It’s clear to say that in a city full of talent, Austinites enjoy live music, even if the conditions are less than ideal. Rain, dust and heat can’t stop us from enjoying what we love most: contributing to the growth of the music industry and our economy. We are so thankful that the City of Austin understands this and continues to promote live music festivals.
Austin Festivals and Events in 2018
- Carnaval Brasileiro
- OUTsider Festival
- Austin Energy Regional Science Festival
- Jugglefest
- Austin Oyster Festival
- Zilker Kite Festival
- SXSW
- Rodeo Austin
- St. Patrick’s Day Festival
- Mighty Texas Dog Walk
- Festival of Colors
- Zilker Garden Festival
- Austin Urban Festival
- Lone Star Round Up
- Austin Fashion Week
- Texas VegFest
- Bluebonnet Festival
- Hounds and Heroes 5K and Family Festival
- Art City Fine Arts Festival
- Fusebox Festival
- Moontower Comedy Festival
- Old Settler’s Music Festival
- Texas Community Music Festival
- Austin Reggae Festival
- Hill Country Film Festival
- Levitation
- Founders Day Festival
- Austin Food and Wine Festival
- Texas Burlesque Festival
- Red Poppy Festival
- Eeyore’s Birthday
- Lake Travis SpringFest
- Buda Wiener Dog Races
- Louisiana Swamp Thing and Crawfish Festival
- iHeartCountry Festival
- CLAIFF21
- JMBLYA
- The Pecan Street Festival
- Finding Euphoria Festival
- West Austin Studio Tour
- Deutschen Pfest
- Saengerrunde Maifest
- Austin Sketch Fest
- Kerrville Folk Festival
- Blues on the Green
- Republic of Texas Biker Rally
- Blanco Lavender Fest
- Juneteenth
- Austin Ice Cream Festival
- Keep Austin Weird Fest and 5K
- Oktoberfest
- Austin City Limits Music Festival
- Texas Mesquite Arts Festival
- Formula 1
- Austin Film Festival
- Food and Wine Festival
- Texas Book Festival
February Festivals in Austin
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Carnaval Brasileiro
February 10
Austin’s Carnaval Brasileiro is one of the biggest Brazilian Carnaval celebrations outside Brazil. Their unique semi-cohesive and conscious environment have been growing like Austin. Brasileiro-style samba, costumes, and wild abandon can all be seen in the heart of Texas. So come out and celebrate Carnaval with your family and friends!
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OUTsider Festival
February 14-18
OUTsider Fest encourages participants to explore beyond their artistic comfort zones and create new interactions between artists, academics, and audience members from around the globe. This non-profit organization celebrates the bold originality and creativity of the LGBTQ+ communities through overlooked and out-of-the-box films, dance, theater, performance art, music, writing and visual art.
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Austin Energy Regional Science Festival
February 21-24
The Austin Energy Regional Science Festival is one of Texas’ largest regional science fairs with almost 3,000 students from 3rd through 12th grade! It encourages and rewards students with innovative research and gives scientists, engineers and other professionals a chance to volunteer in the community.
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Jugglefest
February 23-25
Celebrating its 25th year, Jugglefest is a three-day event full of workshops, games, demonstrations, and shows featuring juggling, unicycling, and related circus arts. There will be 21 hours of workshops, games, door prizes, trick trading, and more! Everyone is welcome to come on down to pick up the basics, learn some new tricks, meet some crazy people or just chill out and watch.
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Austin Oyster Festival
February 24
The executive chef of Eddie V’s will prepare oysters in nearly every way imaginable such as on the half shell, grilled, roasted, fried, in gumbo and more! There will be a bloody mary bar with Deep Eddy featuring specialty cocktails, premium wines, and beers! While enjoying the delicious oysters, there will be live music and prizes!
