THIS WEEK’S SPONSOR:
Good morning, Bastrop County
We made it. Summer officially clocks out Tuesday evening at 7:04pm, and for the first time in what feels like months the calendar and the thermometer might actually be in the same conversation. Real Feel Temps in the 90’s instead of 100’s? Here’s hoping the forecast is true this time! 🍂
This is the first full week of fall, and the county did not ease into it. Saturday alone gives you a rec rally and community cookout in Elgin, a boots-and-rhinestones gala in Bastrop, free live music on the museum porch, a dark-sky star party out in McDade and a vineyard running music all afternoon. Wrapped around it: a fall paint-and-sip, the last-Friday prime rib in Smithville, and the final weekend of Disney's Newsies at the Bastrop Opera House before the curtain comes down for good on Sunday.
Let's get into it.
Missed us Thursday? Catch up here.
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A quick note before the week: Christie J. took home the August $50 gift card to Numero 28 for sending so many neighbors our way. The September drawing is wide open now, and your personal referral link is at the bottom of this issue. One share is one entry, and there is no cap.
🍂 Help us build the Fall Event Guide. We are pulling together a season-long roundup of the festivals, markets, pumpkin patches and fall fun happening all over Bastrop County, Texas. Hosting a fall event you want included? Just reply to this email and we will consider it for the guide. Advertising spots available as well.
👥 Join the conversation
If you are not in the Bastrop Current Community Group on Facebook yet, come on in and bring somebody with you. Know an event we need to cover? Post it in our group and share it with all of us.
🎭 This Week's Feature | Disney's Newsies Takes Its Final Bow
Open since early September, the Bastrop Opera House closes its production of Disney's Newsies this weekend, and this is your last chance to catch it. It is inspired by the real 1899 newsboys' strike, when the kids who hawked papers on New York street corners stood up to the biggest publishers in the city. It is a whole lot of dancing and heart on the historic downtown stage.
Three final performances: Friday and Saturday, September 25 and 26 at 7:30pm, and a Sunday matinee, September 27 at 2:30pm. Everyone needs a ticket regardless of age, and there are no children under 3. When the Sunday matinee ends, the run is over. Get your seats through the Bastrop Opera House.
🗓️ Bastrop County Events | September 21 - 27, 2026
Monday, 🗓️ September 21
🧘 Meditation Monday | 10:30am | Smithville Public Library, 507 Main St, Smithville | A guided meditation to start the week. Free. Smithville Public Library
🍂 Prime Timer Craft | Paper Fall Flower Wreath | 2-4pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Seniors build a paper fall-flower wreath, one day before fall actually starts. City of Elgin
🎲 Tween Dungeons & Dragons | 4-5:45pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | The ongoing campaign for ages 11 to 14. Bring your character. Bastrop Public Library
🎱 Monday 8-Ball Tournament | 7:30pm | American Legion Post 533, 3003 Loop 150 E, Bastrop | Weekly double elimination, bar rules, money added to the pot. $10 entry. American Legion Post 533
Tuesday, 🗓️ September 22 | 🍁 First day of fall, 7:04pm
🦁 Smithville Noon Lions Club | noon-1pm | Quinto Patio, 114 NE 2nd St, Smithville | The weekly meeting, visitors welcome. Free to attend, lunch on your own. Smithville Lions Club
🚪 DIY Doormats | Step into Peace | 2-4pm and again 6-8pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Design and personalize a custom doormat with Pink Love Houston. All materials provided. Free, registration required. Elgin Public Library
🎮 Teen Night | 6pm | Smithville Public Library, 507 Main St, Smithville | An evening for teens at the library. Free. Smithville Public Library
🎤 Karaoke with Elijah | 7-11pm | 602 Brewing Co, 919 Main St, Bastrop | Every Tuesday. Free. 602 Brewing Co
Wednesday, 🗓️ September 23
🥕 Eden East Farm Stand | 9am-1pm | Eden East Farm, 1910 Main St, Bastrop | Produce, eggs and pantry goods straight off the farm, and you can walk the rows. Free to visit. Eden East Farm
👶 Bebe Bilingue | 10:30-11am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Cuentos y canciones, stories and songs in a joyful mix of English and Spanish. Elgin Public Library
