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Good morning, Bastrop County
This week the calendar spreads out. There is something in Elgin, Smithville or Cedar Creek every single day, and the weekend reaches from the river in Smithville to the vineyard stage in McDade.
Saturday is the big one. Smithville throws its Fall Festival at the Rec Center while Keep Smithville Beautiful's Sustainable Home & Garden Show fills Railroad Park, with a free trolley between the two. Back in Bastrop, the museum celebrates El Camino Real Day, Shakespeare (Abridged) keeps rolling at the Opera House, and there is live music Friday through Sunday at Copper Shot, Gracie's, Neighbor's and Rising Sun in McDade. On the weeknights, Elgin's library and the Care-A-Van in Smithville keep families busy.
Let's dig in.
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The Bastrop Current Facebook group keeps growing, and it is where a lot of these events reach us first. Know something we should be covering this fall? Drop it in the group. Join the Bastrop Current community group
🍂 This Week's Featured Event | Smithville Fall Festival | Saturday
Saturday, October 17 | 11am-3pm | Smithville Recreation Center, 106 Royston St, Smithville
Smithville Parks & Rec turns the Recreation Center on Royston Street into a fall playground for the afternoon, with a petting zoo, pumpkin painting, game booths, putt-putt, a photo booth and plenty of candy and prizes. It is the city's annual community festival, made for little kids and the grown-ups chasing them.
It lands the same day as Keep Smithville Beautiful's Sustainable Home & Garden Show at Railroad Park (10am-3pm), and a free trolley will shuttle families between the two, so you can pick up free native plants, catch the student recycled-art awards and still make it to the pumpkins. Make a morning of it with lunch downtown. Students who need volunteer hours can still sign up through the event page. Smithville Parks & Rec
🗓️ Bastrop County Events | October 12 - 18, 2026
Monday, 🗓️ October 12
💀 Día de los Muertos Community Display | All week | 10am-5pm daily through November 1 | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | The community ofrendas stay up all month. Included with museum admission. Bastrop County Historical Society
🧹 Keep Smithville Beautiful Fall Super Sweep | Through Saturday | Pick your own spot | Smithville | A week-long volunteer litter cleanup. Free, sign up online. Keep Smithville Beautiful
🧘 Mind, Body, Spirit & Meditation | 9-10am | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Slow-flow yoga, breath work and meditation. Elgin Parks & Rec
🧵 Smithville Stitchers Quilt Guild | 10-11am | Smithville Church of Christ, Smithville | The monthly second-Monday guild meeting. Free. Call 979-716-0629. Smithville Area Chamber
🦉 Family Nature Quest | 10:30am, also Fri-Sun | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | A guided family nature program from LCRA. $10 a person, reservation required. LCRA Parks
🪡 Sewing Group | 1-4pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Bring a machine and a project. Free. Bastrop Public Library
🚀 Launch Watch Party | 4-8pm | The Boring Bodega, Hyperloop Plaza, 865 FM 1209, Bastrop | A Falcon 9 launch is on the schedule for early evening. Watch it on the big screens with food and drinks. Free. Hyperloop Plaza
💃 Zumba with Juanda | 6-7pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95, Elgin | Dance cardio to salsa, merengue, reggaeton and hip-hop. Elgin Parks & Rec
🎱 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 13
💼 Bastrop County Job Fair | 9am-1pm | Bastrop County Community Center, 15 American Legion Dr, Bastrop | Employers hiring in manufacturing, construction, the trades, healthcare, hospitality and IT. Free for job seekers. Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area
📚 Baby Bookworms | 10:30-11am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Stories, songs and play for the tiniest readers. Free. Elgin Public Library
🌿 Nurture Your Mind | 10:30-11:30am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Beginner-friendly guided meditation. Free. Elgin Public Library
🤱 Mommy and Baby Pilates | 11am-1pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | An hour of pilates for moms and little ones up to age 5, then an hour of resources. Free, registration required. Bastrop County Cares