March Festivals in Austin
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Zilker Kite Festival
March 4
Held each year on the first Sunday in March, the ABC Kite Fest is one of Austin’s most beloved, family-friendly traditions! ABC Kite Fest, held at Zilker Park, creates day-long activities for all ages. Some of these events include a traditional kite-flying contest and showcase, a fun run and MossFest, and a children’s music concert! Soar into spring and join thousands of Austinites for a day filled with kite making, flying and gazing!
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SXSW
March 9-17
If you want to stay in Austin this spring break, then head out to SXSW! The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conferences and Festivals offer the unique convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies.
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Rodeo Austin
March 10-24
Rodeo Austin is a family friendly event and offers something for everyone! The top-ranked athletes in each rodeo event compete in Rodeo Austin for the title of Champion! In an action-packed two hours, fans enjoy extreme competition, bullfighting entertainment, and the fan-favorite Mutton Bustin’. There will be a carnival, shopping, food and a variety of shows and special attractions. Rodeo Austin also hosts over 100 live music performances during the fifteen-day Fair and Rodeo with a variety of music from Texas country to punk rock! Exhibitors from Texas and across the nation travel to Austin each year to show their animals as well!
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St. Patrick’s Day Festival
March 17
Get ready for St. Patrick’s Day by grabbing your friends and family for an epic weekend of Irish celebration! There is a variety of St. Patrick’s Day events going on in Austin from block parties to family-friendly events. Pioneer Farms, hosted by the Celtic Cultural Center, is a festival that honors the patron saint of Ireland in a more traditional way! If block parties with leprechauns and kegs of green beer are more your style, then head to Fourth Street in downtown Austin! So stay close to it all with JW Marriott’s St. Patrick’s Day Package which includes everything you need to help survive the weekend!
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Mighty Texas Dog Walk
March 24
Join thousands of dogs and their best friends for a scenic stroll, free samples galore, and amazing advice from top vets and trainers. This year’s costume & team theme is Carnaval! There will also be lots of cool selfie backdrops for you and your dog! Dogs will also be receiving awards such as Team Raising the Most Donations, Largest Team, and Best Team Costumes. The grand prize winner will receive 2 SXSW wristbands for the individual biggest fundraiser from a team! You can also save $10 when you pre-register online!
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Festival of Colors
March 24
Come out and play with colors and feel like a kid again at the Holi Festival of Colors! There will be live music performed by Dj Dhol Player, Bollywood dance performances, and delicious authentic Indian street food! If you don’t know how to Bollywood dance, there will be dance workshops so you can participate in their famous Holi Rain Dance! The best part is that kids under the age of 10 are free!
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Zilker Garden Festival
March 24-25
Celebrate the Annual Zilker Garden Festival at Zilker Botanical Garden. This is a one-stop, garden shopping destination when spring arrives in Austin and Central Texas. There will be vendors selling a variety of plants and garden-themed arts & crafts, ceramic pottery, custom jewelry, handmade artistic clothing, herbal products, garden hats, and so much more! Not to mention there is also live music, food vendors, and a craft beer garden. A family-friendly event, the garden festival offers something for everyone!
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Austin Urban Festival
March 30-31
The Urban Music Festival is Austin’s only music festival focused on R&B, neo-soul, and hip-hop music! UMF has had over 500 musicians play on the Auditorium Shores, and 10,000 festival attendees come to the festival! This year’s festival will be a fun-filled weekend full of great entertainment and community participation! All are welcomed to join in the fun!
April Festivals in Austin
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Lone Star Round Up
April 6-7
The Lonestar Round Up is an outdoor car show hosted at Travis County Expo Center with a sprawling weekend-long celebration of hot rods and custom cars for the people who build them, drive them! There will be live music, a giant swap meet, vendors, and tons of traditional hot rods and custom cars from across the country! It’s a unique, home-grown and Texas-sized experience that is family friendly!
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Austin Fashion Week
April 5-7
This year Austin Fashion Week celebrates its 10th anniversary! Fashion X Austin is the largest week of fashion events in Texas and the 4th largest fashion week in the United States! The week emerges independent designers with hopes of being connected to boutique buyers and consumers through runway shows and pop up shops. To celebrate ten years, Austin Fashion Week will be featuring ten major events, so make sure not to miss it!
