Your Weekend in Smithville: A Month-by-Month Adventure Guide

January: New Year, New Trails

Buescher State Park: Start your year with First Day Hikes on scenic trails. January's cool weather makes it perfect for tackling the 7.7-mile Buescher Hiking Trail without the summer heat. Spot wintering birds and enjoy campfires at the group pavilion.

Local Highlight: Smithville's Resolution Run 5K (usually second Saturday) brings the community together with a fun run through historic downtown followed by coffee and kolaches at local cafes.

Day Trip: Drive 25 minutes to Bastrop for their Pine Street Market Days, featuring antiques, crafts, and live music every third Saturday.

Hidden Gem: January is prime time for eagle watching at Lake Bastrop. Pack binoculars and a thermos of hot chocolate.

February: Romance and Rodeo Season

Buescher State Park: The park's 30-acre lake offers peaceful paddling perfect for couples. Rent kayaks and explore hidden coves where wildflowers start their early bloom.

Local Events:

• Valentine's Evening at Lost Pines Wine
• Smithville School Livestock Show (late February) - experience authentic Texas youth rodeo culture
• Monthly Cars & Coffee at Vernon L Richards Riverbend Park

Day Trip: Historic Gonzales (30 minutes) hosts their Hearts & Crafts Market. Tour the "Come and Take It" monument and enjoy small-town romance.

Perfect Weekend: Saturday morning hike, afternoon wine tasting, Sunday antiquing in nearby La Grange.

March: Wildflower Wonderland

Buescher State Park: Peak wildflower season begins! The park road becomes a photographer's paradise with bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, and pink evening primrose. Reserve camping spots early for the annual Wildflower Day.

Can't-Miss Event: Smithville Music Festival (mid-March) transforms downtown into an all-day celebration with multiple stages, food trucks, and local artisans.

Day Trip: The Antique Rose Emporium in Independence (30 minutes) explodes with spring blooms. Perfect for garden inspiration and Instagram-worthy photos.

Family Fun: Youth baseball season opens at Vernon L Richards Park—grab dinner from Pocket's Grille and enjoy America's pastime.

April: Festival Season Begins

Buescher State Park: Excellent bass fishing as waters warm. The park hosts Junior Ranger programs every Saturday—perfect for kids earning their badges.

Smithville's Biggest Weekend: The Annual Jamboree (usually third weekend) features:

• Carnival rides at Veterans Park
• BBQ cook-off competition
• Live music on multiple stages
• Parade down Main Street
• Arts and crafts vendors

Day Trip: Shiner Brewery (25 minutes) for tours and tastings in their beer garden. Stop at the Spoetzl Brewery for authentic Texas beer history.

Easter Special: Community Easter Egg Hunt at MLK Park brings hundreds of families together.

May: River Season Opens

Buescher State Park: Swimming season begins at the park lake. The covered pavilions are perfect for graduation parties and family reunions.

On the Water: Colorado River becomes party central:

• Kayak rentals at Smithville Recreation Area
• Stand-up paddleboarding lessons
• Fishing tournaments most weekends

Local Tradition: Cinco de Mayo celebration downtown with street tacos, mariachi bands, and folklorico dancers.

Day Trip: Fayette Lake (20 minutes) offers some of the state's best bass fishing plus a beach area rarely crowded even on weekends.

June: Summer Nights Begin

Buescher State Park: Night hikes reveal nocturnal wildlife—armadillos, owls, and if you're lucky, flying squirrels. The park's Dark Sky designation makes for incredible stargazing.

Downtown Comes Alive:

• First Friday Art Walk launches summer series
• Smithville Public Library's outdoor movie nights
• Farmers Market expands to twice weekly

Day Trip: Round Top (30 minutes) for antique shopping in air-conditioned comfort, plus kolache runs to neighboring Ellinger.

Beat the Heat: Rocky Hill Ranch mountain bike trails open early (7 AM) for riders seeking challenging terrain before temperatures soar.

July: Patriotic Pride

Buescher State Park: Reserve early for July 4th camping—the park fills up with families creating traditions. Evening programs include guided constellation tours.

Fourth of July Spectacular:

• Morning: Patriotic Parade on Main Street
• Afternoon: Watermelon eating contest at Riverbend Park
• Evening: Fireworks over the Colorado River (best viewing from MLK Park)

Cool Escapes:

• Morning tubing on the Colorado
• Afternoon movies at the restored 1930s Tiger Theatre
• Evening ice cream at Chick's Cafe

Day Trip: Washington-on-the-Brazos (30 minutes) for "Christmas in July" at the Star of the Republic Museum.

August: End-of-Summer Adventures

Buescher State Park: Early morning photography walks capture sunrise through pine forests. The park's CCC-built structures provide cool stone refuges during peak heat.

Back-to-School Traditions:

• Smithville School Supply Drive & Community BBQ
• End-of-Summer Splash Bash at Veterans Park Pool
• Youth Football Kickoff jamboree

Wine Country Day Trip: Visit three wineries within 30 minutes—Red Rooster, Whistling Duck, and Cedar Creek Vineyards for Texas wine tasting without the crowds.

Indoor Alternative: Smithville Heritage House Museum offers air-conditioned local history tours every Saturday.

September: Fall Preview

Buescher State Park: Monarch butterfly migration begins—the park hosts weekend tagging programs where families can participate in citizen science.

Local Favorite: Smithville Historic Homes Tour (third Saturday) opens private residences and shares stories of the town's founding families.

Day Trip Options:

• Bastrop's Lost Pines Forest for mountain biking
• Elgin for Hot Sausage Festival
• La Grange for the Fayette County Fair

Friday Night Lights: Smithville Tigers football creates electric hometown atmosphere—the whole town turns out in blue and white.

October: Halloween Haven

Buescher State Park: Fall camping at its finest with cooler nights perfect for campfires. Halloween Weekend features trick-or-treating between campsites and ranger-led ghost story sessions.

October Highlights:

• Pumpkin patch at Old Town Farm (10 minutes away)
• Downtown Trick-or-Treat brings thousands to Main Street
• Haunted History Walking Tours every Friday night
• Scarecrow contest displays throughout downtown

Fall Festival Circuit: Every small town within 30 minutes hosts fall festivals—create your own festival hop from Bastrop to Giddings to La Grange.

November: Gratitude & Gathering

Buescher State Park: Peak fall colors in the Lost Pines create stunning hiking backdrops. Thanksgiving camping has become a local tradition with potluck dinners at group sites.

Community Traditions:

• Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Park
• Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5K/10K
• Holiday Market kickoff at the Smithville Recreation Center

Day Trip: Brenham's Poinsettia Celebration (30 minutes) at Ellison's Greenhouses—acres of holiday colors.

Black Friday Alternative: Skip the mall madness for antiquing along Highway 71—every small town offers treasures without crowds.

December: Small-Town Christmas Magic

Buescher State Park: Christmas Bird Count brings birders from across Texas. Mild winter weather means hiking without heavy coats—perfect for working off holiday meals.

Holiday Spectacular:

• Lighted Christmas Parade (first Saturday)
• Christmas on the Colorado with Santa arriving by boat
• Historic Downtown Window Display Contest
• Community Christmas Carol sing-along
• New Year's Eve Street Dance

Day Trip: La Grange's Courthouse Christmas Display, voted "Best Small Town Christmas" multiple years running.

Christmas Morning Tradition: Many Prairie Smithville families walk to Buescher State Park for the annual Christmas morning nature walk—hot cocoa provided.