🎯 Quilts on Main Street & Birds Over Bastrop | April 30 - May 6, 2026

Hey neighbor 👋

This week, downtown Bastrop turns into a celebration of color, craft, and community. Quilts go up at Calvary Episcopal Church and the Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center for the brand-new Airing of the Quilts. The Lost Pines Art Center hosts Painted Wings BirdFest, two free days of raptors, walking tours, kids' activities, and live music celebrating Bastrop's Bird City designation. The American Legion Riders pull into town for their three-day Texas State Rally. And that's before we get to the Friday First Friday market, free dance classes at the Rec Center, a Money Smart Moms & Minis morning, and live music every night.

If you only do one thing this weekend, make it Saturday May 2. We counted 13 confirmed events that day alone.

Let's get into it. 🗓️

There's a kind of magic in a quilt. Every stitch is a hand. Every pattern is a memory. And on Saturday, May 2, the Bastrop County Historical Society is inviting all of us to step into that magic at this year's Airing of the Quilts in downtown Bastrop, Texas.

Inspired by the old springtime tradition of pulling quilts out to air them in the breeze, this free event puts a beautiful collection of historic and modern quilts on display in two of downtown's most charming settings: Calvary Episcopal Church and the Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center. Each quilt has a story stitched into it, family history, creativity, and the shared heritage of Bastrop County, Texas.

Events Coordinator Candice McClendon shared, "Come out for what is sure to be a delightful start of an annual event that celebrates local heritage and craft."

Bring a friend, bring the kids, bring your camera. It's the kind of slow, sun-warmed Saturday that reminds you why Bastrop County feels like family.

🗓️ Saturday, May 2, 2026 | 10:00am - 3:00pm 📍 Downtown Bastrop, Texas (Calvary Episcopal Church + the Museum) 💲 FREE and open to the public 🔗 Event details

Bonus: While you're there, grab a $5 ticket (or 5 for $20) for the Quilt Raffle at the Museum to win a $3,000 locally made Granny Square quilt named Thelma's Square. Drawing is May 23. You don't have to be present to win.

If you've spent any time downtown lately, you've spotted them: the painted bird sculptures perched along Main Street, each one a nod to a species that calls Bastrop County home. This weekend, the Lost Pines Art Center turns Bastrop's Bird City designation into a full two-day festival: Painted Wings BirdFest.

Friday evening, things kick off on Main Street. Saturday is the full day, with live raptor demonstrations from Sky Kings, Meet the Purple Martins, a DarkSky Texas presentation, the Bastrop Backyard Birds program, a guided Walking Tour of Bastrop's Bird Junction Sculptures, kids activities, informational tables, and Beer & Bird Songs at local spots. The day closes with Art After Dark at the Lost Pines Art Center: the Free As a Bird group show, the Members Showcase, refreshments, and live music by Kim Snider.

Free entry, however registration to some events may be required.

For families, this is a low-stakes, high-joy way to learn something new alongside your kids. For grown-ups, it's a reason to slow-walk down Main Street with a coffee. And for Bastrop County, it's a reminder that we're not just lucky to live here — we're lucky to live in a place that protects what makes it special.

🗓️ Friday, May 1 - Saturday, May 2 📍 Lost Pines Art Center, 1204 Chestnut St + Downtown Bastrop, Texas 💲 FREE 🔗 Painted Wings BirdFest event page 🔗 Lost Pines Art Center events

This Friday morning, Bastrop County Cares and First National Bank are hosting something we love: a free, hands-on financial literacy event for moms and kids ages 4-5. Money Smart Moms & Minis features storytime with Ella the Banker, hands-on activities, early lessons on saving and spending, and a piggy bank for every child to take home (plus fun swag for moms).

If you're a mom of a preschooler, this is the kind of low-key, high-value Friday morning that makes you feel like a parent who has it figured out. (Even if, like the rest of us, you're just doing your best.)

🗓️ Friday, May 1, 2026 | 10:00am - 11:00am 📍 Hampton Inn Bastrop, 240 S Hasler Blvd, Bastrop, TX 💲 FREE | for moms + kids ages 4-5 🔗 Event Registration 📞 512-409-3116

A thank-you to Bastrop County Cares for putting events like this together for our families.

