YEAR ROUND FESTIVALS First Friday in DT Georgetown Enjoy live music and a festive, evening atmosphere exploring the town square. AND EVENTS visit.georgetown.org/fi rst-friday First Thursday in Downtown Food, fun, shopping and people watching Each month in Central Texas, there is an array of exciting Avenue | fi rstthursday.info festivals and cultural events to satisfy a wide range of interests, age ranges and lifestyles. Want a music festival? First Thursday in Downtown Buda How about or the Shop unique, antique and specialty vendors while enjoying food from downtown restaurants. Festival? Want a more unusual Austin-style event? Try hayshappenings.com Eeyore’s birthday. There are great fi lm festivals in Central Texas too. Try the Austin Film Festival, the SXSW Film Festival or Fantastic Fest. If food and beverage sampling is JANUARY your thing, tempt your taste buds at the annual Austin Ice Polar Bear Splash Cream Festival, wet your whistle at the Austin Beerfest or Hundreds of people take the plunge at Zilker hone your palate at the Austin Food and Wine Festival. Are Park to help protect Barton Springs and our you looking for a festival to attend with the entire family? Hill Country land, water and wildlife. Barton Springs | sosalliance.org Take part in the Austin Kite Festival at or the Mudquest Family Adventure. Free Week Venues in open their doors for this celebration of live music. DT Austin | freeweek.do512.com The Central Texas Relocation Guide contains merely a sample of the annual events and activities going on around Hyde Park Theatre Frontera Fest Austin. Be sure to keep your eye on the online Stewart Five weeks of alternative, offbeat, new and just Title of Austin Monthly Event Calendar – since this is plain off-the-wall fringe theatre Austin | fronterafest.org Austin, you never know when a festival is going to pop up in your own backyard! MLK Celebration After a march to the Capitol steps, the celebration continues at Huston-Tillotson. DT Austin | mlkcelebration.com

FEBRUARY African American Community Heritage Festival Live entertainment, games, arts, crafts, prizes, home décor, clothing, jewelry and storytelling Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, 78702 austinheritagefestival.org

Austin Marathon® Race along open roads that pass iconic landmarks such as the UT Tower, I Love You Mural and . Austin | youraustinmarathon.com

Carnaval Brasileiro The largest indoor Brazilian Carnaval party on the planet! Palmer Events Center, Austin, 78704 sambaparty.com

It’s My Park! Day Annual community service day focused on improving Austin’s parks Austin City Parks | austinparks.org

ABC Zilker Kite Festival Jugglefest St. Patrick’s Day Austin BP MS 150 A three-day event full of workshops, A family-friendly day to celebrate the The largest event of its kind in the U.S., games, demonstrations and shows culture of Ireland including music, dance the BP MS 150 is a two-day fundraising featuring juggling and related circus arts and language bike ride from Houston to Austin, Texas School for the Deaf, Austin, 78704 Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms benefitting the National MS Society. juggling.place.org/jugglefest Austin, 78754 | stpatricksdayaustin.com Austin | bpms150.net