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Texas VegFest
April 7
Texas VegFest is an educational event orchestrated by Texas Veg Foundation that celebrates the health, environment, and animal welfare benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. When you attend the event, you gain the knowledge necessary to begin incorporating more plant-based products! There will be educational lectures, cooking demonstrations, youth activities, fantastic food, craft beer, and live music and even more activities! Entrance to the event is free to the public.
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Bluebonnet Festival
April 13-15
The Bluebonnet Festival is hosted by the Chappell Hill Historical Society, a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation of the community’s history and historic buildings. The festival boasts more than 250 juried exhibitors including home décor, gardening, artists, craftsmen, jewelry, clothing, and more! There will also be delicious country-style food, live entertainment and music, and tours of the historic community. A special Children’s Activity Corner provides pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, barrel train and more! This is a great event to go to with your family and friends!
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Hounds and Heroes 5K and Family Festival
April 14
TThe Hounds and Heroes 5K and Family Festival kickes off with a timed 5K run/walk at 9:00 a.m. followed by the dog costume contest at 10:00 a.m. and then “Central Texas Dogs Got Talent” contest at 11:00 a.m. All proceeds from the event go directly to The Dog Alliance”s programs including Bow Wow Therapy Dogs and Hounds for Heroes service dogs. This event is one of their biggest fundraisers of the year!
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Art City Fine Arts Festival
April 14-15
Each April, Art City Austin: Fine Arts Festival; presented by the nonprofit organization Art Alliance Austin, promotes visual art and the art marketplace in Austin. 2018 marks the 68th year of this event! Approximately 150 local and national artists will exhibit outdoors under the canopy and throughout the grounds creating a centralized hub for art in downtown Austin! There are even more events Friday night including a party with music, performance, activations, and much more!
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Fusebox Festival
April 17-22
Fusebox Festival is a city-wide celebration featuring artists from all over the world! Their goal is to put on a festival built that creates a space for the unexpected, for disruption, for discovery, and for experimentation. It’s also a powerful moment to connect, imagine new things together, and build community. The performances, the parties, the meals, and the discussions leverage and celebrate the potential of the live situation!
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Moontower Comedy Festival
April 18-21
Moontower Comedy Festival is presented by the Paramount Theatre, and brings you some of the funniest, wittiest and oddest world-class comics from around the globe! This marathon of side-splitting nights throughout the city brings over 100 comedians doing everything from stand-up and sketch to improv and musical comedy! National headliners such as Jo Koy, Tig Notaro, Mike Birbiglia, Tiffany Haddish, Mike Birbiglia, David Cross, and Weird Al will be there, up-and-comers and local Austin-based comedians ensure that there are options for every type of comedy fan; die-hards to those just looking for a fun night!
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Old Settler’s Music Festival
April 19-22
At Old Settler’s Music Festival, there are almost three dozen bands, performance workshops, arts and crafts, kids’ activities, music stores, youth talent competition, gospel shows, Friday and Saturday concerts at the Salt Lick Pavilion, wholesome food, libations and more! Some of this year’s lineup includes Greensky Bluegrass, Railroad Earth and Bob Schneider! They also offer camping at the festival creating a cultural experience all of its own, and the grounds rival some of the most beautiful festival camping sites in the world! The best part is that kids twelve and under get in free when accompanied by a paying adult! This year they are now offering multi-day “teen” priced tickets!
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Texas Community Music Festival
April 20-29
The Texas Community Music Festival has a wide variety of music genres and dancing including musical gamut, jazz, traditional bierhaus, Scottish pipe, orchestras, drums, and Middle Eastern Bellydancing. For 2018, the festival celebrates its 13th anniversary, which means that this year will be the best year yet!