🦁 Smithville Noon Lions Club | noon-1pm | Quinto Patio, 114 NE 2nd St, Smithville | The weekly service-club lunch. Visitors welcome, lunch on your own. Smithville Noon Lions Club
📖 ABC Afternoon Book Club | 2-3pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | The second-Tuesday book club. Bring a snack. Free. Elgin Public Library
🌳 Trees and Me | 2-3pm | Bastrop Recreation Center, 1008 Water St, Bastrop | Nature activities for ages 2 to 5. City of Bastrop Parks & Recreation
🛠️ Tween Maker Space | 5-6:30pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Hands-on building and making for tweens. Free. Elgin Public Library
🎤 Karaoke with Elijah | 7pm | 602 Brewing Company, 919 Main St, Bastrop | Every Tuesday. 602 Brewing Company
Wednesday, 🗓️ October 14
✂️ Denny's Diner Re-Grand Opening | 10-11am, ribbon cutting 10:30am | 300 Hwy 71 W, Bastrop | The renovated diner celebrates with the Bastrop Regional Chamber. Bastrop Regional Chamber
🍼 Bebe Bilingue | 10:30-11am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Bilingual baby storytime with cuentos and canciones. Free. Elgin Public Library
🧗 High Ropes & Zip Line | 10:30am | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | A guided high-ropes course and zip line. $45, reservation required. LCRA Parks
🍽️ State of BISD Lunch | 11am-1:30pm, check-in 10:45am | Jerry Fay Wilhelm Center for the Performing Arts, 1401 Cedar St, Bastrop | Student performances, a student Q&A and an update on Bastrop ISD. Ticketed, register by Tuesday. Bastrop Regional Chamber
🎲 Senior Game Day | noon-3pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | An afternoon of games for seniors. Free. Elgin Public Library
⚖️ Estate Planning Class | 1-2pm | Bastrop Recreation Center, 1008 Water St, Bastrop | A free adult class with Red Bird Law. City of Bastrop Parks & Recreation
🌽 Cornhole Tournament | 6-8pm, sign-up 5:30pm | Courtyard Lawn, Hyperloop Plaza, 865 FM 1209, Bastrop | Double elimination with prizes. Free. Hyperloop Plaza
✉️ BookHouse After Hours | An Evening of Letters | 7-9pm, doors 6pm | Smitty's Small Town Wonders BookHouse, 206 Bishop St, Smithville | Read letters aloud, then swap stamps, stickers and stationery. Free. Smithville Area Chamber
🎱 BINGO with Ben | 7-9pm | Bastrop Beer Company, 1008 Main St, Bastrop | Weekly Wednesday bingo. Bastrop Beer Company
Thursday, 🗓️ October 15
🧪 S.T.E.A.M. | 10-11am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Hands-on science, tech, engineering, art and math projects for kids. Free. Elgin Public Library
🧶 Fiber Arts and Friends | 10am-noon | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Bring a knitting, crochet or stitching project. Free. Elgin Public Library
🌎 Bilingual Storytime | 11:15am | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Stories in English and Spanish. Free. Bastrop Public Library
🦋 Butterfly Project with Jana Lynch | 4-7pm | 602 Brewing Company, 919 Main St, Bastrop | Paint butterflies for donations to the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry. 602 Brewing Company
🥬 Elgin Farmers' Market | 4-7pm | Veterans' Memorial Park, 109 Depot St, Elgin | Local produce, meats, baked goods, honey and crafts. SNAP welcome. Elgin Farmers' Market
🚐 Care-A-Van Smithville | 5-7pm | MLK Park, 101 Ken Blaschke Dr, Smithville | A free family night with kids' activities, mobile fitness, community resources and food. Bastrop County Cares
🥂 Smithville Chamber October Mixer | 5-7pm | 216 Main St, Smithville | Networking hosted by Panama Rose, Main Street Gifts & More and Mosaic Art & Home. Free. Smithville Area Chamber
🎤 Open Karaoke | 6-9pm | Prufrock Pub stage, Hyperloop Plaza, 865 FM 1209, Bastrop | All ages in the courtyard. Free. Hyperloop Plaza
⚽ Adult Co-ed Kickball League | 6-9pm | Elgin Memorial Park Softball Field, 1127 Main St, Elgin | League game night. Spectators welcome. Elgin Parks & Rec
🎸 House of Dogs | 7-9pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | Thursday night music on the patio. Copper Shot Distillery
❓ Trivia with Ben | 7-9pm | Bastrop Beer Company, 1008 Main St, Bastrop | Weekly Thursday trivia. Bastrop Beer Company
Friday, 🗓️ October 16
📖 Little Learners | 10:30-11:30am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Storytime and a craft for ages 4 to 6. Free. Elgin Public Library