Bastrop Current grows when neighbors tell neighbors. If you've been enjoying the newsletter, share your unique referral link with a friend who'd appreciate a weekly guide to what's happening in Bastrop County, Texas.

Share Bastrop Current with a friend →

🎸 Smithville Music in the Park | Final Week of Season | 6:00pm - 8:00pm Free outdoor concert closing out Smithville's spring Music in the Park series. Bring lawn chairs. 💲 FREE 📍 Gazebo Park, 100 NW First Street, Smithville, TX 🔗 City of Smithville event listing

🐷 Money Smart Moms & Minis | 10:00am - 11:00am A fun, interactive morning for moms and kids ages 4-5 with Ella the Banker storytime, hands-on activities, piggy banks, and swag (see Community Spotlight above). 💲 FREE 📍 Hampton Inn Bastrop, 240 S Hasler Blvd 🔗 bastropcares.org 📞 512-409-3116

💪 Free Dance Class | Zumba Gold | 11:30am Closing week of the Bastrop Recreation Center's International Dance Day celebration. Drop in for a fun, low-impact Zumba session. 💲 FREE | space limited 📍 Bastrop Recreation Center 🔗 City of Bastrop Recreation Calendar

🎨 F.A.M.E. Days | First Friday Artisan Market | 5:00pm - 8:00pm First Friday of the month brings local artisans and makers to historic downtown Bastrop. Stroll, shop, support neighbors. 💲 FREE to browse 📍 Historic Downtown Bastrop, Texas 🔗 F.A.M.E. Days at Visit Bastrop

🐦 Painted Wings BirdFest | Kickoff Evening | Friday evening The Lost Pines Art Center kicks off Bastrop's two-day Bird City celebration on Main Street with art, displays, and a festive opening (see Featured News above). 💲 FREE 📍 Main Street, Downtown Bastrop 🔗 Lost Pines Art Center events

🎸 Music in the Park | Elgin | The Cove | 7:00pm Friday-night live music in historic downtown Elgin. The Cove kicks off the May lineup. Bring lawn chairs, drinks, snacks, and friends — food trucks, vendors, and activities on site. 💲 FREE 📍 Veterans Memorial Park, 109 Depot St, Elgin, TX 🔗 Music in the Park Series (City of Elgin) Sponsored by Elgin Main Street, Downtown Elgin Inc., Friends of Elgin Parks, Friends of Elgin Library, and City of Elgin, TX.

🏍️ American Legion Riders Texas State Rally | Day 1 | All weekend Hundreds of veterans and supporters ride into Bastrop for organized rides, scenic routes, live music, and dinners benefiting the American Legion Veterans and Children Foundation. 💲 $50-$55 registration 📍 American Legion Post 533, 3003 Loop 150 E, Bastrop 🔗 Texas ALR State Rally page

🎭 RENT at the Bastrop Opera House | 7:30pm The penultimate weekend of the Bastrop Opera House's run of RENT, the iconic rock musical about love, loss, and chosen family. 18+ only. 📍 Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring Street 🔗 Tickets

🎶 Live Music at Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard | 7:00pm Live music on the riverfront patio at one of Central Texas's most scenic music venues. Check the venue site for the artist lineup. 💲 No cover 📍 601 Chestnut St, Bastrop 🔗 Neighbor's events page

🎸 The Nite Shift at The Grace Miller "Gracie's" | 7:30pm - 10:30pm Country band The Nite Shift takes the stage at Gracie's for a Friday night show. 🔗 The Grace Miller Facebook

🧵 Airing of the Quilts | 10:00am - 3:00pm ⭐ FEATURED Bastrop County Historical Society's celebration of color, craft, and county heritage with quilts on display at Calvary Episcopal Church and the Museum (see Featured Event above). 💲 FREE 📍 Downtown Bastrop, Texas 🔗 Event page

🐦 Painted Wings BirdFest | Full Day | All day Walking Tour of Bird Junction Sculptures, Sky Kings raptors, Meet the Purple Martins, DarkSky Texas, Bastrop Backyard Birds, kids activities, Beer & Bird Songs, Bird Hat Contest, and more (see Featured News above). 💲 FREE 📍 Lost Pines Art Center + Downtown Bastrop 🔗 Lost Pines Art Center events