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Austin Reggae Festival
April 20-22
The Austin Reggae Festival brings three days of incredible dub music with international food and art vendors to the city’s most picturesque outdoor venue! Headliners for the 2018 event include the Wailers, Black Uhuru, Kabaka Pyramid and the and the Bebble Rockers, Sister Nancy, Nattali Rize, New Kingston, Mighty Mystic and many more! The Austin Reggae Festival benefits the Central Texas Food Bank, and over the last decade, this event has raised more than $1,000,000 to help feed hungry families in the Central Texas region.
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Hill Country Film Festival
April 26-29
The Hill Country Film festival is a celebration of independent film, screens over 90 independent films (short and feature length), hosts revealing Question and Answers, provides captivating filmmaker panel discussions and nightly festival parties giving attendees a chance to rub elbows with filmmakers! All these activities and events will be held at Fritztown Cinema in Fredericksburg.
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Levitation
April 26-29
Levitation is series of events and music festivals curated and organized by The Reverberation Appreciation Society and started with the first Austin Psych Fest in 2008. The Festival has now grown into an international event that attracts attendees and fans from around the world! This year’s line up will include Ty Segall, Parquet Courts, Electric Wizard, Panda Bear, Slowdive, Ministry, Thee Oh Sees, The Black Angels, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and more!
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Founders Day Festival
April 27-29
The Founders Day Festival is the largest annual community event in Dripping Springs! The three-day festival celebrates the founding of Dripping Springs and its community since 1850 and offers a variety of family-friendly activities. The spring festival kicks off with the Grand Parade followed by live music on two stages! There will be a carnival, cook-off competitions and arts and crafts vendors, and more! This festival offers something for everyone to participate in!
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Austin Food and Wine Festival
April 27-29
The Austin Food and Wine Festival marks a collaboration between C3 Presents and some of Texas’ most celebrated chefs and restaurateurs! Some of these chefs include Tim Love, Tyson Cole and Jesse Herman! This is their 7th year bringing the food and wine festival into Texas, and they promise to give you a gourmet celebration unlike any other! There will be cooking demos, wine and cocktail seminars, a Grand Taste Pavilion, 40 food artisans and an autograph tent! A portion of the Festival’s proceeds will benefit The Austin Food & Wine Alliance, who are dedicated to fostering awareness and innovation in Central Texas.
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Texas Burlesque Festival
April 27-28
The Texas Burlesque Festival is a two-day hoedown and showdown celebrating the revival of burlesque, cabaret and vaudeville! This festival is a weekend that overflows with opportunities to refine your bump and grind including parties, a roundtable with brunch, workshops, and performances. Their mission is to foster a supportive community among performers in Texas, across the United States and the world through networking and professional performance opportunities.
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Red Poppy Festival
April 27-29
Known as the “Red Poppy Capital Of Texas,” Georgetown is one of the few places in the United States where red poppies grow naturally every year. So come over and celebrate its signature red poppies with the 19th Annual Red Poppy Festival, April 27-29! The festival encompasses three days of concerts (headliner is Joe Nichols), parades, contests, art, food and family fun in the downtown area.
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Eeyore’s Birthday
April 28
Eeyore’s Birthday Party is a fundraiser to benefit non-profit groups in Austin. Some of these groups will be selling hot and cold food (there will also be a vegetarian menu), soft drinks, juices, spring water, and Texas beer! Make sure to wear a costume since there will be costume contests and other games with prizes for children of all ages! There will be plenty of activities to participate in such as face painting, henna, and temporary tattoos. All while engaging in these activities, you can listen to live music! Happy Birthday, Eeyore!
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Lake Travis SpringFest
April 28
SpringFest is the premier event in the South Lake Travis area at the Hill Country Galleria! Presented by St. David’s Emergency Center, the festival is the perfect community and family fun event on a perfect Spring weekend in Lake Travis. SpringFest is expecting record attendance this year, so mark your calendars and save the date for SpringFest 2018!
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Buda Wiener Dog Races
April 28-29
Every spring the Buda Lion’s Club hosts their annual Buda Wiener Dog Races at Buda City Park. Their yearly country fair and fundraiser begins with the cutest pet parade, followed by the nationally known Wiener Dog Races, where the speediest dachshunds take to the track! Not to mention that there will also be a BBQ cook-off, a bake-off, arts and crafts, games for the kids, a washer tournament and lots of entertainment!
