Howdy, Hutto. After this weekend’s rain, it’s nice to see the grass looking a little less thirsty. But guess what? Olde Tyme Days is Saturday, so if you’re new to Hutto or haven’t been before, this is one event you’ll want to check out.

We’re also following up on last week’s City Council meeting, with updates on data centers, potential grocery space, new developments, and roads.

And how about those Hippos? After a record-breaking win, they face undefeated Cedar Park this Friday. Hippo Nation, let’s show up and keep this season rolling.

Thanks for stopping by. Let’s get into it.

Quick local updates from around town.

Olde Tyme Days Returns | Hutto’s 41st annual festival returns to the Co-Op District this Saturday, October 10, from 10 a.m.–11 p.m., with live music, a car show, local vendors, food, and kids’ activities.

East Wilco Highway | A ribbon cutting this Thursday, October 8, at 10 a.m. will celebrate completion of East Wilco Highway Segment 2, with the ceremony held near Cedar Fork Road.

Fourth Data Center Planned | Skybox and Prologis filed plans for their Hutto campus’s largest data center yet, a proposed 846,300-square-foot building on CR 132 with an estimated cost of $550 million.

Korean BBQ Interest | Mayor Mike Snyder says he met with owners of an unnamed Korean BBQ restaurant interested in downtown Hutto, though the post does not confirm an opening or timeline.

Limmer Square Moves Forward | Mayor Mike Snyder says City Council began the infrastructure financing process for Limmer Square, a planned development with 215 single-family homes, 204 townhomes, 300 apartments, and nine acres of commercial space.

Things to do around town from Tuesday through Saturday.

Fiber Friends
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Tuesday, October 6 • 5:30–6:30 PM
Bring your knitting, crochet, embroidery, or another portable craft for a relaxed evening of stitching and sharing tips; free to attend, with all ages and skill levels welcome.

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

Horror Movie Trivia Night
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Wednesday, October 7 • 7:00 PM
Gather your crew and test your horror movie knowledge, from iconic villains to the final girls who survive them.

Dolce Estivo Wine Tasting Experience
Hutto Wine Bar Patio
Wednesday, October 7 • 7:00–8:00 PM
Taste four Dolce Estivo wines paired with cheeses, meats, and other bites while learning from the owner and winemaker; $65 includes take-home chocolate truffles, with seating limited to 20 guests.

Classic Movie Club: Beetlejuice
Hutto Public Library
Thursday, October 8 • 4:00–6:00 PM
Catch the classic spooky comedy about a ghostly couple and their troublemaking helper; rated PG, with snacks provided.

Broom Making with Jacqueline
The Curious Hippo
Friday, October 9 • 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Create and decorate your own broom for $33; bring a broom handle, and decorating supplies are provided. No experience needed, and advance tickets are encouraged. Upstairs venue is accessible by stairs only.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Parlour at The Curious Hippo
Friday, October 9 • 7:30 PM
Sing along and come in costume for this cult classic; tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door, with popcorn included. Ages 18+; stairs-only access, and no prop throwing.

Sip & Paint: Ghost & Cat
The Curious Hippo
Friday, October 9 • 7:45–10:00 PM
Paint a ghost-and-cat design on a take-home 16×20 framed canvas with guided instruction; all supplies are included, and no experience is needed. Check in downstairs at 7:30 PM; upstairs venue is accessible by stairs only.

October Star Party
Hutto Lake Park
Friday, October 9 • 9:30–11:00 PM
Join Stars & Science Austin for free, family-friendly stargazing; bring a telescope if you have one, with a weather makeup date of Saturday, October 10, at 9:30 PM.

Wicked & Webbed: Stained Glass Workshop
Cumberland Road Art Studio
Saturday, October 10 • 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Create a stained glass Halloween decoration using one of two designs and your choice of colors; the four-hour workshop costs $110.

Hutto’s 41st Annual Olde Tyme Days
Hutto Co-Op District
Saturday, October 10 • 10:00 AM–11:00 PM
Enjoy live music, local vendors, food, a car show, and kids’ activities at this free community festival celebrating Hutto’s traditions and 150th anniversary year.

Banned Book Read-In
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Saturday, October 10 • 12:00–4:00 PM
Bring any book, ebook, or audiobook for a free community read-in during Banned Books Week; drop in for as long as you like, with no assigned reading or required discussion.