📖 Little Bookworms | 10:30am | Smithville Public Library, 507 Main St, Smithville | A storytime for little ones. Free. Smithville Public Library
🧗 High Ropes and Zip Line | 10:30am | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | A guided run at the ropes course and the zip line. $45. LCRA Parks
🧸 Toddler Time | 11am-1pm | Bastrop County Community Center, 15 American Legion Dr, Bastrop | Bastrop County Cares and Texas A&M AgriLife bring play-based activities for ages 2 to 5. Free. Bastrop County Cares
🎮 Senior Game Day | noon-3pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | An afternoon of games and friendly competition. Elgin Public Library
☕ Coffee & Friends | The Mayor | 3pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | The Mayor of Bastrop comes to the library to talk about the city and take questions over coffee. Bastrop Public Library
🍷 Wine Not? Wednesdays with live music | from 5pm | Store House Market & Eatery, 813 Main St, Bastrop | Half off select bottles, seasonal snacks and live music downtown. Store House Market & Eatery
🎲 Bingo | 7pm | Bastrop Beer Company, 1008 Main St, Bastrop | Weekly Wednesday bingo at the taproom. Bastrop Beer Company
Thursday, 🗓️ September 24
🥋 Tai Chi Chuan with Master Boaz | 7:45-8:45am | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Slow, low-impact movement to start the day. City of Elgin Parks & Recreation
🍽️ Lunchtime with Judy | noon | American Legion Post 533, 3003 Loop 150 E, Bastrop | A community lunch open to anybody who walks in. American Legion Post 533
🥬 Elgin Farmers' Market | 4-7pm | Veterans' Memorial Park, 109 Depot St, Elgin | Every vendor grows, raises or makes what they sell. Free. Elgin Farmers' Market
🗣️ Spanish | 4pm | Smithville Public Library, 507 Main St, Smithville | A weekly Spanish group at the library. Free. Smithville Public Library
🎸 Carter Hampton | Live Acoustic | 6:30-8:30pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | Acoustic on the downtown distillery patio, fire pits going. Free. Copper Shot Distillery
❓ Trivia Night | 7pm | Bastrop Beer Company, 1008 Main St, Bastrop | Weekly Thursday trivia at the downtown taproom. Bastrop Beer Company
Friday, 🗓️ September 25
🦋 Family Nature Quest | 10:30am-12:30pm | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | Self-guided mystery-box nature stations, best for ages 4 to 10. $10. LCRA Parks
🎴 All-Day Games | 10:30am-4pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Cards and dominoes, drop in and stay a while. Elgin Public Library
🪑 Chair Yoga | noon | Smithville Public Library, 507 Main St, Smithville | Gentle seated yoga, all abilities welcome. Free. Smithville Public Library
🥩 Prime Rib Night | 5-9pm | The Front Room, 116 Main St, Smithville | 8oz and 12oz cuts with two sides, the last Friday of every month. Reservations 512-237-3626. The Front Room Wine Bar
🎸 Bennie & The Big Shots | 5-7:15pm | The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Live music at Gracie's to open the weekend. The Grace Miller
🎱 Bingo Night | 6-8pm | Rising Sun Vineyard, 233 Edmonson Ranch Rd, McDade | Last-Friday bingo at the vineyard, family-friendly. $10. Rising Sun Vineyard
🎨 Autumn After Dark | Paint, Sip, Create | 6:30-8:30pm | Rising Sun Vineyard, 233 Edmonson Ranch Rd, McDade | Pick a fox, an owl or a pumpkin and paint it step by step, all supplies included. $30. Rising Sun Vineyard
🧠 Library Trivia Night | 7-9pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Trivia at the library, with a free drink and a snack. Elgin Public Library
🎸 Sidetracked | 7-10pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | Live band on the patio downtown. Free. Copper Shot Distillery
🎸 Sean Orr & Texas Gold | 7:30-10:30pm | The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | The late set at Gracie's. The Grace Miller
🎭 Disney's Newsies | 7:30pm | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | The closing weekend of the run. Everyone needs a ticket, no children under 3. Bastrop Opera House
🌟 Saturday, 🗓️ September 26 | The Big Day
🛒 Elgin VFW Flea Market | 7-10am | Elgin VFW Post 6115, 118 Old Sayers Rd, Elgin | Antiques, collectibles and finds, every Saturday. Free to browse. Elgin VFW Post 6115
🏆 REC RALLY 2026 | 8am-2pm | Elgin Memorial Park, 1127 Main St, Elgin | Free-throw, pickleball doubles and cornhole doubles alongside the Elgin Cares community cookout. $10 per person per event, spectators free, ages 13 and up. City of Elgin