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Louisiana Swamp Thing and Crawfish Festival
April 2018
Celebrate authentic Louisiana cuisine at the Louisiana Swamp Thing and Crawfish Festival! Listen to bands perform brass, Zydeco, blues, Cajun and funk music and tantalize your taste buds with crawfish, jambalaya, and alligator! The festival will also have a children’s area that includes moonwalks, rides, slides, bouncy houses and plenty of other activities! This event provides a fantastic opportunity for guests to explore Louisiana’s culinary and musical cultures in a family-friendly setting! The official date is yet to be confirmed, so keep checking their website for updates.
May Festivals in Austin
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iHeartCountry Festival
May 5
iHeartCountry Festival is back in Austin and better than ever! iHeartradio makes sure that your day is full of great country music and fun with a fantastic lineup and experience! Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Dustin Lynch, Cole Swindell, Marren Morris, Sugarland, Luke Combs, Billy Currington, Dan+Shay, Jon Pardi, and Brett Young will be headlining the iHeartCountry festival this year! This event is hosted by AT&T and will be held at the Frank Erwin Center.
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CLAIFF21
May 2- May 6
The 21st Cine Las Americas International Film Festival will offer narrative and documentary feature, short films and videos, as well as experimental, animation, and music video selections, in competitive and non-competitive sections. The festival showcases contemporary films and videos from Latin America (North, Central, South America, and the Caribbean) and the Iberian Peninsula!
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JMBLYA
May 5
JMBLYA brings only the finest rising talents from the world of hip-hop to the stage for fans to discover and enjoy! JMBLYA is the perfect opportunity for you to broaden your interests and learn about some new artists that are sure to break out onto the scene in the next few years due to their talents. This years lineup includes J. Cole, Migos, Cardi B, Kevin Gates, Playboy Carti, Trippie Redd, Ski Mask, The Slump God, Cozz, Killy, Jack Harlow and special guests Bun B, Trae Tha Truth and DJ Mr. Rogers!
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The Pecan Street Festival
May 5-6
The Pecan Street Festival is one of the largest, and longest-running, arts and crafts and music festivals in the nation! Named after 6th Street’s original name, this family-friendly street festival takes place twice a year in Austin’s downtown entertainment district (also takes place on September 29th and 30th, 2018). Pecan Street Festival offers several blocks of family fun, from local art to live music and entertainment. Of course, no Austin festival would be complete without food! Experience all of this and more each May and September in the lively streets of downtown Austin.
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Finding Euphoria Festival
May 12
This year Euphoria Festival has imagined expanding their community and change their traditional festival format. Their vision is to create an opportunity to reconnect with the values and vibes that made the festival all possible, to begin with. So this year, they are presenting Finding Euphoria Festival; a one-day, scaled back version of the festival, offering a more intimate experience for you. Finding Euphoria is a place to reconnect, experience great music and meet up at The Ranch. Car camping will be offered for those who wish to extend the Finding Euphoria experience, but only 2,000 attendees will be able to enter the festival. Make sure to get your tickets sooner than later!
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West Austin Studio Tour
May 12-13 & May 19-20
Big Medium’s West Austin Studio Tour (WEST) is a free, annual, self-guided art event spanning two weekends in May. WEST, a non-profit organization, provides opportunities for the public to meet the artists and artisans of Austin in their creative spaces. Through their programs and partnerships, they work to foster the arts and facilitate an inclusive cultural dialogue between artists and their communities.
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Deutschen Pfest
May 18-20
Deutschen Pfest is Pflugerville’s most popular pfestival! The festival is always bursting with pfun all weekend long! There will be plenty of activities to participate in, including the Miss Pflugerville Pageant, the Deutschen Pfest parade, the Deutschen Pfest 5K, a children’s area, a carnival, live music and much more! And let’s not forget that children 6 and under are free and all proceeds support Pflugerville park projects! Make sure to wear your wristband while entering gated areas of the festival.