Texas vs. Oklahoma Watch Party
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Saturday, October 10 • Kickoff at 2:30 PM
Catch the Red River Rivalry with the sound on and gameday deals.

Hand-Embroidery for Beginners
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Saturday, October 10 • 3:00–4:00 PM
Learn basic embroidery stitches and techniques in this beginner-friendly class; $25 includes materials, and registration is required with limited space available.

The Parlour of Horror: Friday the 13th
The Parlour at The Curious Hippo
Saturday, October 10 • 7:00–9:00 PM
Watch Friday the 13th (1980) while playing Horror Bingo for prizes; $35 includes popcorn and interactive movie-night fun. Ages 18+; advance tickets encouraged, and upstairs venue is accessible by stairs only.

Last Thursday’s City Council meeting stretched late into the night. There is plenty to unpack, regarding shopping centers, data centers, and road work.

Data center expansion approved—with added requirements

Council approved zoning changes for a 140-acre parcel at Hutto’s megasite, allowing data centers and on-site power generation alongside other light-industrial uses. The final vote was 6–0 after council returned from a late-night executive session.

The approval came with additional requirements. Data centers must use closed-loop cooling or similar technology that avoids continuously drawing fresh water from the city’s supply to cool equipment. Council also added provisions addressing the city’s general performance standards, including future amendments, and local sales-tax payments associated with the project.

That cooling requirement matters, but it doesn’t mean a facility would use no water at all.

Another important detail: on-site power could be used continuously, rather than only during an outage. Skybox’s representative said generation could supply primary power if connecting to the electric grid takes too long. Natural gas and fuel cells were among the possibilities discussed.

The proposal, described as “Project Sequel,” would expand beyond Skybox’s existing campus. Its development still depends on tenants, power availability, and additional approvals. Thursday’s zoning vote establishes what can be built; it doesn’t give the entire expansion a firm opening date.

Council’s discussion included concerns about noise, water use, and how future city rules would apply. The added conditions address some of those questions, while the broader conversation about Hutto’s data center standards remains worth following.

A possible grocery store moves forward

Council approved changes to roughly five acres near Ed Schmidt Boulevard and the planned West Live Oak Street extension, removing the residential component and making room for retail—including the grocery-store possibility discussed during the meeting.

No grocery chain or opening date was publicly announced. Other retail layouts remain possible, so this is progress toward a potential store rather than a confirmed new grocery destination.

Council also kept infrastructure costs in the conversation. The approval requires the developer to pay a proportionate share of the West Live Oak extension, along with applicable impact fees.

The layout could affect existing trees. A single grocery building could receive an exemption from tree-preservation requirements, with the city given an opportunity to relocate trees. A different retail configuration would have different preservation obligations.

Possible future assistance from the Economic Development Corporation was discussed, but council did not approve a specific grocery incentive that evening.

Limmer Square: 719 homes, and a closer look at the bill

Limmer Square’s plans call for 215 single-family homes, 204 townhomes, 300 apartments, and nine acres of commercial development near Limmer Loop and SH 130.

Council reviewed preliminary financing for the development’s Public Improvement District, or PID, as the process moves toward a November 5 assessment hearing.

Here’s a simple explanation: a PID helps pay for infrastructure by placing additional assessments on properties within the district. Those assessments would repay bonds used to fund improvements such as roads, drainage, and wastewater infrastructure.

The preliminary Area 1 financing model includes roughly $17 million in bonds and about $13 million in developer contributions, with repayment spread over 30 years.

The city’s financial adviser said those bonds would not be backed by Hutto’s general fund, city property-tax revenues, or utility revenues. Repayment would come from assessments within Area 1.

That distinction is important. The debt would sit with the district’s properties, and future owners there would pay the assessments in addition to ordinary taxes.

The preliminary model estimated an average annual assessment of approximately $2,894 for a house or townhome, using an assumed average value of $310,000. That is a planning estimate, not a guaranteed bill for every property.

Final assessment and bond ordinances were anticipated for November 5, with financing targeted to close before Thanksgiving. The presentation anticipated the first assessment bills going out in October 2027 and becoming due in January 2028.

Road updates: what’s moving, and what’s taking longer

The infrastructure report offered several updates worth keeping on your radar:

One takeaway from the report: having a road designed doesn’t necessarily mean construction is funded or ready to begin.

