Local Events
Year-round
- Longhorn Sports
texassports.com
Cheer on the Horns — including the 2005 NCAA Championship baseball team and the 2006 NCAA Championship football team — at a variety of University of Texas sporting events.
January
- Tribute to the King
(nearest weekend to the King's birthday and again in August on the nearest weekend to the anniversary of the King's death)
http://www.continentalclub.com/Austin.html
In Austin, and especially at the Continental Club, we believe in Elvis. That's why twice a year Ted Roddy & the King Conjure Orchestra evoke a little "Viva Las Vegas" — with Shaun Young and the New Blue Moon Boys covering early Elvis. These always-sold-out shows are something to behold, so pack your blue suede shoes, and we'll see you there!
February
- Carnaval Brasileiro
February 3
www.sambaparty.com
Austin does it up Rio style with elaborate costumes, samba bands, and tons of confetti. This annual event was started in 1975 by homesick Brazilian students at the University of Texas — and the conga line's still going on.
March
- Zilker Park Kite Festival
March 5
www.zilkerkitefestival.com
The annual Zilker Park Kite Festival offers old-fashioned fun for all ages. Bring your homebuilt kite to compete in the steadiest, smallest, and most unusual kite contests, or come to watch while enjoying Austin's glorious spring weather. (And you don't have to enter to fly — just bring your kite and send it soaring.)
- South By Southwest
March 9-18 (Interactive March 9-13; Film March 9-17, Music March 14-18)
www.2007.sxsw.com
Talented filmmakers, musicians, and multimedia artists from around the world gather to showcase music, film, and interactive at SXSW. The SXSW Music and Media Conference and Festival features hundreds of musical acts from around the world on approximately 50 stages in downtown Austin — while other attendees pack into the Austin Convention Center for panel discussions, schmoozing, and more. The SXSW Interactive Festival and the SXSW Film Conference and Festival celebrate the art and business of interactive technology and independent filmmaking. Some of the world's most creative people gather in Austin for exciting events and some really good chips and salsa.
- Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo
March 9-24
www.staroftexas.org
With a serious mission of promoting youth education and preserving Western heritage, the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo is nevertheless a darn good time. In addition to the rodeo and cattle auction, there's a youth fair, a downtown parade, and lots of live boot-scootin' music.
- St. Patrick's Day Parade and ShamROCK Austin Festival
March 17
www.keepaustinfun.com
The St. Patrick's Day Parade and ShamROCK Austin Festival includes a parade down Congress Avenue, battle of the bands, great food, a Parade Queen and Court — and lots more. Beneficiaries include Meals on Wheels and More, the Austin Area Urban League, and the Capital Area Food Bank.
- Statesman Capitol 10,000
March 25
www.statesman.com/sports/content/cap10k/index.html
This annual rite of spring for many Austinites is the largest 10K in Texas. From the serious runner to the seriously silly, there's room to run for everybody.
- Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival
March 28-April 1
www.texaswineandfood.org
Texas's oldest and largest wine and food festival includes a fine wine auction, grand tasting luncheons, wine seminars, and more. Events are held at various restaurants, cooking schools, hotels, and wineries in and around the Austin area and the Texas Hill Country. The highlight is the annual Sunday Fair — an extravaganza with cooking demonstrations, cookbook signings, children's activities, live music, and tasting tents with Texas food producers, restaurants, wineries, and craft breweries.
- Jerry Jeff Walker's Birthday Bash
March 30-April 1
www.jerryjeff.com
Jerry Jeff Walker celebrates the Texas way: big. The annual celebration starts with a show at legendary Austin honky-tonk the Broken Spoke. The next day, there's a huge Anniversary Birthday Concert at the Paramount Theatre (past special guests have included Jimmy Buffett and Todd Snider), followed by a Tried & True Foundation party at the Driskill Hotel. To cap things off, there's another show on Sunday down at historic Gruene Hall.
- Swamp Romp & Crawfish Festival
April 8
www.roadstarproductions.com
Austin shares a great deal of soul and spirit with our neighbors in Louisiana, and every year it bubbles over in the Swamp Romp. The celebration features the best of Cajun and zydeco music — not to mention delicious Louisiana-style food, including six tons of jumbo crawfish!
April
- Austin Fine Arts Festival
April 14 and 15
www.austinfineartsfestival.org
This downtown, family-friendly art festival features original works from more than 220 juried artists, live demonstrations, kids' art activities, live music, and delicious cuisine.
- Old Settler's Music Festival
April 19-22
www.oldsettlersmusicfest.org
Going strong for more than 20 years, this nationally known music festival spotlights the best in roots and Americana music. The family-friendly event is held just outside of Austin at the Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch, right at the peak of the bluebonnet and wildflower season. In addition to over two dozen bands, attendees can enjoy camping, kids' activities, arts and crafts, and great food. Proceeds benefit CampFire USA, Austin SafePlace, and the Capital Area Food Bank.