🛶 El Camino Real Day Paddle Trip | hourly departures 8am-2pm | Bastrop River Co at Fisherman's Park, Bastrop | A 6-mile paddle down the Colorado River, two to three hours, watercraft and shuttle included. Book ahead. Bastrop River Co
💧 Water Conservation Symposium | H2-Oh, Let's Save Some Dough | doors 8am, sessions 9am-3pm | Bastrop County Community Center, 15 American Legion Dr, Bastrop | Four speaker sessions from the Bastrop County Master Gardeners, with continental breakfast, a boxed lunch and a vendor market. $45, register ahead. Bastrop County Master Gardeners
🎖️ Veteran Mental Health Awareness Ruck Hike | check-in 9am, hike 9:30am-noon | Bastrop State Park, 100 Park Road 1A, Bastrop | Self-guided routes of 0.8, 1, 1.5 and 3.3 miles, including an ADA loop, with colors presented by the Bastrop Navy JROTC. Rucking optional, rain or shine. Free. Texas Parks and Wildlife
🥬 Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market | 10am-2pm | 1302 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Produce, pasture-raised meats, honey, breads and makers, year-round. SNAP accepted. Free. Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market
🌻 Rosanky Market Day | 10am-2pm | Wagon Wheel Stop, 2987 Hwy 304, Rosanky | Local vendors and handmade goods out in Rosanky, hosted by Barefoot Flower Farms. Barefoot Flower Farms
🧗 High Ropes and Zip Line | 10:30am | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | A guided run at the ropes course and the zip line. $45. LCRA Parks
🎻 Music in the Museum | Bastrop Live | noon-1pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Free, live, local music out on the museum's front porch. Bastrop County Historical Society
🛼 K-Poppin' Theme Day | noon-10pm | Bastrop Skate Palace, 2600 Hwy 95, Bastrop | A K-Pop skate day with a costume contest, Finish the Lyrics, a photo booth, games and prizes. Bastrop Skate Palace
🏹 Archery 101 | 1pm | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | An intro archery class, equipment provided. $25. LCRA Parks
📚 Thriller Book Club at The Owl | 2-3pm | The Owl, 106 N Main St, Elgin | The Elgin library's book club meets at the wine and home-goods store to talk over this month's read. Elgin Public Library
🎸 Sledge & Haney | 3-5:30pm | The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | The afternoon set at Gracie's. The Grace Miller
🎸 Ben Zuniga | 4-7pm | Rising Sun Vineyard, 233 Edmonson Ranch Rd, McDade | Classic Americana out at the vineyard. Rising Sun Vineyard
🤠 Down Home Ranch Gala | "Rhinestone Cowboy" | VIP hour 4pm, doors 5pm | Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut St, Bastrop | The 23rd annual fundraising gala, with dinner by Rising Sun Vineyard, live and silent auctions and dancing. Benefits the ranch's programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Down Home Ranch
🎸 Four On The Floor | 5:45-7:15pm | The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | The early evening set at Gracie's. The Grace Miller
🎸 Dom Cours & Co | 7-10pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | Live band on the patio downtown. Free. Copper Shot Distillery
🔭 Star Party at Yegua Knobbs Preserve | 7-10:30pm | 1106 Johnnie Baker Rd, McDade | Dark-sky stargazing with Pines & Prairies Land Trust. Registration is required and this date may already be full, so check before heading out. Pines & Prairies Land Trust
🎸 Malford Milligan Tin Cadillac | 7:30-10:30pm | The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | The Saturday headliner at Gracie's. The Grace Miller
🎭 Disney's Newsies | 7:30pm | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | Saturday night of the closing weekend. Bastrop Opera House
Sunday, 🗓️ September 27
🏹 Survival Bows | 9am-4pm | Earth Native Wilderness School, 137 Woodview Ln, Bastrop | Build a bow from scratch in a full-day class, ages 12 and up, under 16 with an adult. Enrollment required. Earth Native Wilderness School
🛶 El Camino Real Day Paddle Trip | hourly departures 9am-2pm | Bastrop River Co at Fisherman's Park, Bastrop | The Sunday running of the 6-mile Colorado River paddle. Book ahead. Bastrop River Co
🛍️ Smithville Sunday Market | 10am-2pm | James H. Long Railroad Park, Main & 1st St, Smithville | Locally grown, homemade and handmade only, with live music. Free. Smithville Sunday Market