🎺 Derby Day at the Museum | 2:00pm - 5:00pm The Bastrop County Historical Society's Derby Day at the Museum. Live viewing of the Kentucky Derby with drinks, hors d'oeuvres, music, and a guided tour of the Museum. 💲 $25 general | $20 members 📍 Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St 🔗 Bastrop County Historical Society

🎨 Art After Dark | Free As a Bird Group Show + Live Music by Kim Snider | 6:00pm - 8:00pm The first-Saturday gallery night closes out BirdFest day with the Free As a Bird group show, the Members Showcase, the Expressions Gallery, refreshments, a Birds in Art talk by Patricia Raine, and live music with Kim Snider. 💲 FREE 📍 Lost Pines Art Center, 1204 Chestnut St 🔗 LPAC events

🥦 Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market | 10:00am - 2:00pm Saturday-morning tradition on Chestnut Street. Fresh produce, local makers, live music, and your weekly hello to Bastrop County's growers and small-batch creators. 💲 FREE to shop 📍 1302 Chestnut St, Bastrop 🔗 Market info

🦞 Salty Heifers Crawfish Boil | Cooking for a Cause | starts 1:00pm Good food, cold drinks, great company. At-will donation event hosted by Salty Heifers - bring the whole family. Fresh crawfish, cold drinks, community fun. 💲 At-will donation 📍 VFW Post 2527, Bastrop

🌲 Bastrop State Park Interpretive Center Open | All day Brand-new educational exhibits at the renovated Historic Golf Shelter celebrating the Civilian Conservation Corps, historic cabins, the Lost Pines Ecosystem, and habitat restoration. The park reopens today after annual pool cleaning. 💲 Park entry $5/adult | kids 12 and under free 📍 Bastrop State Park, 100 Park Rd 1A 🔗 Event page

🎣 ENWS Primitive Fishing for Kids | 10:00am - 3:30pm Earth Native Wilderness School teaches kids ages 7-12 how to make their own tenkara fishing rods and hand-lines from forest materials, then practice casting and learn freshwater fish ecology. Drop-off class (parents do not attend). 💲 $65 | ages 7-12 | drop-off 📍 Earth Native Campus, Shiloh entrance, 921 Shiloh Rd, Bastrop 🔗 Earth Native School Primitive Fishing

🔫 Big Tex Gun Show | 9:00am - 5:00pm Major regional gun show featuring firearms, ammunition, knives, and accessories. Day 1 of 2. 💲 ~$10 admission 📍 Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut St 🔗 Big Tex Gun Show schedule

💃 Free Dance Class | Bolly X | Closing Day of International Dance Day Week | 10:30am Closing day of the Bastrop Recreation Center's International Dance Day celebration with a high-energy Bollywood-inspired dance class. 💲 FREE | space limited 📍 Bastrop Recreation Center 🔗 City of Bastrop Recreation Calendar

🩰 4x4 on the Farm | An Evening of Dance | 7:00pm - 10:00pm Intimate outdoor dance performance set against the scenic backdrop of Eden East Farm, paired with food and wine. 💲 Ticketed (check site) 📍 Eden East Farm, 1910 Main Street, Bastrop 🔗 Eden East Farm

🎸 Live Music at Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard | 7:00pm Saturday-night live music on the river. Check the venue page for tonight's lineup. 💲 No cover 📍 601 Chestnut St, Bastrop 🔗 Neighbor's events

🎤 Bastrop Comedy Club at Film Alley | 8:00pm - 10:30pm Weekly Saturday-night stand-up showcase with rotating regional comics inside Film Alley. 💲 Ticketed 📍 Film Alley Bastrop, 1600 Chestnut St 🔗 Film Alley Stand-up Comedy

🏍️ American Legion Riders Texas State Rally | Day 2 | All day Day 2 of the three-day rally with rides, music, and gatherings at Post 533. 📍 American Legion Post 533, 3003 Loop 150 E 🔗 Texas ALR State Rally page

🎭 RENT at the Bastrop Opera House | 7:30pm Saturday night of the penultimate RENT weekend at the Opera House. 18+ only. 📍 Bastrop Opera House 🔗 Tickets

🚴 National Ride a Bike Day Celebration | Bastrop State Park | 8:00am - Noon Friends of the Lost Pines State Parks celebrate National Ride a Bike Day with rides on the paved trails, food trucks, and family activities. 💲 Park entry $5/adult | kids 12 and under free 📍 Bastrop State Park, 100 Park Rd 1A 🔗 Event page

