Welcome to this week's edition of Bastrop Current - Your Local County Guide!

What a week it is in Bastrop County! Crawfish season is in full swing, a beloved medieval festival opens its gates this Saturday, early voting ends Friday, and there's art, music, and community events happening from Elgin to Smithville and everywhere in between. Whether you're a longtime local or still getting to know this incredible corner of Texas, we are so glad you're here. Let's make the most of it together!

If you haven't made it down to the Colorado River for pizza and a cold one, you're missing out on one of Bastrop County's best-loved gathering spots. Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard has been voted Best Pizza AND Favorite Restaurant in Bastrop County… and one visit tells you why.

Owner Wayne Moore and his family have been serving hand-tossed pizza (dough made fresh daily) and 18 craft beers from sister brewery 602 Brewing since 2014. Three decks overlook the Colorado River, there's a yard with washers, and the patio is dog-friendly. Live music is a regular fixture! Check their Facebook for the current music calendar.

📍 601 Chestnut St, Bastrop ⏰ Mon–Thu & Sun: 11am–9pm | Fri–Sat: 11am–11pm 📞 (512) 988-7036 🔗 neighborstx.com 🔗 Facebook: Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard

It's that time of year, Bastrop County - crawfish season is hitting its stride and you don't have to drive far to get your fix! Experts say crawfish will peak in March and April, so now is the perfect time to go. Here's where to find mudbugs right here at home:

🔴 Renegade Crawfish Company - Smithville Family-owned by Tristan & Tatelyn Moore. Boiled crawfish Fridays at 4pm and Saturdays at 11am (while supplies last). Fried catfish & shrimp also available. 📍 270 Hwy. 95, Smithville ⏰ Mon–Thu 6:30am–2pm | Fri 6:30am–7pm | Sat 8am–7pm 🔗 Facebook: Renegade Crawfish Company

🔴 Dockside BTX - Bastrop ⭐ NEW THIS SEASON! Bastrop's newest seafood spot opened November 2025 - this is their very first crawfish season here! Owners Josh Nguyen & John Gross bring Gulf Coast family recipes and seafood caught by their own family's fishing operation in Seadrift, TX. Current special: Buy 5 lbs, get 1 lb FREE! ⚠️ Crawfish sells out fast - call ahead or check Facebook before heading over! 📍 904 College St., Bastrop ⏰ Wed–Fri 4–9pm | Sat–Sun Noon–9pm 🔗 Facebook: Dockside BTX

🔴 Elgin Farmers Market - Crawfish Vendors! Crawfish vendors sometimes pop up at the Thursday market — check their Facebook before you go so you don't miss out! 📅 Thursdays 4–7pm | Veterans Memorial Park, Elgin 🔗 Facebook: Elgin Farmers Market

🔴 Texas Krab House - Manor, TX (Just a short drive from Bastrop County!) Crawfish boils start daily at 3pm, available Tuesday through Sunday while supplies last. Boiled and fried seafood platters also on the menu. ⏰ Mon–Thu 3–8pm | Fri–Sun 12–8pm ⚠️ Come early - when it's gone, it's gone. No magic refills! 🔗 Facebook: Texas Krab House

🦞 All crawfish is seasonal and available while supplies last. Peak season is March & April - don't wait too long!

The 17th Annual Sherwood Forest Faire opens this Saturday, February 28th in McDade! This beloved medieval festival runs weekends through April 19th, bringing 150+ live shows daily, 170+ artisan vendors, jousting, falconry, swordplay, comedy, theater, and 10+ bands to the Lost Pines each weekend.

Special Opening Weekend: The viral sea shanty group The Wellermen take the Argosy Stage both Saturday AND Sunday, sponsored by Thorin's Mead. Last season hundreds of fans sang every word back to them, horns raised and voices rolling across Sherwood. You'll want to be in that crowd.

