Howdy, Hutto. It’s a big week if you follow Texas high school football. The Hippos open the 2026 season at home Friday night against Harker Heights, bringing Friday night lights back to Hutto Memorial Stadium.

There’s plenty happening off the field, too. The Curious Hippo is celebrating its grand opening all weekend with events Friday through Sunday, so maybe we’ll see you there.

And yes, we’re still surviving the late-August heat. Triple digits have made this stretch feel especially brutal, but fall will be here before we know it.

Thanks, as always, for stopping by. Let’s get into this week’s newsletter.

Quick local updates from around town.

Blue Origin Agreement | Williamson County approved an incentive agreement for a proposed Blue Origin project in Hutto that could bring a $650 million investment, up to 2,000 jobs, about 1 million square feet of aerospace and defense facilities, and new workforce partnerships with Hutto ISD and area colleges.

Future Fire Station | Hutto Fire Rescue has secured property for future Station 6 along CR 132 near CR 134 and the Megasite, with construction timing still dependent on utilities, infrastructure and the pace of development in east Hutto.

Hutto ISD Growth | Superintendent Jeni Neatherlin says Hutto ISD is preparing for continued enrollment growth with new campuses, teacher retention incentives and a balanced budget adopted for the first time in six years.

County Burn Ban | Williamson County issued a countywide burn ban starting Aug. 18 due to worsening drought conditions, restricting most outdoor burning and carrying fines of up to $500 for violations.

Downtown Makeover | Hutto General Store has a fresh new exterior paint job, giving the longtime downtown shop a brighter new look.

Creekside HS Progress | Hutto ISD’s Bond Oversight Committee toured construction progress at Creekside High School, the district’s second high school, which remains scheduled to open in fall 2027.

Things to do around town from Wednesday through Sunday.

Fiber Friends
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Tuesday, August 25 • 5:30–6:30 PM
Bring your current knitting, crochet, embroidery, or other portable craft for a free, laid-back evening of stitching, drinks, and conversation; all ages and skill levels are welcome.

International Dog Day Celebration
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Wednesday, August 26 • 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
Celebrate International Dog Day with dog-themed books, café specials, a kids craft at 11:00 AM, plush dog adoptions, discounts on dog-themed books, and a social media photo challenge for a chance to win a bookstore gift card.

Hutto Farmers Market
350 Ed Schmidt Blvd.
Wednesday, August 26 • 3:00–7:00 PM
Local farmers, ranchers, artisans, food vendors, coffee, handmade goods, and more.

The Crafty Corner: Colorful Coasters
Hutto Public Library
Wednesday, August 26 • 5:00–6:30 PM
Adults 18+ can make a colorful coaster during this relaxed library craft night, with supplies provided while they last; no admittance after 5:45 PM.

Free Bingo
Hutto Wine Bar
Wednesday, August 26 • 6:30–7:30 PM
Stop by for a free round of bingo and a midweek night out at Hutto Wine Bar.

Senior Bunco
Hutto Discovery Church
Thursday, August 27 • 1:00–3:00 PM
Seniors can enjoy an afternoon of Bunco, conversation, and friendly competition at this recurring Parks & Recreation social held every fourth Thursday.

Bookbinding Workshop
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Thursday, August 27 • 5:00–6:30 PM
Learn traditional bookbinding techniques and create your own hand-bound journal in this beginner-friendly workshop; materials are included, and registration is $35 per person with limited space.

Blind Tasting
Hutto Wine Bar
Thursday, August 27 • 5:00–8:00 PM
Put your palate to the test during Hutto Wine Bar’s blind tasting event Thursday evening.

Sip & Scribble: Session 3
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Thursday, August 27 • 6:30–9:00 PM
Unwind with an evening of coloring, craft beer, and conversation at Cottonwood Creek Brewery’s latest Sip & Scribble session.

The Curious Hippo Grand Opening (Day 1)
The Curious Hippo
Friday, August 28 • 12:00–10:00 PM
Kick off grand opening weekend with 90s witch-themed movies, gothic portraits, treats, shopping, and more throughout the day.

Live Music: Perry Savard
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Friday, August 28 • 7:00 PM
Perry Savard performs live Friday night at Cottonwood Creek Brewery.

World Video Game Day
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Saturday, August 29 • 10:00 AM–8:00 PM
Gamers of all ages can celebrate with themed drinks, discounts, video game-inspired books and merch, and plenty of fandom fun throughout the day.

Cocktail Brunch
Grapes & Rye
Saturday, August 29 • 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Enjoy cocktails and brunch during Grapes & Rye's weekly Saturday brunch.

The Curious Hippo Grand Opening (Day 2)
The Curious Hippo
Saturday, August 29 • 12:00–10:00 PM
Saturday includes the Raven Queen’s Gothic Tea Party, painting and broom-making classes, flash tattoos, a full-day tarot takeover, movies, treats, and shopping; some activities require advance tickets.

Crochet for Beginners
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Saturday, August 29 • 12:00–1:00 PM
Learn the basics of crochet in this beginner-friendly class with materials included; first-time students receive a take-home crochet kit, and registration is $20 per person.

Pints & Planters: Vol. 2
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Saturday, August 29 • 1:00–4:00 PM
Sip, paint, and plant your own custom succulent planter; the $28.45 ticket includes a planter, succulent, painting supplies, and one house beer.

Middle Earth D&D RPG Campaign (18+)
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Saturday, August 29 • 1:30–5:30 PM
Join an ongoing Middle-Earth-inspired tabletop campaign focused on exploration, creative problem-solving, and immersive storytelling; tickets are $10 per session.