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Saengerrunde Maifest
May 19
The Saengerrunde is the oldest ethnic organization in Austin that provides an atmosphere which encourages members and guests to preserve and enjoy the German heritage. German Bier Festival hosts their annual Saengerrunde Maifest to keep celebrating German heritage and German food in Texas. Enjoy special tastings from Texas craft brewers, a community cookout and plenty of fun which includes live music, dancing, and local vendors will round out the event.
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Austin Sketch Fest
May 21-27
Austin Sketch Fest is a sketch comedy showcase held every year over Memorial Day weekend! Austin Sketch Fest is presented by ColdTowne Theater and features comedy groups from Austin and all over the country. In addition to the annual festival, ColdTowne Theater hosts alternative comedy shows year-round with stand-up, improv and sketch shows taking place seven days a week.
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Kerrville Folk Festival
May 24-June 10
The Kerrville Folk Festival is the longest continuously running music festival in the United States! The festival is celebrated by a community who considers themselves family and is the second largest community in Kerrville. Over the course of 18 days, there will be activities of all sorts including workshops, yoga and more! The festival’s goal is to develop artistic expression, especially the art of songwriting, in a loving, family-friendly environment.
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Blues on the Green
May 2018
Austinites are always longing for live music, and during these long summer nights, there are plenty of chances to get your fill! Blues on the Green is the longest series of free summertime concerts hosted by KGSR Radio Austin! KGSR invites music lovers to Zilker Park every Wednesdays in May to enjoy a family (and pet-friendly!) night of music in a comfortable atmosphere. These free concerts feature performances by popular local bands with a variety of different genres. The audience is invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets, pack a picnic and bring the whole family out for a unique musical experience!
June Festivals in Austin
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Republic of Texas Biker Rally
June 7-10
The Republic of Texas Biker Rally, otherwise known as ROT Rally, is the largest motorcycle rally in Texas and the fourth largest motorcycle rally in the US. Held every year on the weekend after Memorial Day, hundreds of bikers gather at the Travis County Expo Center and ride along the hilly roads of Austin for an entire weekend. On the Friday of that weekend, the City of Austin closes off parts of Congress Ave. for the largest biker party in a downtown area. In 2006, ROT Rally was awarded a Guinness World Record for being the “Longest Parade of Motorcycles Known to Mankind.”
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Blanco Lavender Fest
June 8-10
For many years, visitors to the Texas Hill Country have enjoyed the beauty of the rough landscape and winding rivers. Come out to Blanco County and visit local lavender farms, lavender markets, listen to live music, eat delicious food and more! There will also be a Beer and Wine Tent serving up a signature drink of the festival that’s bubbly and sweet! You will want to be sure to stop and get one! The Blanco Lavender Festival is a major fundraiser for the year for the Blanco Chamber of Commerce.
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Juneteenth
June 19
Juneteenth, also known as “Freedom Day” or “Emancipation Day” commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas and the United States. Everywhere in Austin, African Americans celebrate this historical day with parades, a 2K walk and run, food, vendors, and much more fun!
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Austin Ice Cream Festival
June 23
Experience your favorite local flavors and try something new! Choose from local, regional and national brands to tickle your taste buds. Enjoy family-friendly activities like ice cream eating, frozen treat making, popsicle stick sculpture contests, rock climbing, DIY water guns, a dunking booth, yard games and more! There will also be live music acts, a movie in the park, savory food options and adult beverages! This year there will be an After Dark part of the festival where they are featuring even more live music, treats, food trucks and boozy frozen drinks!
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Keep Austin Weird Fest and 5K
June 23
Keep Austin weird by slipping into your weirdest costume, slap on your favorite light up running shoes, and throw your timer into Lady Bird Lake for the Keep Austin Weird Fest and 5K! Bring your friends for the wildest, weirdest, and most memorable Saturday of summer! There are many fun stops along the running route, so you’ll be partying more than running! These fun stops include a super foam pit and a puppy kissing booth! This is an event not to miss!