Taylor Home and Garden Expo Buda Country Fair and MARCH This indoor/outdoor event features live Wiener Dog Races music, plants, crafts and more. Cook-off, bake-off, Buda Bee, pet ABC Zilker Kite Festival Main Street Events Center parade, arts, crafts, dog races and a It’s your day to fly a kite and see Taylor, 76574 | taylorchamber.org washer tournament hundreds of kites in the sky at the Buda City Park, Buda, 78610 nation’s longest-running kite festival! Texas Independence Day Celebration budalionsclub.com Zilker Park, Austin, 78746 Celebrate the day Texas became Texas abckitefestival.org with a parade, 5K run, golf tournament, Chisholm Trail Day ceremonies and more. Live music, living history displays, cook- Austin Music Awards DT Austin | celebratetexas.net offs and more! Presented by The Austin Chronicle Williamson Museum, Round Rock, 78681 and SXSW. Proceeds benefit the WGC – Match Play upthechisholmtrail.org SIMS Foundation. The PGA Tour comes to town for four Austin Music Hall, Austin, 78701 consecutive years, 2016-2019. The Dragon Boat Festival and Race sxsw.com world’s top 64 players battle it out for Dragon boat race, music, dance, food three days. and martial arts Devine Lake Kite Festival Austin Country Club, Austin, 78746 Lady Bird Lake’s Festival Beach A 5K run, public flying areas, kite teams austincountryclub.com Austin, 78702 | asianamericancc.com and demonstrations Devine Lake Park, Leander, 78641 Zilker Garden Festival Eeyore’s Birthday Party leandertx.gov A family-friendly garden shopping Live music, face painting, costume destination, the garden festival offers contests and other games with prizes for Heart of Texas Rockfest something for everyone. people of all ages Rockfest features the best in unsigned Zilker Botanical Garden, Austin, 78746 Pease District Park, Austin, 78705 talent that Austin and the surrounding zilkergarden.org eeyores.org southwest region has to offer. DT Austin | texasrockfest.com Founders Day Festival APRIL Parade, carnival, cook off, food booths, Mighty Texas Dog Walk arts/crafts, live music and more The doggiest day in Austin! Take a Art City Austin DT Dripping Springs, 78620 leisurely stroll with your pup and stock This indoor/outdoor exhibition of art is facebook.com/foundersdayfestival up on freebies galore. Proceeds benefit joined by music, performances, good Service Dogs, Inc. food and activities. Fusebox Festival DT Austin | servicedogs.org Palmer Events Center, Austin, 78704 Annual contemporary art and artallianceaustin.org performance festival Rodeo Austin Downtown Austin, 78702 A two-week exhibition featuring an Austin Earth Day Festival fuseboxfestival.com acclaimed livestock show, fair, rodeo and Music performances, demonstrations live music and celebrations for Earth Day in Heritage Festival Travis County Expo Center downtown Austin Live country music, hamburger cook-off, Austin, 78724 | rodeoaustin.com Huston-Tillotson University washer tournament, pony rides, carnival Austin, 78723 | earthdayaustin.com/ games and much more Sherwood Forest Faire Elizabeth Milburn Park (Runs through April) Austin Food + Wine Festival Cedar Park, 78613 | cedarparktexas.gov Feel free to dress up as a peasant, knight Enjoy artisanal food, drinks, and culinary or anything in between as you enjoy demonstrations from accomplished chefs Jonestown Cajun Cook-Off live performances, jousting, games and Auditorium Shores, Austin, 78704 Attractions for the day include a parade, vendors of all kinds. austinfoodandwinefestival.com crawfish races, barrel train rides and a Sherwood Forest Campground live alligator show. McDade, 78650 Austin Reggae Festival Jones Brothers Park, Jonestown, 78645 sherwoodforestfaire.com Featuring local and national reggae lagovista.org bands, a portion of ticket sales benefits South by Southwest the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas. Lone Star Vegetarian Chili Cook-Off The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Auditorium Shores, Austin, 78704 Chili teams from all over Texas will delight Conference & Festivals offer the austinreggaefest.com you with an amazing array of delicious, unique convergence of original healthy, meatless chilis as they compete music, independent films and for best chili and best booth! emerging technologies. Old Settlers Park, Round Rock, 78664 DT Austin | sxsw.com facebook.com/lsvchilicookoff Louisiana Swamp Thing and SpringFest Fiesta Amistad Crawfi sh Festival This event features live music, unique Features live music, plenty of food and Enjoy tons of crawfish and other bayou shopping, regional beer and wine, a boat family entertainment delicacies while experiencing live, expo and the KidZone. Round Rock | elamistadclub.com authentic Cajun and Zydeco music. Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave, 78738 DT Austin | roadwayevents.com laketravisspringfest.com Kerrville Folk Festival 18 days of original songwriter Moontower Comedy Festival Statesman Cap 10K performances – a celebration of music Bringing world-class comedy to Austin The largest 10K in Texas and seventh- that is not commercially compromised. through a variety of performances in largest 10K in the U.S., this race is free This event is a family affair complete with stand-up, sketch, improv and musical to the public. camping, cook-outs and song circles. comedy by well-known performers and DT Austin, 78701 | cap10k.com Near Kerrville | kerrville-music.com up-and-comers alike The Paramount, Austin, 78701 Urban Music Festival Muddy Miler Family Adventure austintheatre.org Big names in hip-hop and R&B perform A themed adventure run for the entire for this two-day, fun-filled event. family with more obstacles, more mud MotoGPTM Grand Prix of the Americas Auditorium Shores, Austin, 78704 and more fun than your average run! An elite competition featuring the world’s urbanmusicfest.com Old Settlers Park, Round Rock, 78664 most skilled motorcycle riders roundrocktexas.gov , Austin, 78617 Wimberley Arts Fest circuitoftheamericas.com Festival happenings include over 115 O. Henry Pun-Off artist booths showcasing a stellar variety The day of competition includes My Radio Festival of art media, food trucks, a beer and individuals performing prepared pieces This two-day festival showcases local wine booth and continuous live music. filled with puns and head-to-head bouts and regional musicians, becoming so Waters Point, Wimberley, 78676 of spontaneous punning. popular that the mayor declared it an wimberleyartsfest.com Brush Square Park, Austin, 78701 official San Marcos holiday. punpunpun.com Downtown Square, San Marcos, 78666 ktsw.txstate.edu MAY Pecan Street Festival (Biannual event, also occurs in Sept.) Old Settler’s Music Festival Blues on the Green Hundreds of artisan booths, performing Acoustic jazz and blues, bluegrass, (Runs monthly through Aug.) artists, kid’s activities and food vendors old-time local faves and award-winning Austin’s longest running FREE music line up and down Historic 6th Street artists from around the world series! Blankets, lawn chairs, dogs on DT Austin | pecanstreetfestival.org Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion and leashes and children are all welcome. Camp Ben McCulloch, Driftwood, 78619 Zilker Park, Austin, 78704 Viva Cinco De Mayo oldsettlersmusicfest.org kgsr.com The official state-wide menudo cook-off brings competitors from all over Texas to Red Poppy Festival Deutschen Pfest prepare their winning version of an age- An all-day affair featuring a parade, live Pflugerville’s most popular pfestival is old traditional Mexican dish. music, arts, crafts, Kid’s Fun Zone and three days of great pfun, including live San Marcos, 78666 even a car show music, a parade and carnival rides. DT Georgetown, 78626 Pfl uger Park, Pfl ugerville, 78660 poppy.georgetown.org deutschenpfest.com

