THIS WEEK’S SPONSOR:
Good morning, Bastrop County
Last weekend opened the fall season. This one doubles down. The calendar runs heavy Friday through Sunday, and it is spread from McDade to Smithville.
The weekend leads with the Día de los Muertos Grand Opening at the Bastrop County Museum Friday night, the opening reception that was postponed from last week, with live music, refreshments and the families behind each ofrenda. Saturday, Rising Sun Vineyard in McDade pours its Oktoberfest with a full day of Bavarian food, beer and blues from King V, while the museum marks Indigenous Peoples Day with the story of the Tonkawa. Add two nights of Rednecks & Rockers at Mayfest Park, two nights of dirt-track racing at OctoberFAST in Paige, opening night of Shakespeare (Abridged) at the Opera House, four home football games Friday, and Elgin's Great Pumpkin Bash to close it out Sunday, and there is something on every single day.
Let's dig in.
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🍂 This Week | A Second Fall Weekend, Top to Bottom
Friday night in Bastrop, the Bastrop County Museum holds the Día de los Muertos Grand Opening from 6 to 8pm, the opening reception that was postponed from last Friday. It is free, with live music, light refreshments and discussions with the families who created each ofrenda. The community display then stays up daily through November 2. The same night, the Bastrop Opera House opens its run of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), three actors racing through all 37 plays in one night.
Saturday out in McDade, Rising Sun Vineyard and Yegua Creek Brewery throws its Oktoberfest from 11am to 9pm, with German food, a stein-holding contest, yard games, an opening set from Shirley Johnson at noon and blues from King V from 4 to 7pm. Back in Bastrop, the museum hosts Indigenous Peoples Day from 10am to 1pm, a family morning exploring Tonkawa traditions, language and history. Over at Mayfest Park, the sixth annual Rednecks & Rockers runs Friday and Saturday with a Battle of the Bands, a BBQ cook-off and auctions that raise scholarship money for local students, and out in Paige, Cotton Bowl Speedway runs two nights of OctoberFAST dirt-track racing.
Sunday, Elgin Parks and Rec closes the weekend with The Great Pumpkin Bash on the Elgin Recreation Center lawn, 5 to 7pm and free, and the Community Gardens pumpkin patch is open both weekend days on Highway 71.
The full day-by-day is below.
🗓️ Bastrop County Events | October 5 - 11, 2026
Monday, 🗓️ October 5
🧘 Mommy and Baby Yoga | 10am-noon | 216 W 3rd St, Elgin | An hour of yoga and an hour to just be around other mothers. Free, from Bastrop County Cares. Bastrop County Cares
🧵 Sewing and Quilting Group | 1-3pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Bring a machine and an unfinished project. Free. Bastrop Public Library
💌 Prime Timers | Stamped Cards with Melissa J. | 2-4pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | A card-stamping craft afternoon. City of Elgin
🏐 McDade Volleyball vs Thorndale | Home | JV 5pm, varsity 6pm | McDade High School Gym, 156 Marlin St, McDade | McDade ISD
✈️ Smithville-Crawford Municipal Airport Open House | 6:30-7:30pm | Smithville Recreation Center, 106 Gazley St, Smithville | The airport's history, operations and future plans, with Q&A. Free. Smithville Area Chamber
🎾 Bastrop Social Club | Pickleball Meetup | 7-9pm | BAPA Courts, Tahitian Village, Bastrop | A casual pickleball meetup, new players welcome. Bastrop Social Club
🎱 Monday 8-Ball Tournament | 7:30pm | American Legion Post 533, 3003 Loop 150 E, Bastrop | Double elimination. $10 entry. American Legion Post 533
Tuesday, 🗓️ October 6
🧩 Sensory-Friendly Inclusive Story Time | 10am | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Stories with gentle sensory activities for every kind of kid. Free. Bastrop Public Library
🦁 Smithville Noon Lions Club | noon-1pm | Quinto Patio, 114 NE 2nd St, Smithville | The weekly meeting, visitors welcome. Free to attend, buy your own lunch. Smithville Noon Lions Club
🇫🇷 French Conversation Group | 2-3pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Casual practice, every level welcome. Free. Bastrop Public Library