August Festivals in Austin
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Bat Fest
August 18
The Bat Fest is a major Austin attraction of watching the bats emerge from under the Congress Bridge and now has become a festival that takes place once a year. Bat watchers can enjoy live music, local food, and drinks while gazing at 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats fly into the night sky. Everyone in attendance can also enjoy a bat costume contest and fun children’s activities like arts and crafts. Come on out to the Bat Fest and make it a night to remember!
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Austin Pride Festival
August 25
The Austin PRIDE Festival and Parade host two stages to many entertainers and performers. The main stage has headline entertainers and a second stage has DJ’s and carnival performers. Amazing entertainment from Austin PRIDE is to be expected and this year will be no exception! Attendants can also see pet parades, eat food from local food vendors, and experience carnival-themed games and activities. This year, Festival Tickets purchased in advance will be able to enter the Festival at any entrance.
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Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
August 2018
The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival is back! Sample hundreds of hot sauces, dine on local foods and enjoy live music. These bands from many genres fill the roster and get the people moving after they’ve had their fill of heat. This family-friendly event is free to the public with a donation of three non-perishable food items or $5 donation to Central Texas Food Bank. Get ready to eat the heat!
September Festivals in Austin
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Out of Bounds Comedy Fest
August 29-September 4
The Out of Bounds Comedy Festival is a 7-day, multi-venue festival of all things comedy, featuring the world’s best in hundreds of improv, sketch, and stand-up shows over Labor Day Weekend! Their mission is to bring worldwide attention to the Austin comedy community by strengthening performer networks, providing educational opportunities and stimulating both Austin tourism and industry interest.
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Fantastic Fest
September 20-27
Experience the world of sci-fi, horror and gore at Alamo Drafthouse’s annual film festival. Fantastic Fest is the largest film festival in the U.S. that specializes in the genres of horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and action. The festival has premiered major horror flicks like Zombieland, There Will Be Blood, and Apocalypto. Celebrity guests in the past have included Mel Gibson, Bill Murray, Paul Rudd and Jon Favreau.
October Festivals in Austin
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Oktoberfest
October 5-7
Celebrate Fredericksburg’s German heritage at Oktoberfest! There will be lots of food and drinks, dance contests, music on four stages all weekend, artisans, Kinderpark, souvenirs and more! It’s fun for the whole family! The weekend will be filled with many activities including OkTUBAfest on Friday, a Hauptstrasse Chicken Dance on Saturday and a 42 domino tournament on Sunday! Oktoberfest is held at Marktplatz.
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Austin City Limits Music Festival
October 5-7 & October 12-14
Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual multi-day music festival that takes place each fall in Austin’s Zilker Park! Festivalgoers enjoy six days of music, food, and art set against the dazzling downtown skyline. The festival brings together over 130 musical acts of all genres from country to electronic to rock. Today ACL is one of the most popular music festivals in the nation, attracting approximately 450,000 attendees each year. The event has actually become so popular that tickets often sell out within a few days of being announced on the ACL website!
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Texas Mesquite Arts Festival
October 12-14
The Mesquite Arts Festival has become one of the top events in Fredericksburg. Visitors will be treated to collections of sculpted wood from the world’s absolute finest mesquite craftsmen. Items range from large furniture items such as beds, dressers, and chairs made entirely from mesquite, to unique craft and gift items such as beautifully turned lamps, delicate scrollwork, handsome pen and pencil sets, unique Christmas tree ornaments, and sculpted vases, all carefully crafted of mesquite.
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Formula 1
October 19-21
About 8 miles southeast of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is Circuit of the Americas, the home of Austin F1 racing. The multi-million dollar facility is called “The Most Unique Motorsports Facility in the United States” and for a good reason! It is the only track built purposely for Formula One Racing in the country and puts Austin on the map as a World-Class Motorsports destination!