🔫 Big Tex Gun Show | Day 2 | 10:00am - 4:00pm Final day of the regional gun show. 💲 ~$10 admission 📍 Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center 🔗 Big Tex Gun Show schedule

🎭 RENT | Closing Performance at the Bastrop Opera House | 2:30pm matinee Last chance to catch RENT at the Opera House. 18+ only. 📍 Bastrop Opera House 🔗 Tickets

🏍️ American Legion Riders Texas State Rally | Final Day | All day Closing day of the three-day rally. 📍 American Legion Post 533 🔗 Texas ALR State Rally page

🌲 Bastrop State Park Interpretive Center Open | All day Brand-new educational exhibits at the renovated Historic Golf Shelter. 💲 Park entry fee 📍 Bastrop State Park 🔗 Event page

🌮 Casa Chapala Bastrop | Cinco de Mayo | 11:00am - 10:00pm "Grab your best fiesta hat and join us for Cinco de Mayo!" Live music on the patio plus all-day specials: Taco Tuesday all day, $5 margaritas (any flavor), 2 tacos chicken fajita or carnitas $5, $5 soft-serve margaritas, $5 tequila shots. 📍 1800 Walnut St, Bastrop, TX 78602

🍕 Cinco de Mayo at Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard | All day Specials all day: $5 Classic Margs, $6 Prickly Pear Margs, $6 Mexican Candy Shots, 20% off Pizza of the Month. 📍 601 Chestnut St, Bastrop

🎺 Mariachi Los Viajeros at The Old Town Restaurant and Bar | 6:00pm "Mark your calendar! Mariachi Los Viajeros will be celebrating Cinco De Mayo with us!" Public Facebook event. 📍 931 Main St, Bastrop, TX 78602 🔗 Old Town Restaurant Facebook

🎺 Mariachi Los Viajeros at The Grace Miller "Gracie's" | 5:00pm - 6:00pm The mariachi tour starts at Gracie's before heading down the street to Old Town for the evening set. 🔗 The Grace Miller Facebook

☕ Cedar's Coppice | Spring Menu | open all week Their current spring menu has Cinco-aligned picks worth knowing about: Churro Danishes, Pineapple Crumb Bars, Mexican Chocolate Muffins, Hibiscus Citrus Refresher, Coconut Lime Cold Brew, and Cinnamon Mocha. 📍 709 Chestnut St, Bastrop 🔗 Cedar's Coppice Facebook

(Are you a restaurant owner with another confirmed Cinco event? Reply to this email and we'll feature it on our website)

📚 Smithville Public Library | Little Bookworms Storytime | 10:30am Weekly Wednesday storytime for the youngest readers in Bastrop County. Reading, singing, dancing, crafts, and other activities for preschool-aged bookworms. (Heads up: the third Wednesday of most months features a guest reader from Texas Parks & Wildlife.) 💲 FREE 📍 Smithville Public Library, 507 Main St, Smithville

🧵 Stitched | A Historic Quilt Exhibit | through May Historic and modern quilts celebrating the artistry of Bastrop County quilters in the Special Exhibit Room. 📍 Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, 904 Main St

🎟️ Quilt Raffle | Win a $3,000 Granny Square Quilt | drawing May 23 Tickets $5 each or 5 for $20. Thelma's Square is a locally made Granny Square quilt named in honor of the quilter's mother. You don't have to be present to win. 📍 Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center | Tickets in person or call 512-303-0904

🌲 Bastrop State Park | reopens May 2 after annual pool cleaning Hiking, biking, paddling, swimming, and the new Interpretive Center at the Historic Golf Shelter. 💲 $5/adult | kids 12 and under free 📍 Bastrop State Park, 100 Park Rd 1A 🔗 TPWD Bastrop State Park

🖼️ Lost Pines Art Center | classes, gallery, exhibits all week Bird Junction sculpture walking tour outside; rotating exhibits and Glassblowing Silo classes inside. 📍 1204 Chestnut St, Bastrop 🔗 LPAC events

🎨 F.A.M.E. Days | Nest Fest: Birds, Beats & Bazaar | Friday, May 8, 5:00pm - 8:00pm | The next installment of Bastrop's Friday. Art. Market. Entertainment. series takes flight with a birds-and-nature theme. Local artisans, live music, and the bazaar vibe that makes First Fridays in downtown Bastrop special. | 📍 Historic Downtown Bastrop |

