Reading Time: 5 minutes

This post on things to do in Austin pairs with our broader luxury content. For the regional market context, see our guide to luxury homes in Texas. For the architectural styles framework, see our catalog of luxury home design styles in Austin.

January

January may be the best time for music-lovers to visit Austin, especially if “free” is in your list of requirements for good music. Free Week happens every year in early January in the Red River Cultural District and hundreds of bands participate in it. It occurs in multiple venues all around Austin.  So consult free week for more details on where to go when.

March

The most popular event in March in Austin is undoubtedly SXSW^®, an annual music, film and interactive conference. But, there are also many other great events going on. The Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo is also very popular and runs for two weeks. The Kite Festival is more family-friendly fun. The weather is beautiful and it really is the perfect time of year to be on-the-go! Photo: Austin American Statesman Here are a few of our favorite local things to do in Austin in March: Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo Travis County Exposition Center Austin goes cowboy as PCRA competitors hit the arena and area-students exhibit prize livestock. Headline entertainers perform in concert nightly. www.rodeoaustin.com Zilker Park Kite Festival Zilker Park The nation’s oldest kite festival features hundreds of kites in the air and is free to attend for people of all ages; complete with kite flying contests, food, games and more. www.abckitefestival.com SXSW® Music, Film, and Interactive Conference and Festivals Austin Convention Center, Various Locations Over 300,000 attendees, filmmakers, musicians and multimedia artists from around the world converge to showcase music, film and interactive media during this internationally-recognized event. www.sxsw.com St. Patrick’s Day Festival Various Locations For over ten years the Celtic Cultural Center of Texas has organized the best Austin St. Paddy’s Day celebration in central Texas. A family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day where families can come out and enjoy the culture of Ireland including music, dance and language. www.stpatricksdayaustin.com Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Mike A. Myers Stadium, UT campus The premier track & field event brings together the best high school, college and professional athletes from Texas, the U.S. and the world. The weekend wraps up with the Urban Music Festival on Saturday, which features soul, R&B and hip hop artists. www.texassports.com Austin Urban Music Festival Celebrate this year’s 9th Annual local urban music scene, aimed at enhancing and sustaining the Afro-Centric experience musically, culturally, and economically. This year’s theme “The Music Speaks” helps enhance music as a universal language. austinurbanmusicfestival.com Zilker Garden Festival For over 50 years, the annual Zilker Garden Festival has been a one-stop, garden shopping destination when spring arrives in Austin and Central Texas. A family-friendly event, the garden festival offers something for everyone, including the annual flower show, live music, gardening talks, a kid’s corner and food court. Capitol 10,000 Congress Avenue to Auditorium Shores Texas’ largest 10K race and one of the nation’s top runs draws some 10,000 serious and not-so-serious runners. www.statesman.com

May

The Pecan Street Spring Festival Historic Sixth Street is a free family event. It is, in fact, one of the oldest and largest art festivals in Central Texas. Local musicians, food vendors, artists, and craftspeople turn Sixth Street – historically called Pecan Street – into a lively street fair where there is something for people of all ages.

June & July

Blues on the Green Every other Wednesday from late May to early August, Zilker Park will be filled with thousands of people, blankets, lawn chairs, families and music lovers. As Austin’s largest FREE concert series, KGSR’s Blues on the Green is consistently ranked as a top annual entertainment event, and has become a staple of the Austin lifestyle and a very casual and comfortable experience. Blues on the Green Republic of Texas Biker Rally Travis County Exposition Center and Sixth Street The state’s largest motorcycle gathering attracts thousands of bikers for rides, parades and music. rotrally.com Juneteenth Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of slaves in Texas following the end of the Civil War. Festivities include pageants, parades and a battle of the bands. juneteenthcentraltexas.com Keep Austin Weird Festival & 5K The Long Center for Performing Arts Keep Austin Weird reflects Austin’s creativity and culture through music, family activities and local food vendors. keepaustinweirdfest.com Where to see fireworks on July 4th in Austin, Texas July 4th Concert and Fireworks Spend Independence Day with this annual show by the Austin Symphony Orchestra at the beautiful Circuit of The Americas (COTA)! This is a variety of fun, old-fashioned July 4th holiday activities, including interactive games and contests for the whole family. The orchestra performs some of the traditional favorites, followed by “mile-high” fireworks at approximately 9:30 p.m. The event is usually free and open to the public. austinsymphony.org

August

Austin is known for its bats, and the Bat Fest located at Congress Avenue Bridge celebrates the little guys. Known as the world’s largest urban bat colony (1.5 million Mexican Free-Tailed Bats which take up seasonal residence beneath the Congress Street Bridge), the bats take to the skies for their nightly flight. Enjoy live music, children activities, a costume contest and more. If you prefer to see the bats with fewer bat fans, they take up flight most of the Summer as well. To see their schedule and get more details, check out the bat’s schedule.

October

Austin City Limits Music Festival Zilker Park One of the country’s largest celebrations of live music is Austin City Limits Music Festival. Taking up two weekends, the six-day festival brings the magic of the famed public TV series “Austin City Limits” out to Austin’s most beloved park. More than 150 musical acts take over eight stages along with local food vendors, brewers, artists and pop-up shops and artists. It is very popular and widely attended and, in some circles, considered the “place to be” in early October. Austin Film Festival The Austin Film Festival is recognized as one of the top film festivals in the country. Yes, that’s right, and it happens at our own Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas. This cinematic event features both top-billed films and indie films. If you are a film-lover, this festival is for you. Formula 1 United States Grand Prix Calling all race fans, the FORMULA 1 United States Grand Prix race takes place in October at the Circuit of The Americas. International drivers compete to take the top prize on the prestigious track, and fans come from all over the world to watch. This event promises three days of racing, camping, live music events and more – including headlining performances by stars like Justin Timberlake.

December

The Trail of Lights rounds out the year with holiday spirit extraordinaire, lighting up the season with a celebration of amazing sights, memories, and fun. Plan your visit early and don’t forget to take a spin under the Zilker Tree!