South by Southwest West Austin Studio Tour WCSP Georgetown Rodeo Zilker Summer Musical For two consecutive weekends, local Plenty of food, fun and rodeo action for Enchanting musical theatre productions artists open up their studios and exhibit the whole family! that run throughout the summer and are their work. WCSP Arena, Georgetown, 78626 free to the public. Austin | west.bigmedium.org wcsprodeo.com Zilker Hillside Theater, Austin, 78746 zilker.org Zilker Pops Concerts JUNE Free concerts featuring the Austin Civic Orchestra. Take a blanket and picnic AUGUST Central Texas basket to complete the experience. Juneteenth Celebration Zilker Hillside Theater, Austin, 78704 Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival Festival, parade, beauty pageant and austincivicorchestra.org One of the biggest and best-known food other activities events in Austin, this festival is also a DT Austin | juneteenthcentraltexas.com major fundraiser for the Central Texas JULY Food Bank. Concerts in the Park Waterloo Park, Austin, 78701 (Runs Sunday evenings through Aug.) Austin Symphony H-E-B® July 4th austinchronicle.com/hotsauce Free concert series featuring a different Concert and Fireworks ensemble of the Austin Symphony each More than 100,000 people gather Austin Pride Week week. Take a blanket with a picnic dinner at Auditorium Shores for the largest Highlights of the week include a fashion and make it a group outing! Independence Day celebration in town. show, music festival and parade. The Long Center, Austin, 78704 Auditorium Shores, Austin, 78704 DT Austin | austinpride.org austinsymphony.org austinsymphony.org Batfest Fest and 5K Bastille Day Festival Get ready for the bats to emerge from A celebration of the people, places and French wine, French food, French music under the bridge at dusk with three businesses that make our city vibrant, and more! stages of live music, vendors, a bat eclectic and, well, weird Triangle Park, Austin, 78751 costume contest and more. Riverside Drive, Austin, 78704 afaustin.org Congress Avenue Bridge, Austin, 78704 keepaustinweirdfest.com roadwayevents.com Music Under the Star National Trails Day This popular live concert series is free Help the Austin Parks Foundation keep and runs every Friday evening in July. SEPTEMBER our trails beautiful. The Bob Bullock Museum Austin | austinparks.org Austin, 78701 | thestoryoftexas.com Art Outside Outdoor art show with visual artists, Republic of Texas Biker Rally Rooster Teeth Expo musicians, performers, workshops food The biggest motorcycle rally in Texas and A weekend convention of games and and more. one of the largest motorcycle events in web culture where fans and professionals Apache Pass, Rockdale, 78567 the nation alike can talk about the industry. artoutside.org Travis County Expo Center Austin Convention Center Austin, 78724 | rotrally.com Austin, 78701 | rtxaustin.com