Dungeons & Dragons One-Shot Adventure
The Story Emporium & Bookshop, 202 U.S. 79
Saturday, August 29 • 3:00–7:30 PM
New and experienced players can jump into a self-contained D&D adventure with pre-generated characters, dice, materials, snacks, and guided gameplay; tickets are $25 per person and space is limited.

Live Music: Scott Rives
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Saturday, August 29 • 6:30 PM
Scott Rives takes the stage Saturday evening for live music at Cottonwood Creek Brewery.

The Curious Hippo Grand Opening (Day 3)
The Curious Hippo
Sunday, August 30 • 12:00–6:00 PM
Wrap up grand opening weekend with more movies, workshops, oddities, curiosities, drinks, treats, and shopping at the new downtown Hutto spot.

A quick recap of what Hutto City Council covered last week.

A busy week at City Hall brought movement on fire-service funding, nonprofit support, development rules, and financing plans tied to future growth.

Fire District Talks | City Council voted 6–1 to ask Williamson County to call an election on a proposed 80/20 sales-tax split with ESD No. 3, the emergency services district involved in providing fire service to the Hutto area. This does not mean an election has been scheduled yet — Council’s vote starts the process of asking the County to put the proposal before voters.

Nonprofit Funding | The City has about $210,000 available in its FY27 program that helps fund nonprofits providing services Hutto residents may not otherwise receive from the City. During Thursday’s workshop, Council agreed on a proposed funding breakdown that includes $40,000 set aside for a future community-services facility, while $11,443 remains undecided as staff gathers more information from one applicant; final funding still depends on the annual budget process.

Development Rules Rewrite | Hutto is working on a replacement for its Unified Development Code — essentially the City’s rulebook for how property can be developed. Council scheduled a joint public hearing for Sept. 17 before any replacement is adopted and also directed staff to move sign regulations into a separate section of City code.

Gateway Financing | Council unanimously took two early steps toward creating special financing tools for the proposed Gateway development: scheduling a public hearing on a Public Improvement District and directing staff to prepare a preliminary financing plan for a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone. Neither financing district nor the overall Gateway development agreement received final approval Thursday.

Community Working Groups | The Diversity & Inclusion Commission discussed how its senior, veterans, and small-business working groups could be supported in the next budget, including reducing some outside-consultant expenses and setting aside funding for the groups themselves. The Commission’s proposed budget is expected to go before City Council as part of the Sept. 3 budget process.

Sports news and updates from Hippo Nation.

Friday night lights are officially back. Hutto opens the 2026 football season at home Friday against Harker Heights under first-year head coach Casey Walraven. The Hippos are coming off a 9-3 season and their first playoff win since 2018, while Harker Heights also went 9-3 last year and finished unbeaten in district play.

Tuesday, Aug. 25
Varsity Volleyball vs Hendrickson • 6:30 PM

Thursday–Saturday, Aug. 27–29
Varsity Volleyball @ Forney Tournament
Match times vary

Friday, Aug. 28
Varsity Tennis @ Pflugerville • 4:00 PM
Varsity Football vs Harker Heights • 7:30 PM

Going to the game? Single-game football tickets are available online beginning Aug. 24, and Hutto ISD says athletic tickets are not sold at the gate. Friday is also Hutto’s Freedom Game, with Hippo Nation encouraged to wear red, white, and blue.

Get additional information at huttoathletics.com

A running list of businesses, restaurants, and developments headed our way.

Blue Origin | Proposed $650 million aerospace project could bring up to 2,000 jobs to Hutto.

Heritage Bloom Fiber Co. | 115 East St. • Soft opening planned for Oct. 10.

7 Brew Coffee | 130 Chris Kelley Blvd. • Under construction; opening date TBD.

Buffalo Wild Wings | 2270 Muirfield Bend Dr. • Buildout underway; opening date TBD.

Petco + Dollar Tree | 150 Alliance Blvd. • Both are under development, with opening dates TBD.

Bitewise Orthodontics | The Co-Op District • Opening planned for November 2026.

Pepper Lunch | Sprouts development • Japanese fast-casual restaurant targeting a December 2027 opening.

Also on the way: Toyota of Hutto, ASML, La Dolce Nail Spa, Glam Nails and Head Spa, Jason’s Deli, Antioch Pizza, El Pollo Rico, HTeaO, Munch Munch Waffles & More, Everhome Suites, Sprouts Farmers Market, LongHorn Steakhouse, Residence Inn, Crunch Fitness, and Cottonwood Marketplace.

Hutto’s Next Wave of Growth Is Hiding in the Fine Print

Last week, we dug into a batch of development proposals offering an early look at what could be coming next for Hutto — from new commercial projects to plans that could reshape growing parts of town.

Catch up on last week’s edition →

Mostly accurate forecast until Texas decides otherwise.

The week starts with back-to-back 104° days before a small chance of storms Thursday offers at least a little variety. By the weekend, sunshine returns and highs stay locked in the low 100s, so fall weather will have to wait a little longer.

☀️ Tue–Wed: Mostly sunny and scorching, with highs near 104° and lows around 77–79°
🌩️ Thursday: A chance for afternoon thunderstorms, with a high near 101° and a low around 76°
☀️ Fri–Sat: Mostly sunny to sunny, with highs around 101–102° and lows near 75°
☀️ Sunday: Mostly sunny and still hot, with a high near 101° and a low around 75°

👉 TL;DR: Still brutally hot (and is your grass still alive? asking for a friend…)

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Got something we should include next week? Just reply and let us know.