Tech & Trade advances, with developer-funded infrastructure

Council approved a package of agreements and land-use changes for the Hutto Tech & Trade Center, a proposed development of approximately 800,000 square feet of light-industrial, office, and warehouse space east of SH 130 and west of Ed Schmidt Boulevard.

The approvals include annexing an additional 18.733 acres and moving a planned connecting road south into the development.

The developer’s obligations include building a two-lane connecting road with sidewalks on both sides, drainage improvements, and two left-turn lanes on Ed Schmidt. Sewer improvements would include an oversized line and work at the Emory lift station, providing capacity for surrounding development as well.

In exchange, the developer would receive specified fee credits. Staff said the infrastructure costs exceed those credits, and council tied credits in the amended western agreement to the current fee schedule.

City fire services remain in the planning stage

Council authorized notifying Williamson County ESD No. 3 of Hutto’s intent to provide fire services in newly annexed areas. It also authorized securing relevant website services.

The distinction made during the meeting was clear: this was not a final decision to launch an operating city fire department.

Cost analysis, a fire-service plan, and additional council decisions are still needed. Any transfer of service territory also involves the ESD.

Mayor Mike Snyder voiced strong support for city-run fire services, but there are still more decisions—and more financial details—to see before this all becomes a reality.

Could hotel-tax money help the amphitheater?

Council voted 7–0 to seek an attorney general opinion, through the county attorney, about using hotel occupancy tax funds for improvements to Brushy Creek Amphitheater, including sound and stage work.

This is a request for guidance about an available funding source. No specific improvement budget was approved, and proposed work would still return to council.

A few more updates worth knowing

Sports news and updates from Hippo Nation.

Two records, five straight wins | The Hippos made school history in Friday’s 68–10 win over Vista Ridge. Sophomore quarterback Micah Antoun threw eight touchdown passes, and Jaiden Fields caught seven of them, both single-game school records.

Antoun finished with 442 passing yards, while Fields hauled in 11 catches for 201 yards. They broke records set by Will Hammond and Alex Green against Temple back in 2023. Dylan Owens added 236 receiving yards and a touchdown, and Hutto’s defense kept Vista Ridge scoreless until the fourth quarter.

The win puts our Hippos at 5–1 overall and 2–0 in district.

Next up: an undefeated opponent | Hutto heads to Gupton Stadium on Friday, October 9, at 7 PM to face 6–0 Cedar Park, fresh off a 37–23 win over Rouse. It’s a big early test in the district title race, and a chance for the Hippos to hand the Timberwolves their first loss while keeping their own winning streak rolling.

Also this week | Varsity golf competes at Mill Creek Golf Course in Salado on Wednesday at 8 AM, and varsity volleyball visits Cedar Park High School on Friday at 6:30 PM.

Get schedules, scores, and more at huttoathletics.com

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

Food & Drink | Buffalo Wild Wings • 7 Brew Coffee • El Pollo Rico • Antioch Pizza Shop • HTeaO • Munch Munch Waffles & More • Jason’s Deli • LongHorn Steakhouse • Pepper Lunch • Olive Garden

Shops & Services | Heritage Bloom Fiber Co. • Petco • Dollar Tree • Bitewise Orthodontics • Glam Nails & Head Spa • Toyota of Hutto • Sprouts Farmers Market

Fitness & Hotels | Crunch Fitness • Everhome Suites • Residence Inn by Marriott

Major Projects & Employers | Colovore • Skybox/Prologis expansion • Blue Origin (proposed) • TSTC Manufacturing Technologies Center • Hutto Tech & Trade Center (planned) • Limmer Square (planned) • Cottonwood Marketplace • The Gateway at Hutto (proposed) • New Hutto Area Chamber Headquarters

Mostly accurate forecast until Texas decides otherwise.

Sunshine starts the week, with highs holding around 87 through Thursday before easing into the mid-80s for the weekend. Rain chances stay low, topping out at 20% Thursday. Saturday looks promising for Olde Tyme Days, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 84.

☀️ Tue: Sunny, upper 80s
🌤️ Wed: Mostly sunny, upper 80s
🌤️ Thu–Fri: Partly cloudy, mid-to-upper 80s
☀️ Weekend: Mostly sunny, mid-80s

👉 TL;DR: Warm and mostly sunny

That’s it for this week, neighbor.
See you next Tuesday.

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