Pecan Street Festival Austin Gay and Lesbian Lone Star Le Mans Fredericksburg Oktoberfest International Film Festival Best of international and night-time Have a blast at this celebration of The event features films relating to the endurance racing with a Texas twist German heritage with food, drinks, live LGBTQ+ community, with filmmakers Circuit of the Americas, Austin, 78617 music and activities for the whole family. and other guests in attendance for Q&As circuitoftheamericas.com MarktPlatz, Fredericksburg, 78624 and other activities. oktoberfestinfbg.com Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar Austin, 78704 | agliff.org OCTOBER Mediterranean Festival Homemade food, wine and cocktails, Austin Museum Day Austin City Limits Music Festival dancing and live music Free exhibitions and activities at With great food, an art market, too many St. Elias Orthodox Church, Austin, 78701 participating Austin-area museums musical performers to list and much mediterraneanfestival.org DT Austin | austinmuseums.org more, this certainly is an event you’ll want to catch. Burnet Bluegrass Festival Zilker Park, Austin, 78746 NOVEMBER Bring a cooler and some chairs and enjoy aclfestival.com a full day of good music, tasty food, Austin Celtic Festival vendors and more. Austin Film Festival The festival highlights the traditions and Haley Nelson Park, Burnet, 78611 Outstanding program of narrative, achievements of places like Ireland and cityofburnet.com animation, documentary features, shorts, Scotland, leaders in folk music and dance. premieres, advanced screenings and Fiesta Gardens, Austin, 78702 Diez y Seis Celebration independent films austincelticfestival.com Mariachi music, dancers in traditional DT Austin | austinfi lmfestival.com dresses, a procession of costumed riders Austin Powwow and American Indian on horseback, vaqueros performing rope Día de los Muertos Viva la Vida Fest Heritage Festival tricks and more fun Featuring Latino artists and entertainment, This celebration of Native American Fiesta Gardens Park, Austin, 78702 educational art activities and a grand culture features Native dancers, a culture diezyseis.org procession in the heart of downtown. tent and many other presentations. Mexic-Arte Museum, Austin, 78701 Toney Burger Center Fantastic Fest mexic-artemuseumevents.org Sunset Valley, 78745 | austinpowwow.net This is the largest genre film festival in the U.S., specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, Fall Fun Fest Christmas Affair action and just plain fantastic movies. This festival has plenty of monstrous More than 200 vendors, children’s Multiple Locations, Austin games and rides that are sure to be a activities and events for the teens fantasticfest.com lively start to Halloween Day for the kids. Palmer Events Center, Austin, 78704 Old Settlers Park, Round Rock, 78664 jlaustin.org Kerrville Fall Music Festival roundrocktexas.gov Live music, activities for children, Chuy’s Children Giving to Children new folk competition and concerts Formula 1 Parade for emerging songwriters. Catch one of the most popular high- The Chuy’s parade serves as a toy drive Quiet Valley Ranch, Kerrville, 78028 speed races with competitors from all for children in need. Enjoy giant inflatable kerrville-music.com over the world. balloons, holiday floats, classic cars and Circuit of the Americas, Austin, 78617 marching bands. circuitoftheamericas.com DT Austin | chuysparade.com

