For decades, BBQ fans have been going hog wild about Elgin! This charming central town was proclaimed the Sausage Capital of Texas and is home to two world-famous sausage makers: Southside Market, the oldest BBQ joint in the state, and Meyer’s Elgin Sausage.
Now, with a population of just under 13,000 people and growing, the only hotter thing than the sausage in Elgin is the housing market as builders and young families flock to the area, situated less than 40 minutes east of Austin.
“The hottest housing market in [the] Austin-Round Rock metro area, during this year’s second quarter, is also the target of homebuilders – Elgin,” reported the Austin Business Journal in July 2025. They noted that the average sale price for houses in Elgin jumped 57 percent from $339,590 in the second quarter last year to $532,419 in the second quarter of 2025.
You could say that Elgin is growing hog wild, and the best way to experience this up-and-coming city and its historic downtown district is at the 38th Annual Hogeye Festival slated for Oct. 23-25, 2025.
“Brought to you by the City of Elgin Main Street Program, the annual Hogeye Festival is a downtown street festival held on the 4th Saturday of October. Hogeye celebrates community, family, famous Elgin Sausage, and all things swine!” explains the City of Elgin.
How the Railroad Put Elgin on the Map
How Elgin’s biggest festival became Hogeye requires a look at the roots of the town and how the railroad put Elgin on the map.
The Houston and Texas Central Railroad (a forerunner of the Southern Pacific Railroad) established a stop in the area in 1872, only after a major flood along the Colorado River scrapped plans of running the tracks along the riverbank 10 miles east of what is now Elgin.
Originally called Glasscock (after a Republic of Texas soldier who lived in the area in the 1830s), the stop was renamed Elgin after railroad land commissioner Robert Morris Elgin.
Elgin’s original one-square-mile area placed the train depot in the center of town, which drew its early residents from nearby Perryville, also called Hogeye.
“The name Hogeye was given to the stage stop at the Litton home where the community dances were held and according to legend, the fiddler knew only one tune, ‘Hogeye,’ which he played over and over as the crowd danced on the puncheon floor,” says the City of Elgin history account.
In 1885, a second rail line was added in the area, the Taylor, Elgin, and Bastrop Railroad. This led the population to grow to 1,100 by 1890, with eight passenger trains stopping daily and a booming freight business of cotton, wool, and livestock.
Elgin was incorporated in 1901, and growth occurred slowly, with the town’s population remaining under 5,000 almost 100 years later. By the mid-1950s, the Elgin area had three big brick plants, earning Elgin the nickname, the Brick Capital of the Southwest.
Annual Hogeye Festival in Elgin Gets Bigger and Better
The 38th Annual Hogeye Festival (Oct. 23-25) will once again bring the community together for a fun-filled celebration of family, music, and the city’s famous sausage.
Explore Bastrop County reports regarding this year’s festival:
- The fun kicks off Thursday, Oct. 23, with the Hogeye Stroll, the Pearls Before Swine Art Show Gala, the Hogalicious Dessert Contest, and the always-hilarious Hog Calling Contest at Smash Daddies.
- On Friday, Oct. 24, enjoy a free street dance from 8 p.m. to midnight on Depot Street.
- Saturday’s festival (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) offers handmade arts and crafts, live music on two stages, food vendors, the BBQ Pork Cook-Off, Cow Patty Bingo, People’s Choice Car & Bike Show, kids’ activities, and the Lindsy Kay Wing Children’s Pet Parade. Festival-goers can also admire vintage farm equipment and cheer on the Sowpremes.
The Elgin Courier said last year that the Hogeye Festival continues to get bigger and better each year.
“Thousands flocked downtown to revel in music, food and camaraderie, filling the streets with an unmistakable sense of community spirit,” reported the local newspaper. “By midday, the city was bustling with visitors savoring Elgin’s unique charm and growing appeal.”
BBQ (especially Sausage!) is Always on the Menu in Elgin
Elgin has two legendary BBQ establishments located just four minutes from each other on Highway 290!
Southside Market traces its start back to 1886 when William J. Moon (from nearby Hog Eye) opened a meat market adjacent to the railroad tracks.
“People could get off the train while it was taking on water for steam and grab a quick bite. Before refrigeration, meat markets had to sell or smoke meat before it spoiled,” explained the Bullock Museum. “In true German tradition, Mr. Moon ground his beef trimmings, added spices and salt, and stuffed the mixture into a natural casing. The first Elgin sausage was served.”
Southside was joined by Meyer’s Elgin Smokehouse when Hermina and Rudolph Meyer opened a small drive-in grocery in 1949 and sold raw sausage made from their German family recipe. Meyer’s has become a staple at grocery stores in Texas and has won accolades at national contests.
“Locals still argue about which is the best sausage — Southside or Meyer’s. Southside's sausage is usually made from beef, and Meyer's is from pork. Regardless of your preference, both sausages played a role in inspiring the Texas Legislature to proclaim Elgin the “The Sausage Capital of Texas,” concluded the Bullock Museum article.
Other Events and Year-Round Activities in Elgin
Besides BBQ and the annual Hogeye Festival, Elgin has plenty of activities and events year-round for visitors, such as:
- Historic Downtown Area: Walkable district of 14 blocks of preserved commercial and industrial buildings constructed mostly of bricks locally produced between 1872 and 1947.
- H & TC Freight Depot (114 Central Ave.): The oldest building in Elgin was built in 1872 (renovated in 2001) and now houses the Greater Elgin Chamber of Commerce and the Visitor’s Center.
- Elgin Depot Museum (14 Depot St.): Located in the historic Union Depot (1903), this museum hosts an extensive archive collection, including photographs of the community.
- Texas Farm Mural (21 N Ave C): Check out the beautiful mural titled Texas Farm, by Julius Woeltz, located in the Elgin Post Office. It was created in 1940 as part of the Federal Arts Project.
- Sip, Shop and Stroll: The second Thursday of each month, you can sip a little wine and shop as you stroll through the stores in Historic Downtown Elgin.
- Elgin Arts & Cultural Festival: Held annually during the second weekend of May, this 3-day festival features music, culture, art, activities, and fun for the whole family.
- Music in the Park: Historic downtown Elgin’s Veterans Memorial Park hosts free live music every Friday in April and May.
- Annual Western Days: Elgin celebrated its 56th Annual Western Days in June. The festival week includes pageants, a carnival, a tennis court dance, a parade down Main Street, and a festival in the park.
- Original Elgin Rodeo: This pro rodeo event was traditionally held in July but has been moved to September.
From historic buildings to fun festivals to epic barbecue, Elgin has something for all visitors.
-1.png?width=500&name=Untitled%20design%20(37)-1.png)