🦋 Family Nature Quest | 10:30am | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | The Sunday session of the self-guided nature stations. $10. LCRA Parks
🎶 Mike Gallo | 11:30am-1:30pm | The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Sunday music at Gracie's. The Grace Miller
🎶 Robert Jericho | 1:45-3:45pm | The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | The second Sunday set at Gracie's. The Grace Miller
🎶 JustHannah | 2-5pm | Rising Sun Vineyard, 233 Edmonson Ranch Rd, McDade | Sunday afternoon music at the vineyard. Rising Sun Vineyard
🎭 Disney's Newsies | Closing Matinee | 2:30pm | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | The final performance of the run. When it's gone, it's gone. Bastrop Opera House
🔮 Planning Ahead
🥃 In your inbox Thursday | Our next issue lands Thursday morning with a fresh Featured Business of the Week and the events from Thursday into the following week. Catch every issue here
💀 Fri Oct 2 - Mon Nov 2 | Dia de los Muertos Community Display | 10am-5pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Ofrendas built by local families, plus a shared altar anybody may add to. Opening ceremony with live music Friday October 2, 6-8pm. Free. Bastrop County Historical Society
🎸 Fri-Sat Oct 2-3 | Smithville Music Festival | 5th Annual | Downtown Main Street, Smithville | Twelve hours of live music across two days, free admission. Smithville Music Festival
🍁 Sat Oct 3 | Falloween Fall Festival | 10am-1pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | The library kicks off fall with Joe McDermott, face painting, twist balloons, crafts and vendors. Elgin Public Library
🎃 Sat Oct 3 | Smithville Fall Market Days | 8am-4pm | American Legion Road, Smithville | A full day of fall market vendors, the same weekend as the music festival. Smithville Fall Market Days
🚂 Sat Oct 3 | Meet Me at the Depot | 9am-noon | Smithville MKT Depot, 102 NE 1st St, Smithville | The October installment of the first-Saturday series. Free. City of Smithville
🎃 Sun Oct 4 | Ascension Fall Festival Extravaganza | 10:30am-5:30pm | Ascension Catholic Church, 804 Pine St, Bastrop | A cake walk, a DJ and live music, live and silent auctions, bingo, games for every age, a country store and a whole Kiddie Row. Ascension Catholic Church
🎶 Sun Oct 4 | Bastrop Blues Band | 2-5pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | Sunday afternoon blues on the patio. Copper Shot Distillery
🍺 Sat Oct 10 | Oktoberfest with King V | 11am-9pm | Rising Sun Vineyard, 233 Edmonson Ranch Rd, McDade | Bavarian food, beer and live music all day. Rising Sun Vineyard
🎃 Sun Oct 11 | The Great Pumpkin Bash | 5-7pm | Elgin Recreation Center front lawn, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Elgin Parks and Rec throws the pumpkin party. City of Elgin
🐷 Oct 22-24 | 39th Annual Elgin Hogeye Festival | Downtown Elgin | The best little pig gig in Texas. BBQ pork cook-off, Cow Patty Bingo, live music, the Pearls Before Swine art show, and a car and bike show. Free. City of Elgin
🚗 Sat Nov 14 | Heroes & Hotrods Veterans Weekend Car Show | from 7:30am | Downtown Bastrop, Main St | The Bastrop Area Cruisers bring the hotrods downtown for Veterans weekend. Pre-registration only, no day-of sign-up. Bastrop Area Cruisers
🎖️ Sat Nov 14 | Bastrop County Veterans Appreciation Banquet | 22nd Annual | Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut St, Bastrop | An evening honoring the county's veterans, hosted by Red, White & Blue Veterans of Bastrop County. Veterans have complimentary seats available; tickets for everyone else through the organizer. Red, White & Blue Veterans
🎁 September Referral Prize | $50 to Numero 28
This is the one. Christie J. won August. September is still up for grabs, and the drawing is at the end of this month. Share your unique referral link below with one neighbor who'd love a weekly dose of Bastrop County, Texas. Every referral through your link is another entry to win a $50 gift card to Numero 28, the Italian wood-fired pizzeria and vineria on Main Street in Bastrop. There is no limit. Who is your one person?
How Did We Do?
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If you've got a flyer, an event, or a Bastrop County business worth featuring, hit reply. We read every email.
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See you Thursday.
Marilyn - The Bastrop Current