Whether you find yourself in Smithville, Elgin, or Bastrop, there’s always something fun going on in Bastrop County. The area’s best events bring live music, great food, and unique activities to town, year after year, so when you find one you love you can recreate the experience 365 days later. Read on for info on just a few of the top annual events in Bastrop County. For more details about yearly and monthly events around the county, including Bastrop’s First Friday Art Walk, Elgin’s Flea Market Days, and Smithville’s Music Tuesdays, visit www.explorebastropcounty.com/events.
April
Sherwood Forest Faire
A more kid-friendly alternative to Renaissance Festival, Sherwood Forest Faire features Middle Ages-style jousting, archery, theater, comedy performances, and more than 40 other stage acts along with over 130 shops stocked with unique gifts and souvenirs.
1883 Old Highway 20
McDade, TX 78650
Smithville Jamboree
Smithville’s largest and oldest event includes a Main Street parade and arts and crafts vendors. Held in four days in early April, it also features a carnival, livestock show, coloring contest, pet show, live music, and softball, volleyball, horseshoe, and washers tournaments.
107 Highway 71 W
Smithville, TX 78957
May
Smithville Thunder on the Colorado Motorcycle Rally
Motorcyclists and bike enthusiasts can’t miss this annual three-day rally in Smithville. Ride through historic downtown Smithville as part of a parade, head out for a fun ride with all your new friends, and check out the live music at Riverbend Park. A juried bike show and crowning of Miss Thunder is all part of the fun.
Smithville, TX 78957
June
Elgin Western Days Festival
For nearly 50 years, this festival has lit up Elgin with a parade, carnival, sports tournaments, arts, crafts, food vendors, and live entertainment.
1127 North Main Street
Elgin, TX 78621
July
Elgin 4th of July People’s Parade and Celebration
This annual patriotic celebration of our nation’s independence includes a walking parade and other activities in downtown Elgin, with the event ending at Veteran’s Memorial Park.
Elgin, TX 78621
Bastrop Patriotic Festival
The morning of the festival you’ll see a parade of critters, from dogs to goats and lizards, dressed in red, white, and blue for their own parade down Main Street. In the evening, residents and visitors alike gather at Fisherman’s Park for a spectacular fireworks display and music by the Austin Symphonic Band.
Bastrop, TX 78602
Annual Elgin Rodeo
Enjoy four days of family-friendly fun at the Elgin Rodeo, an annual event in Elgin that is free and open to the public.
Elgin, TX 78621
McDade Watermelon Festival
Join the city of McDade for its long-running annual tribute to watermelons, with a parade, car show, street dance, revue, and live music.
143 Bastrop Street
McDade, TX 78650
August
Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
Whether you’re a first-timer or long-lost native of Bastrop, head back for rodeo-ing, a parade and carnival, live music and dances, food, and more.
Loop 150
Bastrop, TX 78602
El Camino Real de SUP
Take on Texas’ original Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) river race that follows a six-mile path down the beautiful Colorado River. Well suited for beginning and elite paddlers, the event includes an after-race party with food and music and an awards ceremony.
Bastrop, TX 78602
September
Colorado River 100
Test your mental and physical strength when you take on one of Texas’ most difficult endurance races, the Colorado River 100. The marathon canoe race starts in Bastrop and follows the Colorado River all the way to Columbus through some of the prettiest scenery of East Central Texas. There are two categories you can enter, one for experienced paddlers (the 100-mile Competitive Class race) and the other (the 100K Adventure Class race) that is best suited for novice canoers.
Bastrop, TX 78602
October
Scream Hollow
Take your Halloween season to the next level at Scream Hollow, home to 20 acres of horror. Step inside three haunted houses – Mansion of Terror, Lost Pines Zombie City, and Slaughter Circus – and try to live to tell the tale. While you’re there, check out the Cackling Witch Café and Bakery and the Rabid Bat Vampire Bar.
149 Split Rail Lane
Smithville, TX 78957
Smithville Texas Photo Festival
If you take your camera everywhere with you, find your way to the Texas Photo Festival in Smithville. For nine days in mid-October, you’ll find models, sets, classes, and photography contests throughout town. Hone your skills and take tons of Instagram-worthy photos during this one-of-a-kind event.
Smithville, TX 78957
Elgin Hogeye Festival
Celebrate swine in the Sausage Capitol of Texas at this long-running festival that includes a car show, art show, crafts, food, live music, kids’ area, and barbecue pork cook-off.
109 Depot Street
Elgin, TX 78621
November
Barton Hills Farm Fall Festival
Head to the popular Barton Hills Farm beginning in late September for a giant maze, face-painting, pumpkin patch, and loads of other kid-friendly activities.
1115 FM 969
Bastrop, TX 78602
Bastrop Veteran’s Day Celebration and Classic Car Show
Honor our country’s veterans at this annual event in Bastrop that features a car show, live music, and a ceremony honoring those who have served in the armed forces.
Bastrop, TX 78602
Smithville Airing of the Quilts and Garden Club Home Tour
On the second Saturday of November, you’ll see a beautiful handcrafted quilts displayed all over town. Adding to the fun is a tour of selected historic homes.
Smithville, TX 78957
December
Bastrop Lost Pines Christmas
Bastrop offers a handful of ways to make merry each Christmas season, from the Christmas Wine Swirl to the Holiday Homes Tour, to a lighted parade with Santa as the guest star..
Various locations
Bastrop, TX 78602
Bastrop’s River of Lights
Throughout the holiday season, the June Hill Pape Riverwalk along the Colorado River is transformed into a winter wonderland with more than 100 colorful and festive displays. The display starts the Friday after Thanksgiving and ends on New Year’s Eve.
Bastrop, TX 78602
Elgin Holiday by the Tracks
Browse the farmer’s market and downtown stores, take photos with Santa, watch the Christmas parade, and catch live music and entertainment at Elgin’s yuletide celebration.
109 Depot Street
Elgin, TX 78621
Smithville Festival of Lights
Spend Christmas in a town that will remind you of a Norman Rockwell painting and enjoy live entertainment, food, shopping, and parade.
Downtown
Smithville, TX 78957
For even more events in Bastrop County, visit ExploreBastropCounty.com.
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