Yesterfest - 2012

Yesterfest is an annual celebration of the history of Bastrop, Texas. This year, Bastrop revisits the 1800’s and their pioneer heritage on Saturday, April 28th, from 9am-5pm in historic downtown Bastrop. Learn about the life of pioneers through demonstrations including cowboy cooking, spinning, weaving, quilting, clayworks, and ironsmithing, as well as historical reenactments. Watch a bank robbery in progress, or experience an old west gunfight! Stroll down Main Street with costumed characters including “saloon gals” and “gunslingers” and imagine what downtown Bastrop would have looked like in the Old West.

There will be live music on 3 stages, Native American Ceremonial Dancing, and a free performance by the Clickety Cloggers at the historic Bastrop Opera House, located at 711 Spring Street, from 1pm-2pm. And for the kids, mosey on over to the “Spring Street Corral,” where the little buckaroos can enjoy games, crafts, train and pony rides, clowns, and a petting zoo. To see photos from past Yesterfests, click here or here.

Yesterfest boasts Bastrop’s largest street market, spanning five blocks and including more than 100 vendors. Shopping abounds as local artisans peddle their goods—artwork, handmade crafts, candles, toys, jewelry, clothing, and more. Plus, many of the downtown businesses will have special sales and events in celebration of Yesterfest, so stop in and see what wonderful things Bastrop has to offer.

Grab a bite to eat at one of Bastrop’s many charming downtown restaurants—Maxine’s, Baxter’s, Le Roux, Gracie’s, Ramos #2, or Cindy’s, just to name a few—or choose a tasty treat from one of the food vendors’ kiosks. Wash it down with some delicious wine from Cripple Creek and Company, where there will be a free wine tasting event with Miranda Lambert’s Red 55 Winery. Sample 7 different wines, enjoy some delicious appetizers, and enter a drawing for a Miranda Lambert Wine Basket including an autographed bottle of wine.

Yesterfest weekend starts and ends with amazing musical celebrations. Kicking off Yesterfest weekend is the El Camino Real Music Festival on Friday, April 27th, from 6:30pm-11pm in downtown Bastrop on Main Street between Chestnut and Spring. This free event features live music from highly acclaimed Tejano bands Conjunto Romo, Rian C, and Son de Rey and dance performances from the award winning dance troupes Corazon de Mexico and Ballet Folklorico Cuauhtl.  Food and beverages will be available for purchase from Deli Depot. Bring your dancing shoes and a chair and enjoy a party under the stars that will have you dancing in the streets!

After Yesterfest concludes, stick around for the “Classic Country Music Show” at the historic BastropOpera House, located at 711 Spring Street, just around the corner from Main Street. The show starts at 7:30pm and features local favorites Larry Lynn, Kathy Danielson, and Terry Lyne Moore with a special appearance of Minnie Pearl (as portrayed by Susan Wendel). These performers will present a two-hour show of Country favorites, with each artist adding their unique style to the music. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased online at http://bastropoperahouse.com/tickets.html or at the door.

Admission to Yesterfest is FREE!!! For more information, visit http://bastropdba.org/yesterfest or view the promotional video here.