💇 The Chateau Glo Grand Opening | Elgin | Saturday, May 9 at 10:00am | Grand opening of a new salon in Elgin with curated local vendors (Truckside Tilly Designs, Drahova Dustin, Sunny Nefta Juice, and more), indulgent treats, exclusive goodies, photo booth, and luxurious raffles. All friends and family welcome. Free vendor spots still available - message Chateau Glo on Facebook if interested. | 📍 191 US 290, Elgin, TX 78621

🌹 Girls Night Out | Mamma Mia! at The Boring Bodega | Saturday, May 9 at 6:00pm | $5 rosé special, Mamma Mia inspired Greek eats, all ages welcome | 📍 The Boring Bodega, 865 FM-1209, Bastrop

🚂 Family Make N Take | GTB - Textile Tangle | Saturday, May 9 from 11:00am - 2:00pm | Pack a wagon, design a "Gone to Bastrop" historic-style bumper sticker. Included with Museum admission, kids 12 and under free. | 📍 Bastrop County Museum

🏃‍♀️ Wildflower Trail Races at Bastrop State Park | May 9-10 | 5K, 10K, half marathon, plus a 1-Mile Mother's Day Family Walk and Kids Run on Sunday

🎻 Music in the Museum | Jamie & the Fiddler | Saturday, May 16 from 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Live Americana, bluegrass, classic country, and originals in the Museum's Special Exhibit Room. FREE.

🏎️ Rally Ranch Classic RallySprint 2026 | Saturday, May 16 | All-day rally car festival at Rally Ranch in Dale, Texas | $10 adult spectator pass, kids free

🧩 Bastrop Opera House next show opens May 22 | The next production at the Opera House opens the weekend of May 22 (mature audiences)

🎟️ Quilt Raffle Drawing | Thelma's Square | Saturday, May 23 at the Museum

🏆 2026 Western Day Golf Tournament | Elgin | June 25-27 (Western Days returns)

📰 Bastrop | Bastrop State Park reopens this Saturday May 2 after a 5-day closure for annual pool cleaning. If you've been waiting on that first paddle, hike, or campsite of the season, this is your weekend. 🔗 Bastrop State Park (TPWD)

📰 Bastrop | The Bastrop County Historical Society hosts the Airing of the Quilts this Saturday, an event designed to celebrate local heritage and craft. Events Manager Candice McClendon told us, "Come out for what is sure to be a delightful start of an annual event that celebrates local heritage and craft." Free and open to the public Saturday May 2 from 10am-3pm in downtown Bastrop. 🔗 Airing of the Quilts event page

📰 Elgin | Music in the Park is back every Friday night in April and May at Veterans Memorial Park. Each week features a different band or artist across a range of genres. May lineup (all 7:00pm starts): 5/1 The Cove, 5/8 Thomas Family, 5/15 Salt Flat Blvd., 5/22 Twisted Round, 5/29 The Tiarras. Food trucks, vendors, and activities on site — bring lawn chairs, drinks, snacks, and friends. Sponsored by Elgin Main Street, Downtown Elgin Inc., Friends of Elgin Parks, Friends of Elgin Library, and City of Elgin, TX. 🔗 Music in the Park Series (City of Elgin)

📰 Bastrop County | Hundreds of veteran riders descend on Bastrop this weekend for the American Legion Riders Texas State Rally May 1-3. Hosted at American Legion Post 533, the rally raises funds for the American Legion Veterans and Children Foundation. Expect more motorcycle traffic on Loop 150 and the back roads. 🔗 Hundreds of veterans to ride into Bastrop May 1-3 (Community Impact)

The Bastrop Current is your weekly community guide for Bastrop County, Texas — covering Bastrop, Smithville, Elgin, McDade, Paige, and Cedar Creek. Know of an event or business we should spotlight? Reply to this email and let us know!

See y'all next Thursday. 🌲

- Marilyn Bastrop Current

Know a neighbor who'd love a free weekly guide to Bastrop County, Texas? Forward this email or share your unique referral link.

Share Bastrop Current →Refer 5 friends to Bastrop Current and you’ll be entered into our monthly drawing.