🔠 Book BINGO | 2-3pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Third-Friday bingo with prizes. Free. Elgin Public Library
🧶 Fiber Arts Drop-In | 3-5pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Bring whatever you're working on. Free. Bastrop Public Library
🎃 Pumpkin Painting | 5:30-7:30pm | Bastrop Recreation Center, 1008 Water St, Bastrop | A family pumpkin-painting night. Registration required. City of Bastrop Parks & Recreation
🎸 Live Music at The Boring Bodega | 6-8pm | Hyperloop Plaza, 865 FM 1209, Bastrop | Local artists. Free. Hyperloop Plaza
🍿 Family Movie Night | 6:30-8pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | A third-Friday family film with free popcorn and a drink. Elgin Public Library
🏈 Friday Night Football | Bastrop Bears host Pflugerville at Bastrop Memorial Stadium, 7:30pm | Smithville Tigers at Marion, 7pm | Elgin Wildcats at LASA in Austin, 7pm | Cedar Creek has a bye. Bastrop ISD Athletics
👻 Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park | Fri-Sun | Fri and Sat 7pm-midnight, Sun 7-10pm | 149 Split Rail Ln, Smithville | Five haunted attractions, a haunted hayride, live music and food. Ages 12 and up recommended. Scream Hollow
🎷 Blues In The Night | 7-10pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | Friday night on the patio stage. Copper Shot Distillery
🎭 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) | Fri-Sat | 7:30pm, runs through October 25 | Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St, Bastrop | Three actors, thirty-seven plays. Rated PG-13. Bastrop Opera House
🎶 Ryan St. Clair | 7:30-10:30pm | Gracie's, The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Friday night live music. The Grace Miller
🎶 Ryan DeSiato | 7:30-10:30pm | Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard, Bastrop | Friday night in the yard. Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard
🎤 Friday Night Karaoke | The RAB Show | 8pm-midnight | American Legion Post 533, 3003 Loop 150 E, Bastrop | Weekly. American Legion Post 533
🌟 Saturday, 🗓️ October 17 | The Big Day
🌿 Sustainable Home & Garden Show | 10am-3pm | Railroad Park Pavilion, Smithville | Keep Smithville Beautiful's free show on keeping the Colorado River clean, with expert talks, music, free native plants, EVs to look at, and student recycled-art awards at 1:45pm. Buescher State Park rangers run a wildscaping booth 10am-2pm. A free trolley runs to the Fall Festival. Keep Smithville Beautiful
🍂 Smithville Fall Festival | 11am-3pm | Smithville Recreation Center, 106 Royston St, Smithville | Our featured event. See the write-up above. Smithville Parks & Rec
🛤️ El Camino Real Day | 10am-5pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | The museum, now an official site on the Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail, celebrates the route through Bastrop County. Drop in for the trail's story and a commemorative sticker. Bastrop County Historical Society
🥕 Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market | 10am-2pm | 1302 Chestnut St, Bastrop | The weekly producers market. SNAP and Lone Star welcome. Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market
🌲 Predators of the Pines Guided Hike | 10-11:30am | Bastrop State Park, meet at the playground near the Piney Hill restroom | A 1-mile hike with a Master Naturalist. Free with $5 park entry, kids 12 and under free. Not stroller friendly. Texas Parks & Wildlife
🗣️ Spanish For Fun | 10-11am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Relaxed conversational Spanish, all levels. Free. Elgin Public Library
🎃 Community Gardens Pumpkin Patch | Sat-Sun | 10am-5pm | Community Gardens, 1067 Hwy 71 W, Bastrop | Day passes and family passes online. Community Gardens
🧩 Sensory Storytime | 10:30-11:30am | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Calm, sensory-friendly stories and play. Free. Elgin Public Library
💻 Senior Technology Help | 10:30am-noon | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | One-on-one tech help for ages 60 and up. Free. Bastrop Public Library
📚 Library Book Club | Where the Crawdads Sing | 11am-12:30pm | Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St, Bastrop | Free. Bastrop Public Library
🎶 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
🀄 Mahjong | 3pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St, Elgin | Open play, beginners welcome. Free. Elgin Public Library