🍻 Trivia Night | 6-8pm | Prufrock Pub, Hyperloop Plaza, 865 FM 1209, Bastrop | Team trivia with prizes. Free. Hyperloop Plaza
✍️ Writers Group | 6:30pm | Cedar's Coppice, 709 Chestnut St, Bastrop | The weekly writers meetup downtown. Cedar's Coppice
🎤 Karaoke with Elijah | 7pm | 602 Brewing Company, 919 Main St, Bastrop | Every Tuesday. 602 Brewing Company
Wednesday, 🗓️ October 7
🥕 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
🩺 The Source Mobile Women's Clinic | 9:30am-3:30pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Free health services for women, first Wednesday of the month. City of Elgin
♻️ Electronics Recycling Day | 10am-noon | Frost Bastrop Financial Center, 494 Hwy 71 W, Bastrop | Free drop-off for anything with a plug. No tube TVs or paper. Frost
🌙 Preschool Storytime | 10:30am | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Stories and songs for little ones. Free. Bastrop Public Library
🩸 We Are Blood Community Blood Drive | noon-6pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Walk up and donate. City of Elgin
☕ Coffee and Friends | 3pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Drop-in coffee and conversation. Free. Bastrop Public Library
📣 McDade Homecoming Community Pep Rally | 6:30pm | McDade ISD, 156 Marlin St, McDade | The whole town is invited. McDade ISD
🎱 BINGO with Ben | 7-9pm | Bastrop Beer Company, 1008 Main St, Bastrop | Weekly Wednesday bingo. Bastrop Beer Company
Thursday, 🗓️ October 8
🍽️ Lunchtime with Judy | from noon | American Legion Post 533, 3003 Loop 150 E, Bastrop | A free community lunch, first come first served. American Legion Post 533
🥬 Elgin Farmers' Market | 4-7pm | Veterans' Memorial Park, 109 Depot St, Elgin | Local produce, meats, baked goods and makers. SNAP welcome. Elgin Farmers' Market
🚢 Teen Thursday | 4:45-6:15pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Table-top and board games for ages 13 to 17. Free. Bastrop Public Library
⚾ Adult Co-ed Kickball League | 6-9pm | Elgin Memorial Park softball field, 1127 Main St, Elgin | The Thursday-night league, running through November 19. Come watch. Elgin Parks & Rec
🎤 Open Karaoke | 6-9pm | Prufrock Pub stage, Hyperloop Plaza, 865 FM 1209, Bastrop | Two songs a singer, all ages in the courtyard. Free. Hyperloop Plaza
🎾 Bastrop Social Club | Tennis Meetup | 6-9pm | Bastrop High School tennis courts, Bastrop | A casual tennis meetup, all levels welcome. Bastrop Social Club
❓ Trivia with Ben | 7-9pm | Bastrop Beer Company, 1008 Main St, Bastrop | Weekly Thursday trivia. Bastrop Beer Company
🏓 Bastrop Social Club | Pickleball Meetup | 7-9pm | BAPA Courts, Tahitian Village, Bastrop | The Thursday-night pickleball meetup, new players welcome. Bastrop Social Club
Friday, 🗓️ October 9
🍝 FBC Sonshine School Meal Fundraiser | 4:30-7pm | First Baptist Church, 300 Hudgins St, Smithville | Chicken spaghetti plates, $15, with a silent auction. Smithville Area Chamber
🏁 OctoberFAST at Cotton Bowl Speedway | Night One | gates 5pm, racing 7pm | Cotton Bowl Speedway, 1175 CR 202, Paige | Two nights of dirt-track racing with South Texas Dirt Trucks and more. Cotton Bowl Speedway
🎵 Live Music at The Boring Bodega | 6-8pm | Hyperloop Plaza, 865 FM 1209, Bastrop | Local artists on the plaza. Free. Hyperloop Plaza
💀 Día de los Muertos Grand Opening (FAME Friday) | 6-8pm | Special Exhibit Room, Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | The opening reception, postponed from last week. Be among the first to see the ofrendas, with live music, light refreshments and the families who made them. Free. See the write-up above. Bastrop County Historical Society
🎸 Train Wreck Shipping Company | 6:30pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | Jazz, blues, R&B, rock and country downtown. Copper Shot Distillery
🎭 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) | Opening Night | 6:30pm | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | Three actors, 37 plays, one chaotic night. Runs through October 25. Bastrop Opera House
🤠 Rednecks & Rockers | Night One | evening, start time TBA | Mayfest Park, 25 American Legion Dr, Bastrop | The sixth annual Battle of the Bands, BBQ cook-off and auction, raising scholarship money for local students. Jack of Hearts
