgin, no reservations. Firewild On Main
☘️ Things Celtic | 1-Year Anniversary | 6:30pm | Shoulders, 34 N Ave C, Elgin | Elgin's Celtic shop celebrates one year with a community party, plus beer and wine at The Owl and Lightin Bar. Things Celtic
🥃 National Mojito Day + The Rockin' Relics | music 7-10pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | Mojitos all day and classic rock on the patio in the evening. Copper Shot Distillery
🏁 Race Night at Cotton Bowl Speedway | gates 5pm, racing 7pm | 1175 County Rd 202, Paige | South Texas Dirt Trucks headline a full night of IMCA dirt-track racing. Cotton Bowl Speedway
🎶 Howlin Waters | Live Music | 7:30-10:30pm | The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Live music on the patio at Gracie's to cap off Saturday night. The Grace Miller
🎶 Texas Highway Band | Live Music & Dancing | 8pm-midnight | Watterson Dance Hall, 1179 Watterson Rd, Red Rock | Southern rock, classic country, and honky tonk on the legendary dance floor, $10 cash at the door. Watterson Dance Hall
Sunday, July 12
🛒 Smithville Sunday Market | 10am-1pm | James H. Long Railroad Park, Main & 1st, Smithville | Locally grown, homemade, and handmade goods plus live music, rain or shine. Smithville Market
🎶 Robert Kraft | Live Music | 12-2pm | The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Sunday afternoon live music on the patio at Gracie's. The Grace Miller
🍺 Live Music Sunday + $5 Frozen Slushies | 4-6pm | Smithville Brewing Company, 661 NW Loop 230, Smithville | Weekly Sunday live music at the taproom with frozen slushies and scenic views. Smithville Brewing
Monday, July 13
🎬 Movie Monday | 2-4pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | A family movie with snacks for all ages. Free. Bastrop Public Library
🏆 Bastrop County Best | Nominations Open | online | Nominate your favorite local businesses, restaurants, and people for the 2026 Bastrop County Best awards. Bastrop County Best
Tuesday, July 14
🎪 Performer | Matt Tardy | 2pm | Bastrop Convention Center, 1408 Chestnut St, Bastrop | A juggling and comedy show for all ages, part of the library's summer program. Free. Bastrop Public Library
📚 Baby Bookworms | 10:30am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Songs, rhymes, and stories for babies and their grown-ups. Free. Elgin Public Library
Wednesday, July 15
📖 Reading Ranger | 10:30am | Smithville Public Library, 507 Main St, Smithville | A Buescher State Park ranger leads themed book readings and a craft for all ages. Free. Texas Parks & Wildlife
📚 Preschool Storytime | Blue | 10:30am | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Stories, rhymes, and songs for little ones, part of Color Our World. Free. Bastrop Public Library
👶 Bebe Bilingue | Bilingual Baby Storytime | 10:30am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | A bilingual storytime for babies and toddlers. Free. Elgin Public Library
🔮 Planning Ahead
A few things worth marking on your calendar (we will have full details as they get closer):
🎭 Jul 17 - Aug 2 | Anything Goes | Fri-Sat 6:30pm, Sunday matinees | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | Cole Porter's high-seas musical comedy takes the historic stage. Bastrop Opera House
🎸 Fri Jul 17 | The Merles | Live Music | 7-10pm | Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard, 601 Chestnut St, Bastrop | An original classic-country band out of Austin plays the Yard. Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard
🎻 Sat Jul 18 | July Music in the Museum | 12-1pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | A laid-back, free bluegrass jam with talented local artists. Bastrop County Historical Society
🫧 Sat Jul 18 | Kids Day Foam Party | 10am-4pm | Community Gardens (OPAL), 1067 Hwy 71 W, Bastrop | The 3rd annual family day with water slides, a dunk tank, and a foam party, activity bands $15. Community Gardens
🍋 Sat Jul 25 | Christmas in July | historic downtown Bastrop | Sip your way through the Lemonade Crawl on Main Street (from 3pm), plus the Bastrop County Museum's sidewalk sale and photos with summer Santa (10am-5pm). Free. Downtown Bastrop | Bastrop County Museum
🎨 Through Aug 1 | Waterscapes Group Art Show | Wed-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 11am-5pm | Lost Pines Art Center, 1204 Chestnut St, Bastrop | A water-themed group exhibition, free admission, with a closing reception Aug 1. Lost Pines Art Center
🎨 Through Aug 1 | Spark Your Imagination Exhibit | 10am-5pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | A hands-on summer exhibit on electricity, invention, and county history, $8 and free for kids under 12. Bastrop County Historical Society
🏁 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?
🏛️ Around the County
Bastrop's Old Iron Bridge is getting color-changing lights. City Council approved a $300,000 project on June 26 to add 24 Dark-Sky-compliant RGB lights to the historic Old Iron Bridge, part of a larger effort to rehabilitate the deck, trusses, and pedestrian paths connecting to the June Hill Pape Riverwalk. Extra testing pushed the completion target from September 11 to October 30, ahead of the holidays. Community Impact
Did you know Smithville once baked the world's biggest gingerbread man? Back in 2006, the town fired up a dump-truck load of charcoal to bake "Smitty," a 20-foot, 1,308-pound gingerbread man that earned a Guinness World Record. The retired cookie sheet still stands as a monument at Railroad Park downtown. Smithville Chamber
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