🎸 Cody Freeman | 3-5pm | Copper Shot Distillery porch, 809 Main St, Bastrop | Afternoon music. Copper Shot Distillery
🍷 Phil Hurley | 4-7pm | Rising Sun Vineyard & Yegua Creek Brewery, 233 Edmonson Ranch Rd, McDade | Americana and Texas rock on the vineyard stage. Free, family and dog friendly. Rising Sun Vineyard
🎸 Howlin' Waters | 7-10pm | Copper Shot Distillery, 809 Main St, Bastrop | Saturday night on the patio. Copper Shot Distillery
🎷 Blues In The Night | 7:30-10:30pm | Gracie's, The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Saturday night live music. The Grace Miller
🎶 Tim and The Turmoil | 7:30-10:30pm | Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard, Bastrop | Saturday night in the yard. Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard
Sunday, 🗓️ October 18
🥬 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
🎶 Robert Kraft | noon-2pm | Gracie's, The Grace Miller, 706 Pine St, Bastrop | Sunday lunch music. The Grace Miller
🧶 Make & Take Crochet Pumpkin Class | noon-3pm | Community Gardens, 1067 Hwy 71 W, Bastrop | Leave with your own crocheted pumpkin. $25, materials included. Community Gardens
🍷 Mike Kiddoo | 2-5pm | Rising Sun Vineyard & Yegua Creek Brewery, 233 Edmonson Ranch Rd, McDade | Alt-rock and soul on the vineyard stage. Free. Rising Sun Vineyard
✉️ Slow Sunday at the BookHouse | 2-5pm | 206 Bishop St, Smithville | Drop-in letter writing, coloring and paper crafts. Free, some crafts have a materials fee. Smithville Area Chamber
🔮 Planning Ahead
✝️ Wed Oct 21 | Fields of Faith | gates 6pm | Tiger Stadium, 285 State Hwy 95, Smithville | Fellowship of Christian Athletes brings students together on the field to hear classmates share their faith. Fields of Faith
📸 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 shares the stories behind his photographs. Free, reserve a spot 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
🚗 Fri Oct 23 | Party at the Patch Trunk or Treat | 5-8pm | Community Gardens, 1067 Hwy 71 W, Bastrop | Free. Community Gardens
🐟 Fri Oct 23 | Fish Fry at Grace Lutheran | 5pm | Grace Lutheran Church, 308 Byrne St, Smithville | $15 a plate, dine in or to go. Facebook event
🍁 Sat Oct 24 | Family Fun Farmers Market | Fall Fest & Trunk or Treat | 10am-2pm | Hyperloop Plaza, 865 FM 1209, Bastrop | The plaza's fall market with a trunk or treat. Hyperloop Plaza
🐾 Sat Oct 24 | Tricks, Treats and Trails | 10am-3pm | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | From $15, ages 4 and up. LCRA Parks
👻 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. Admission $15. Bastrop County Historical Society
🎬 Sat Oct 24 | Movies in the Park: Hocus Pocus | 7pm | Fisherman's Park, Bastrop | Free movie, free popcorn and costumes encouraged. Facebook event
🎵 Starts Mon Oct 26 | Mini Maestros Music Class | Mondays 8:30am, eight weeks | Bastrop Academy of Music, 1109 Main St, Bastrop | Music, singing and rhythm for ages 2 to 5. $145, sibling discounts. Register at 512-321-7529. Bastrop Academy of Music
👻 Sat Oct 31 | Bastrop Boo Bash | 2-6pm | Downtown Bastrop | The downtown Halloween route. Downtown Bastrop
🎃 Sat Oct 31 | Boo Bash at the Museum | 4-8pm | Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Stop by the museum porch in costume for a special prize. $10. Bastrop County Historical Society
🤠 Thu Nov 5 | Farm Street Opry | 7pm, doors 5:30pm | Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut St, Bastrop | The monthly traditional country show. The Farm Street Opry
🎨 Sat Nov 7 | Bastrop Art Fest | 10am-4pm | Lost Pines Art Center, 1204 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Free admission. Vendor applications close October 26. Lost Pines Art Center
🚗 Fri-Sat Nov 13-14 | Heroes & Hot Rods Veterans Weekend Car Show | 20th Year | Main Street cruise-in Friday 5-9pm, car show Saturday from 7:30am | Downtown Bastrop | Bastrop Area Cruisers
🏡 Sat Nov 14 | Smithville Garden Club Tour of Homes | 11am-3pm | Smithville | Five homes and a church on the tour, with tickets at each home and the Smithville Visitors Center. Facebook event
🎁 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. Refer five and you are in. Your link is right below. Text it to one person today.
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See you Thursday.
Marilyn - The Bastrop Current