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Austin Film Festival
October 25-November 1
Founded almost twenty years ago, the Austin Film Festival was the first event of its kind to bring together professional and amateur screenwriters to celebrate all things television and film. Every October, the Austin Film Festival and Conference bring producers, agents, and screenwriters together to showcase the best film talent in the nation. Past participants include Ron Howard, Sandra Bullock, Owen Wilson and America Ferrera!
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Food and Wine Festival
October 27
Held in historic, downtown Fredericksburg, the Food and Wine Festival is a full-course celebration of Texas food, wine, beer, music, specialty booths, food court and fun! Texas wineries, gourmet chefs will hold demonstrating shows and there will also be a silent auction and live music! There are also several additional special events to attend including special dinners and a brunch for which tickets must be purchased in advance!
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Texas Book Festival
October 27-28
The Texas Book Festival is one of the largest book festivals in the country, which features over 250 critically acclaimed authors such as Margaret Atwood, Robert Caro Sandra Cisneros and many more! Come out and meet the authors while enjoying live music, food trucks, family activities and much more!
November Festivals in Austin
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Wurstfest
November 2-11
Located near the headwaters of the beautiful Comal River in New Braunfels, Wurstfest is the best ten days in sausage history! Join Wurstfest for a unique annual celebration rich in German and Bavarian culture! You’ll be able to enjoy good food, music, dancing, exciting carnival rides and games, German and Texan domestic beers, special events and more!
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Austin Drag Fest
November 15-18
The 4th annual Austin International Drag Festival is back and more fierce than ever! Austin is now the center of the Drag Universe as hundreds of Drag Artists from all over the world descend to entertain thousands of Drag fans. Each artist will be displaying their greatest talents for your education and entertainment. So come out and watch your favorite drag queens perform, meet your favorite drag queens, shop for merch, eat amazing food and more!
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East Austin Studio Tour
November 2018
EAST, a program of Big Medium, is a nonprofit organization, a self-guided art event that gives opportunities for local artists and artisans to show their creative side and expand their reach to future patrons. The self-guided tour takes place over two weekends in November and leads visitors through home and commercial studios, galleries, special exhibitions, installations and art-themed parties! The event also features an opening party, a special culinary event with local chefs, competitions, educational programs and more.
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Texas Monthly BBQ Festival
November 2018
Unveil Texas Monthly’s top 50 Best BBQ Joints in Texas by enjoying live music, food, and drinks! Join them for a great weekend deep in the heart of Texas for a delicious feast from more than twenty of the best ‘cue restaurants in the country! Some of the featured BBQ joints include Franklin Barbecue, La Barbecue, Micklethwait Craft Meats, Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew, Terry Black’s Barbecue, Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ and much more! Festival-goers will relax on the lawn and enjoy music, sweet treats, cold beer, cocktails, interactive games with sponsors, and all of the smoked goodness they can handle.
December Festivals in Austin
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Budafest
December 1-2
Budafest attracts artisans, craft workers and craft enthusiasts from all over Texas! This year, the Budafest parade will be a lighted, nighttime parade through the heart of Downtown Buda complete with a lighting ceremony to kick-off the holiday season in Buda! This is an opportunity to sell your wares in a fun, open-air atmosphere. And of course, Santa Claus will be there to take pictures!
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Armadillo Art Bazaar
December 13-24
The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is a twelve-day fine art shopping destination featuring national and local award-winning artists, live music, and two full bars in a festive, lively atmosphere! With over 160 artists, it gives you a variety of upscale art, handmade gifts, heirloom pieces and stocking stuffers to buy as gifts for others or yourself.
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Trail of Lights
December 2018
An Austin tradition since 1965, the Trail of Lights provides miles or walking amongst thousands of lights and scenes. The Zilker Tree, another holiday favorite, stands 155 feet tall in the middle of Zilker Park and boasts 39 multi-colored streamers, 3,309 lights and bulbs, and a very bright star with 150 lights on the top. With so many lights, it’s hard to miss amongst the Downtown Austin Skyline during the holidays!
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