🎟️ Kids 12 & under FREE | Military & First Responders: BOGO Saturday 🎉 BOGO for EVERYONE all day Sunday, March 1

📍 10501 FM 972, McDade, TX ⏰ 10am–dusk every weekend through April 19 🔗 sherwoodforestfaire.com 🎬 Watch The Wellermen at Sherwood (YouTube)

    🎭 "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" — Bastrop Opera House ⚠️ LAST WEEKEND!     Hilarious musical comedy | Mature audiences | Seating limited      📍 1401 Cedar St, Bastrop     🔗 bastropoperahouse.org

    🥦 Elgin Farmers Market | 4–7pm     Veterans Memorial Park, Elgin | Weekly year-round     🔗 elgintexas.gov

    🍕 Family Pizza Night — Rising Sun Vineyard & Yegua Creek Brewery | 4–9pm     $10 pizzas & $5 beer | Kitchen Special: Bacon Margherita Pizza $10 | McDade      🔗 Facebook: Rising Sun Vineyard

    🤝 HYPE Young Professionals Networking | Elgin Chamber of Commerce      🔗 elginchamber.com

    🗳️ LAST DAY — Early Voting for March 3 Primary | 7am–7pm     🔗 vote.org

    🎭 "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" — Bastrop Opera House ⚠️ FINAL PERFORMANCES     📍 1401 Cedar St, Bastrop | Mature audiences | Seating limited     🔗 bastropoperahouse.org

    💪 Full Body Strength Class — Bastrop Recreation Center | 9am | $8 non-members     🔗 cityofbastrop.org/recreation

    🎱 BINGO Night — Rising Sun Vineyard & Yegua Creek Brewery | Starts 6pm     $10 game cards | Free loaded nacho bar (while it lasts) | All ages, family & pet friendly | McDade     🔗 Facebook: Rising Sun Vineyard

    ⚔️ Sherwood Forest Faire - OPENING DAY | 10am–dusk      📍 10501 FM 972, McDade | Kids 12 & under FREE | Military/First Responders BOGO      🎵 The Wellermen on the Argosy Stage!     🔗 sherwoodforestfaire.com

    🥦 Bastrop Farmers Market | 10am–2pm      Historic Downtown Square, Bastrop     🔗 visitbastrop.com

    🥦 Elgin Saturday Farmers Market | 9am–1pm | First Saturday - Live Music!      🔗 elgintexas.gov

    🍝 Basket of Noodles Senior Potluck - Calvary Baptist Church Smithville 12–2pm   Calvary Baptist Smithville & Calvary Baptist Bastrop senior adults join together for food, fellowship & fun! Bring your favorite pasta dish to share - spaghetti, mac & cheese, pasta salad & more welcome!      📍 607 Loop 230 West, Smithville | 📞 (512) 303-1697         🔗 calvarysmithville.com

    🎨 Lost Pines Art Center - Open | 11am–5pm     📍 1204 Chestnut St, Bastrop | 100+ artists, galleries, glassblowing silo & coffee bar | Free admission      🔗 lostpinesartcenter.org

    🖼️ Artist in Studio - Found Fine Art | 11am–5pm     📍 912 Water St, Bastrop | Currently showing: Neena Buxani, floral paintings (through March 28)      🔗 foundfa.com | 📞 (512) 718-1630

    📖 "Telling Your Story" Presentation & Workshop | 1:30–3:30pm      📍 Kerr Center, 1308 Walnut St, Bastrop | Presented by Gloria Rainwater - Research your family history & Freedom Colony roots | Free packets & light refreshments      🔗 Facebook: Bastrop County African American Cultural Center

    🎵 Live Music: LTD's - Rising Sun Vineyard & Yegua Creek Brewery | 4–7pm     Country/soft rock | McDade     🔗 Facebook: Rising Sun Vineyard

    ⚔️ Sherwood Forest Faire — Day 2 | 10am–dusk | 🎉 BOGO FOR EVERYONE all day!     📍 10501 FM 972, McDade | The Wellermen on the Argosy Stage!      🔗 sherwoodforestfaire.com

    🧘 Weekly Qigong - Fisherman's Park, Bastrop | 10am     Bring a yoga mat for sound bath after session | Hosted by Emerge & Thrive      🔗 Facebook: Emerge & Thrive

    🥦 Smithville Sunday Farmers Market | 10am–2pm     Railroad Park, Smithville      🔗 smithvilletx.org