- Eeyore's Birthday Party
April 29
www.eeyores.sexton.com
Over 40 years ago, a UT student cooked up an excuse to have a big spring party — the birthday celebration for Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh's donkey friend. Austinites of all walks of life gather in Pease Park for costume concerts, face painting, drum circles, and more. Best of all, the whole thing benefits local charities.
- SPAMARAMA™
April 9
www.spamarama.com
A truly loopy Austin tradition, this annual festival honors SPAM® with a taste bud–defying cook-off, SPAMALYMPICS™, and a SPAM Jam. When we say "Keep Austin Weird," this is one of the ways we do it.
- Comida Alegre
www.roadstarproductions.com
You haven't had great Tex-Mex if you haven't tried Austin's best of the best. This event features our best local Tex-Mex restaurants competing to see who makes the best fajitas, enchiladas, salsa, and margaritas. And, this being Austin, there'll also be salsa dance lessons and plenty of live music.
May
- Old Pecan Street Spring Arts Festival
Usually in early May
www.roadstarproductions.com
For over 25 years, this unique outdoor marketplace and street fair has showcased the work of more than 300 professional artists and craftspeople from all over the globe. As usual in Austin, there's great food and live music — and best of all, it's free!
- O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships
Usually in early May
www.punpunpun.com
Drawing groans and belly laughs, the O. Henry Pun-Off is billed as "an irreverent assault on our anguished language." This beloved Austin tradition supports the O. Henry Museum. Punmeisters from all over the world compete toe-to-toe in the "High Lies & Low Puns" face off or in the 90-second solo "Punniest of Show" category. Pun for the whole family!
June
- Republic of Texas Biker Rally
May 31-June 2
www.roadstarproductions.com
Billed as "the biggest biker parade and street party in Texas," the ROT Biker Rally brings hundreds of thousands of bikers in to enjoy the scenic drives around Austin, plus special events, great food, and fun.
August
- Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
Usually the last Sunday in August
www.austinchronicle.com
Fire up your taste buds for this annual event — quite possibly the largest hot sauce contest in the world. Celebrity chefs and food editors select the best from homemade, restaurant, and commercial hot sauces (and you can bet they'll have a few cooling beverages, too). Get in free when you bring two nonperishable food items for the Capital Area Food Bank.
- Tribute To The King
(See January listings)
September
- Batfest
September 1 and 2
www.roadstarproductions.com
Batfest celebrates North America's largest urban bat colony, right here in Austin. Bring the kids to enjoy arts, crafts, music, food, and educational displays — plus around two million bats!
- Austin City Limits Music Festival
September 14-16
www.aclfestival.com
We're not kidding when we describe Austin as the Live Music Capital of the World. This weekend-long festival has grown exponentially since it began in 2002 as an offshoot of the PBS broadcast Austin City Limits. Expect it to be hot, but expect the music to be so outstanding you just won't care.
- Old Pecan Street Fall Arts Festival
Usually in late September
(See May listings)
October
- Austin Film Festival
October 11-18
www.austinfilmfestival.com/new
Unique among film festivals, the Austin Film Festival focuses on writers' unique creative contributions to the film and television industries. Aspiring screenwriters, emerging filmmakers, and movie fans alike gather for parties, panel discussions, and up to 80 films over eight days.
- Halloween on Sixth Street
October 31
Austin's bar district goes bananas every year with nearly 100,000 costumed partygoers flocking downtown.
November
- Texas Book Festival
November 3 and 4
www.texasbookfestival.org
Held at the stunning Texas State Capitol grounds, the Texas Book Festival is one of the largest literary events in the Southwest. The festival celebrates Texas authors and the joy of reading, while serving as a fund raiser for the state's public libraries.
- Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot
Thanksgiving Day
www.thundercloud.com/turkeytrot.html
Work off those giblets at this annual 5-mile run, benefiting Caritas of Austin.
December
- Zilker Park Tree Lighting/Trail of Lights
Opens 1st Sunday in December
www.ci.austin.tx.us/tol
Kids of all ages will thrill to see this magnificent 165-foot tree of lights built on one of Austin's famous Moonlight Towers. You can also wander your way through a mile-long display of life-sized holiday scenes. (Bring the cocoa.)
- Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
Usually about two weeks before Christmas
www.armadillobazaar.com
Celebrate 31 years of fun at one of the top-ranked arts and crafts shows in the nation. The bazaar was first held at the legendary Armadillo World Headquarters, and that old-school Austin vibe is alive and well with live music, a full bar, and plenty to see and do.