Slow Down and Come Sit a Spell at Meet Me at the Depot This Fall
There’s something special about a Saturday morning in a small town.
A rocking chair on the porch. Somebody picking a guitar. A game of checkers that lasts longer than expected. An old car parked nearby with an owner who’s more than happy to tell you all about it.
This fall, the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce is bringing all of those things together with Meet Me at the Depot, a new First Saturday series at the Smithville MKT Depot & Railroad Park.
Held on the first Saturday of September, October and November from 9:00 a.m. to noon, Meet Me at the Depot is an invitation to slow down, pull up a chair and spend a little time enjoying the stories, music and railroad heritage that have long been part of Smithville. The 2026 dates are September 5, October 3 and November 7, and admission is free.
Good Stories, Good People and a Front Porch
Smithville’s railroad story is woven deeply into the history of our community. The arrival of the railroad in the late 1800s helped shape the town we know today, and generations of Smithville families have connections to the railroad and the people who worked it.
Meet Me at the Depot creates a place for some of those stories to be shared, not behind glass or tucked away in a history book, but person to person.
Visitors can listen to local residents share porch stories and railroad memories, play checkers and dominoes, wander through a casual classic-car cruise-in, enjoy live music, take a trolley ride, bring the kids for storytelling and grab a cold glass of iced tea or lemonade.
Or you can simply find a chair and sit a spell.
There’s no need to hurry.
They Don’t Make Saturdays Like This Anymore. We Do.
One of the ideas behind Meet Me at the Depot is wonderfully simple: Smithville doesn’t have to manufacture something new when so much of what makes our town special is already here.
The people. The stories. The railroad memories. The cars. The music. The porch. The chance to run into somebody you know, or meet a new friend.
It’s the kind of gathering your grandparents would probably recognize.
And whether you grew up in Smithville or you’re visiting for the first time, everyone is welcome.
Take a Ride on the Ann Powell Express
The Ann Powell Express has become a beloved part of Smithville events over the years, carrying families and visitors through town while honoring the community spirit of the woman for whom it was named.
The trolley’s story dates back to a gift left by Smithville resident Ann Powell and the efforts of local railroad supporters who transformed that gift into something generations of families could enjoy. The trolley made its Smithville debut in 1992 and has been carrying passengers and making memories ever since.
During Meet Me at the Depot, hop aboard and enjoy a little ride around town.
Stay Awhile and Explore Smithville
Once you’re here, there’s no reason to rush home.
Take a walk through downtown, browse the shops, stop for lunch, grab a coffee or something sweet and explore a little more of Smithville. Visit Smithville maintains directories of local shopping and dining options, with everything from antiques and boutiques to barbecue, cafés, bakeries, restaurants and local gathering spots.
That’s really what Meet Me at the Depot is about.
Good people, good stories, and a Saturday morning worth showing up for.
Meet Me at the Depot — Fall 2026
September 5 • October 3 • November 7
9:00 a.m. – Noon
Smithville MKT Depot & Railroad Park
102 NE 1st Street
Smithville, Texas 78957
FREE & OPEN TO EVERYONE
Bring the kids. Bring the grandparents. Bring a story to share.
Or just come sit a spell.