Blues on the Green East Austin Studio Tour Austin Trail of Lights BudaFest Galleries and artist studios all over Austin Follow the trail for over a mile of colorful The event features a parade, a carnival open their doors to the public for two lights and enjoy the multitude of holiday located at the city park, food, live music weekends of showcases, celebrations decorations, activities and food trucks. and of course, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus! and workshops. Zilker Park, Austin, 78746 City Park, Buda, 78610 | budafest.org Austin | east.bigmedium.org austintrailofl ights.org Christmas Stroll Fun Fun Fun Fest Blue Genie Art Bazaar Shop the craft vendors and enjoy the Independent genre based festival, known Shop for holiday gifts and support local parade, food, live music and a chance to as one of the most relaxed, creative, and artists simultaneously. take a photo with Santa. pioneering festivals in music today. Airport Boulevard, Austin, 78752 DT Georgetown Auditorium Shores, Austin, 78704 bluegenieartbazaar.com thegeorgetownsquare.com funfunfunfest.com Breakfast with Santa Zilker Tree Lighting Texas Book Festival Families get to meet with Santa, Mrs. The Zilker Tree stands 155 feet tall and is This festival showcases about 250 Claus, Rudolph and a host of Santa’s composed of 39 streamers, each holding authors each year, offering live music, helpers while enjoying a great breakfast 81 multicolored, 25-watt bulbs - totaling cooking demonstrations, book signings buffet. Reservation required. 3,159 lights. and much more. Lakeway Activity Center Zilker Park, Austin, 78746 , Austin, 78701 Lakeway, 78734 | lakeway-tx.gov austintexas.gov texasbookfestival.org

Texas Monthly BBQ Festival Barbecue joints from all over Texas are represented at this festival of fun, music, and, of course, great food. The Long Center, Austin, 78704 Zilker Tree Lighting texasmonthly.com

ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot The largest 5-mile run in Texas, this event is one of Austin’s Thanksgiving traditions. The Long Center, Austin, 78704 thundercloud.com

Wizard World Comic Con Special guests, panels and a sea of costumes serve to celebrate the best of pop culture. Austin Convention Center Austin, 78701 | wizardworld.com

Wurstfest A unique celebration rich in German culture and Texas fun where you can enjoy good food, special events and Alpine and Bavarian-style entertainment Landa Park, New Braunfels, 78130 wurstfest.com

DECEMBER Armadillo Christmas Bazaar Art fair and music festival rolled into one. It has long been the city’s favorite scene for holiday shopping, Austin style. Palmer Event Center, Austin, 78704 armadillobazaar.com

Austin Symphony Christmas in the Community A reworking of the Christmas Sing-Along, the Austin Symphony takes the music out of the concert hall and into the community, reaching out to new audiences. Austin | austinsymphony.org