🏈 Smithville Tigers Football vs Yoakum | Home | 7pm | Tiger Stadium, 285 State Hwy 95, Smithville | A district home game. Smithville ISD
🏈 McDade Football vs Texas Empowerment Academy | Home | 7pm | McDade ISD, 156 Marlin St, McDade | Six-man homecoming football. McDade ISD
🏈 Cedar Creek Eagles Football at Manor | Away | 7pm | Manor High School | A district road game. Bastrop ISD Athletics
👻 Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park | 7pm-midnight | 149 Split Rail Ln, Smithville | Five haunted attractions, bonfires and a Halloween museum. Ages 12 and up recommended. Scream Hollow
🏈 Bastrop Bears Football vs Crockett | Home | 7:30pm | Bastrop Memorial Stadium, Bastrop | A district home game. Bastrop ISD Athletics
🎶 Fallon Franklin | 7:30-10:30pm | Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard, 601 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Pop, rock, Americana and folk. Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard
🎸 Nathan Colt Young | 7:30-10:30pm | Gracie's, The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Friday night live music. The Grace Miller
🎤 Friday Night Karaoke | The RAB Show | 8pm-midnight | American Legion Post 533, 3003 Loop 150 E, Bastrop | Weekly. American Legion Post 533
🌟 Saturday, 🗓️ October 10 | The Big Day
🥕 Eden East Farm Stand | 9am-1pm | Eden East Farm, 1910 Main St, Bastrop | The farm's Saturday stand, produce and pantry goods off the rows. Eden East Farm
🥬 Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market | 10am-2pm | 1302 Chestnut St, Bastrop | The weekly Saturday producers market. SNAP and Lone Star welcome. Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market
🛍️ Events on Main | Vendor Market | 10am-5pm | Downtown Bastrop | A full day of local vendors and businesses along Main Street. Free to browse.
🎃 Community Gardens 8th Annual Pumpkin Patch | 10am-5pm | Community Gardens, 1067 Hwy 71 W, Bastrop | The patch is open all weekend. Adult day pass $5, family pass $25, kids' activity wristband $10. Community Gardens
💀 Día de los Muertos Community Display | 10am-5pm | Special Exhibit Room, Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Community ofrendas on display, up daily through November 2. Included in museum admission. Bastrop County Historical Society
🪶 Indigenous Peoples Day | 10am-1pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | A family morning exploring the traditions, language and legacy of the Tonkawa through hands-on activities and demonstrations. Included in museum admission, $8. Bastrop County Historical Society
🍺 Oktoberfest with King V | 11am-9pm | Rising Sun Vineyard & Yegua Creek Brewery, 233 Edmonson Ranch Rd, McDade | Bavarian food, beer, yard games and a stein-holding contest, with Shirley Johnson at noon and blues from King V 4-7pm. See the write-up above. Rising Sun Vineyard
🧶 Bastrop Social Club | Crochet & Knit | 11am | Cedar's Coppice, 709 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Bring a project and stitch with neighbors, every skill level welcome. Bastrop Social Club
🤠 Rednecks & Rockers | Night Two | afternoon into evening, times TBA | Mayfest Park, 25 American Legion Dr, Bastrop | The second day of the Battle of the Bands and BBQ cook-off. Jack of Hearts
🏁 OctoberFAST at Cotton Bowl Speedway | Night Two | gates 5pm, racing 7pm | Cotton Bowl Speedway, 1175 CR 202, Paige | The second night of dirt-track racing. Cotton Bowl Speedway
🎭 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) | evening, showtime TBA | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | The second night of the run. Bastrop Opera House
🎸 X Factory | 6:30pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | High-energy classic rock. Copper Shot Distillery
🎤 Bastrop Social Club | Karaoke at Swayze's | 7pm | Swayze's Burger House, Smithville | A laid-back community karaoke night. Come sing, cheer on friends or just meet new people, no singing skills required. Bastrop Social Club
👻 Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park | 7pm-midnight | 149 Split Rail Ln, Smithville | Second night of the weekend. Scream Hollow
🎶 Rochelle and the Sidewinders | 7:30-10:30pm | Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard, 601 Chestnut St, Bastrop | An award-winning Austin blues band. Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard
