Visit Bastrop this Holiday Season for Small Business Shopping and More

Be sure to visit Bastrop, Texas for a sleigh full of family-friendly holiday fun with events like Wassail Fest and the Lost Pines Christmas Lighted Parade, and show your support for their local merchants as you shop ‘till your drop’ on Small Business Saturday. You won’t want to miss the numerous festive celebrations and small-town traditions that are guaranteed to delight visitors of all ages.

Wassail Fest

Wassail Fest will happen in downtown Bastrop this November 30th, from 4-8pm. In case you’re wondering what a Wassail is, it’s a hot, mulled cider. And on this free event, you can stop by the downtown Bastrop tent to collect your Wassail tasting cup, along with a shopping tote and a map of participating businesses. Each participating business creates their own wassail version. You can carry it as you stroll through Bastrop’s downtown and pop in and out of stores to do your holiday shopping.

Why does Bastrop hold this event and particularly on this day? Well, November 30th is also Small Business Saturday, a day to celebrate and support small businesses in Bastrop and recognize their community impact. The main purpose of Wassail Fest is to create a unique holiday shopping experience and encourage people to start their holiday shopping in Bastrop’s downtown as well as raise exposure to these businesses.

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday takes place annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving when people say their “thank yous” and are in the giving spirit. This event encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick-and-mortar businesses that are small and local.

American Express founded Small Business Saturday in 2010 to encourage consumers to shop small during the holiday season. Today, Small Business Saturday is co-sponsored by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and has become an important part of small businesses’ busiest shopping season. Historically, spending among U.S. consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday reached an estimated $17 billion last year, according to the 2023 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey.

We hope that residents of Bastrop consider showing their support and shopping locally. This meaningful day can act as an excuse to treat yourself to some of Bastrop’s favorite local mom-and-pop shops, independent retailers, restaurants, cafes, and service providers while giving back at the same time. 

Lost Pines Christmas Lighted Parade

There are more than 130 participants in this year’s Lost Pines Christmas Lighted Parade on December 14th. This annual parade features fanciful floats to fire trucks, unicycles to vintage cars, dancing Honey Bears to dignitaries, and Santa along with his helpers. Lighting up the festivities, the parade begins at approximately 6:00pm and heads south down Main Street. Download and complete the parade packet to participate.

Bastrop River of Lights

Take a stroll down the lighted riverwalk to enjoy the Bastrop River of Lights. It features numerous displays in various seasonal themes lining June Hill Pape Riverwalk. You can access this half-mile promenade by walking down the stairs west of the intersection of Main and Pine Street. Or, you can enter at Fisherman’s Park on Willow Street.

Farm Street Opry, A Country Christmas

Want a little bit of Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry for the holidays without traveling to Tennessee? Then visit our Farm Street Opry. It’s a Country Christmas-themed Opry night where you can celebrate the season with a night of fun and fellowship. Enjoy listening to the Farm Street Opry Band and their guests as they perform great country music and some of your holiday music favorites. Santa will also be making a special appearance so don’t miss it.

Bastrop's Rockin' Holiday Revue at the Bastrop Opera House

Bastrop’s Rockin’ Holiday Revue takes place at the historic Bastrop Opera House. The main stage will be decked out with twinkling lights and festive ornaments. Our charismatic master of ceremonies will be your guide as you enjoy listening to beloved holiday classics via a live band and a cast of incredibly talented local performers

Lost Pines Historic Homes Symposium

Head to downtown Bastrop on December 12th-14th for one of the most wonderful times of the year. For more than 40 years, the Holiday Homes tour has showcased Bastrop’s historic past by opening the doors to our town’s most beautiful homes. And this year, Bastrop is celebrating minority heritage and architecture in the most historic small town in Texas with the Lost Pines Historic Homes Symposium.

Before or after the tour, join us downtown to experience the Lost Pines Christmas magic where you can find treasures and eclectic specialty stores to snag Christmas gifts that are as original and independent as Bastrop. There are plenty of unique shops all around Bastrop for clothing, art, music, and much more. Downtown Bastrop is the perfect place to find some one-of-a-kind gifts and holiday cheer.

Merry on Main

You’re in for a treat at the Bastrop Main Street Program’s annual Merry On Main. It’s a wonderful time to visit downtown where you can write letters to Santa, shop ‘til you drop’, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season.

Shop Small in Bastrop

Be sure to take advantage of all the great holiday events that make Bastrop such a special place to visit. And while you’re enjoying the festivities, shop their local small businesses; you can be confident Bastrop benefits significantly from the restaurants, retail stores, manufacturers, and service providers that create jobs and drive economic growth. Learn more here.