    🎵 Live Music: Trick Myers — Rising Sun Vineyard & Yegua Creek Brewery. 2–5pm     NM/TX musician | McDade     🔗 Facebook: Rising Sun Vineyard

    🚌 CARTS Commuter Bus Service LAUNCHES     Free express routes connecting Bastrop & Smithville to Austin, Round Rock & Georgetown     Funded by EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant     🔗 ridecarts.com | 📞 512-478-7433

    ✂️ Smithville Station Ribbon Cutting | 2:30pm      Newly remodeled Smithville Station     🔗 smithvilletx.org

    🗳️ PRIMARY ELECTION DAY | Polls open 7am–7pm      Find your polling location at vote.org     🔗 vote.org

    🎤 Karaoke Night — Mutt's Last Stand | Smithville      🔗 Facebook: Mutt's Last Stand

    🎨 First Friday Art Walk - Downtown Bastrop | March 6 | 6–8pm     Found Fine Art (Artist in Studio: Jason Miller, driftwood sculptor) + Lost Pines Art Center + galleries throughout downtown     🔗 visitbastrop.com

    🎸 Texas Independence Day Jam | March 6–8     Rising Sun Vineyard & Yegua Creek Brewery, McDade | Free dry camping | Live music all weekend     Saturday lineup: Thursday Night Jeffersons → Ellison Brothers Band → Jess Lopez y Los Funky Monkeys (Tejano/Soul/R&B headliners)     🔗 Facebook: Yegua Creek Brewery

    🦞 Crawfish Boil at Simple Promise Farms - Elgin | March 7 | 3–6pm     263 Roemer Rd, Elgin | Hosted by Ranch House Recovery | Live music by NOLO      🔗 Facebook: Ranch House Recovery

    🎭 "Lost in Yonkers" - Bastrop Opera House | March 13–22     Neil Simon's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama | Directed by Jeff Jeffers | Seating limited      🔗 bastropoperahouse.org

    🎪 Smithville Jamboree | April 9–11     Smithville Jamboree Grounds, Smithville      🔗 smithvillejamboree.com

    🎭 "Rent" - Bastrop Opera House | April 10–May 3     Iconic rock musical | Directed by Lisa Holcomb | Mature audiences     🔗 bastropoperahouse.org

    🛒 Sprouts Farmers Market Opening | Coming March 2026     655 W. SH 71, Burleson Crossing East, Bastrop | Hiring 82 employees!     🔗 sprouts.com/careers

    🐦 Bird City Weekend + Art Walk | May 2, 2026     Lost Pines Art Center & downtown Bastrop | Free, all ages     🔗 lostpinesartcenter.org

    🎨 Bastrop Art Fest | November 7, 2026     Lost Pines Art Center & Silo District | Free, all ages | Demos, vendors, live performances     🔗 lostpinesartcenter.org

Bastrop County History Goes Digital The Bastrop County Historical Commission has launched bastropcountyhistorical.org - a new site bringing the county's rich history to life with photos, videos, and audio clips. Did you know Bastrop was one of only four original Anglo settlements in Mexico before Texas independence? The famous King's Highway - a 2,500-mile Spanish colonial route from Mexico to Louisiana - runs right through our county.

Colorado River Bank Stabilization Underway A $3.2 million project is stabilizing 1,200 linear feet of riverbank near the Old Iron Bridge, Fisherman's Park, and Ferry Park. Bonus: Fisherman's Park's splash pad is getting a new recirculation system that will save approximately 1 million gallons of water per month during summer. Some park closures are in effect - check Bastrop Parks & Recreation on Facebook for updates. 🔗 Facebook: Bastrop Parks & Recreation

Regional Economic Development Study Approved Smithville City Council has approved a resolution supporting a feasibility study for a regional economic development corporation - a potential partnership between Bastrop, Elgin, and Smithville under one coordinated economic strategy. The study is funded by Bastrop County.

Thank you for reading Bastrop Current - Your Local Guide! Covering Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville, McDade & Paige

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See y'all next Thursday. 🌲

— Bastrop Current