🎸 Clutch Kings | 7:30-10:30pm | Gracie's, The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Saturday night live music. The Grace Miller
Sunday, 🗓️ October 11
🎒 Bastrop Social Club | Ruck / Hike Meetup | 8-11am | A rotating local park, Bastrop | A steady, social-pace morning ruck. Bring a backpack or vest with some weight, new ruckers welcome. The park changes each time, so check the event page for this week's spot. Bastrop Social Club
🥬 Smithville Sunday Market | 10am-2pm | James H. Long Railroad Park, Main & 1st, Smithville | Produce, handmade goods and live music, rain or shine. Free. Smithville Market
🎃 Community Gardens Pumpkin Patch | 10am-5pm | Community Gardens, 1067 Hwy 71 W, Bastrop | Day two of the weekend at the patch. Community Gardens
💀 Día de los Muertos Community Display | 10am-5pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | The ofrenda display, up daily through November 2. Bastrop County Historical Society
🎶 Jay Wood | noon-2pm | Gracie's, The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Sunday lunch music. The Grace Miller
🎃 The Great Pumpkin Bash | 5-7pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Elgin Parks and Rec throws the free pumpkin party. City of Elgin
👻 Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park | 7-10pm | 149 Split Rail Ln, Smithville | Shorter Sunday hours. Scream Hollow
🔮 Planning Ahead
🥚 In your inbox Thursday | Our next issue lands Thursday morning with a fresh feature and the events from Thursday into the following week. Catch every issue here.
💎 Wed Oct 14 | Craft Night: Polymer Clay Earrings | 6-8pm | Film Alley, 1600 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Make your own handmade polymer clay earrings with the Bastrop Social Club. No experience needed. $20, all supplies included, cash or Venmo. Food and drinks available from Film Alley. Bastrop Social Club
🛤️ Sat Oct 17 | El Camino Real Day | 10am-5pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | The museum is now an official site on the Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail. Bastrop County Historical Society
🎶 Sat Oct 17 | Music in the Museum | noon-1pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Free live local music on the museum porch, every third Saturday. Bastrop County Historical Society
🌿 Sat Oct 17 | Sustainable Home & Garden Show | 10am-3pm | Railroad Pavilion Park, 100 NW 1st St, Smithville | Free. Smithville Area Chamber
🎄 Sat-Sun Oct 17-18 | Hometown Holiday Market | Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm | Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut St, Bastrop | $8, a dollar off with a canned good. Texas Market Guide
📸 Thu Oct 22 | Quarterly Meeting with Lucian Perkins | 6:30-8pm | Council Chambers, Bastrop City Hall, 1311 Chestnut St, Bastrop | The two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and Bastrop native on his 30-plus years at The Washington Post. Free, reserve online. Bastrop County Historical Society
🐷 Thu-Sat Oct 22-24 | 39th Annual Elgin Hogeye Festival | Downtown Elgin | BBQ pork cook-off, Cow Patty Bingo, live music and a car and bike show. Free. City of Elgin
👻 Sat Oct 24 | Spooks & Scandals Walking Tour | 5:30-6:30pm | Starts at the Bastrop County Courthouse, Bastrop | Tour downtown Bastrop at dusk to discover the whispered stories of historic Main Street. $15. Bastrop County Historical Society
👻 Sat Oct 31 | Bastrop Boo Bash | 2-6pm | Downtown Bastrop | The downtown Halloween route. Downtown Bastrop
🚗 Fri-Sat Nov 13-14 | Heroes & Hot Rods Veterans Weekend Car Show | 20th Year | Friday cruise-in 5-9pm, Saturday show from 7:30am | Downtown Bastrop | Bastrop Area Cruisers
🎁 October Referral Prize | $50 to Numero 28 | Your link is right below
A new month means a new drawing. This October, every neighbor who subscribes through your own referral link is another entry to win a $50 gift card to Numero 28, the wood-fired Italian pizzeria and vineria on Main Street in Bastrop. Your link is right below. Text it to one person today.
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See you Thursday.
Marilyn - The Bastrop Current