Austin Festivals, Cultural Events, and Conventions: An Expert’s Guide

Austin is bursting at the seams with yearly events of every stripe. No matter your interests, there’s a festival, carnival, convention, or showing for you practically every month.

Here are just a few samples of the events you can find in a neighborhood near you, a tiny little cross-section of the plethora of activities located near your future home.

Sink a Few at the Texas Craft Brewers Festival
The Texas Craft Brewers Festival represents a kind of Christmas for the Austin craft brewery scene, which is booming. The beer industry adds around 4 billion dollars to the economy of Texas, with Austin serving as the central mecca of the entire movement.

Located in Fiesta Gardens near the end of September, the Texas Craft Brewers Festival is within 4 miles of Crescent and Downtown, and only 5 miles from South Congress. Too many breweries to list show up for the festival, but here’s just a small sample: Saint Arnold, Freetail, Texas Beer Co, Last Stand, White Stone, Black Star Co-Op, and Bearded Fox.

An open park, no kids, and dozens of craft breweries pumping out the latest and greatest reds and lagers and IPAs? And its only one of many craft brewery events that happens every year? For the beer aficionado, that’s a no-brainer.

Party at Eeyore’s Birthday
On the last Saturday of April, Pease Park holds a celebration of the dour and depressed donkey Eeyore’s not-forgotten birthday. Started by college students in 1963, Eeyore’s Birthday has since transformed into an all-day festival.

Just 2 miles from Downtown and 5 miles from South Congress and West Lake Vistas, Eeyore’s Birthday features costume contests, live music, food, drink, and a good time. Hippies meet hipsters in this wild celebration that is still a kid-friendly romp in the park.

Children dance around maypoles to celebrate the glum donkey, and you can get your face painted in wild colors and sparkles. And the best part is the entire thing is a fundraiser for non-profit groups and charities in Austin, so you can party with a sense of civic pride!

Harness Your Inner Designer at Austin Fashion Week
Hosted in various retail locations, theaters, and squares all around the city, Austin Fashion Week usually occurs near the end of March / beginning of April every year.

Hundreds of fashion legends and thousands of industry experts and fashion-fiends descend upon Austin, rubbing a little more glam on an already sparkling city. Galleries, boutique shops, salons, and other venues host unforgettable soirees and miniature runway shows wherever there’s room.

Not only do international fashion celebrities fill the streets during Austin Fashion Week, but there are also showcases and runways specifically for shining a spotlight on local Austin designers with a flare of fashion.

Get Geeky at the IKKiCON Anime Convention
Held in January every year, IKKiCON is the largest anime convention in Austin, Texas. Just 5 miles from Scofield Park, 4 miles from North Austin, and 3 miles from the Domain, IKKiCON is hosted in the Renaissance Hotel.

With over 6,000 anime fans converging on the festival, IKKiCON attracts anime talent from across the globe. In previous years, voice actors like Bryce Papenbrook (who voices characters in both Attack on Titan and Sword Art Online) attended, alongside former Blue and White Power Rangers Kevin Duhaney and Jeff Parazzo.

Celebrity cosplayers have a large presence at IKKiCON, and the exhibition floor is filled with vendors like Anime Pop, Tee-Cat, Tasty Peach Studios, and more.

Join costume contests, attend art showings, and win awesome gear in round-the-clock giveaways.

An Eventful City to Explore
Listing all of Austin’s events, musical festivals, soirees, and carnivals would take up most of your day, so don’t be afraid to ask around with the locals. From the cultural bonanza that is SXSW to the Alamo Drafthouse’s many hilarious movie parties and a thousand other options, you’ll never be short of things to do in Austin.

Where to Find the Best Secret Shopping Spots in Austin

Austin is a bustling, economically booming city full of shops and malls for any budget or lifestyle. From swanky corporate malls to tucked-away boutiques, Austin has exactly the retail experience you’re looking for, well within walking or biking distance of wherever you end up living.

Here are just a few samples of shopping options near your future home, but don’t think of this as a comprehensive list. There are hundreds of options within 10 miles of where you end up, so keep your eyes and your Google Maps open while exploring the city.

Shop in Nature at the Arboretum at Great Hills
If you’re in North Austin or Scofield Park, the Arboretum at Great Hills offers a family-friendly setting to get some shopping done, or to spend a lovely afternoon. Whether you’re picking up swimwear at “Everything But Water” or clothes shopping with the girls at “Francesca’s Collections” or “Soma Intimates,” the Arboretum has exactly what you’re looking for.

The best part about shopping in the Arboretum is the atmosphere: The Arboretum gets its name from the huge grove of trees that surrounds the mall and that entire section of the city.

Get Quirky, Eclectic, and Local in SoCo
SoCo is the hip term for “South Congress Avenue,” which hosts a massive array of kitschy shops, modern boutiques, and vintage stores selling the latest in old styles.

Shops like “y&I Clothing Boutique” and “Creatures Boutique” sell the newest chic women’s fashion and jewelry, while world-famous spots like “Allen’s Boots” can set you up with the perfect cowboy boots to transform you into a true Austin native.

Combine these and dozens of other boutiques with live music and delicious little eateries, and it’s no surprise that SoCo is the hottest new spot in Austin.

Go Local with Farmers Markets
Farmers markets are huge right now, and if you’ve never been to one, it’s not just a fruit and vegetable bazaar. Farmers markets are becoming gathering places for the community to enjoy fresh produce, meat, flowers, chocolate, and more while listening to live music or other live events. You can usually get homemade staples like fresh baked bread, too, which might be one of the most delicious and simple treats there is.

The Barton Creek farmer’s market is within striking distance of our Crescent, Barton Creek, and West Lake Visas properties, while the Austin Farmer’s Market is not far from Scofield Park and offers all of the above plus children’s activities and more.

Upscale Fashion Boutiques for the Classy Couture
If you’re the kind of couture-centered shopper obsessed with the newest styles, Austin has you covered. Near downtown, you have spots like “Blue Elephant,” and “By George,” just to name a few, that are stocked with hip, in-season sartorial fair.

There’s also larger shops like “United Apparel Liquidators” and “Spring Frost Boutique” that specialize in outlet-level prices on true designer clothing.

Anywhere you choose to live in Austin, you’ll be all set with threads, no matter the budget or style.

Go Big at the Domain
One of the hottest spots in an already blazing city, the Domain is a combo shopping center and office park that is crammed with places to shop, eat, work, live, and mingle.

Listing all of the shops would be madness, but they’ve got world-spanning brands like American Eagle Outfitters, Anthropologie, Ben Bridge, and Banana Republic. The restaurants are all top-notch, and the open-air style allows you to shop all day without sacrificing fresh air and sunshine.

Your Only Limit is Your Trunk Size
With a booming economy, a flood of visitors and newcomers, the shopping scene in Austin is out of control. No matter your budget or your needs, you’ll have no problem burning daylight in Austin shops and boutiques.

The Local Food You Absolutely Must Try in Austin

Unique, exciting cuisine flows through Austin in rivers – it would be faster to list the restaurants that aren’t amazing. Instead, we’ve decided to showcase a few original, insanely delicious restaurants right within striking distance of our properties.

Though the usual advice for a good restaurant in Austin is “pick a direction and stop at the first place you see,” here are some spots that have left us, and our bellies, extremely happy.

Snack at the Salty Sow
An Austin gastropub with unpretentious but undeniably modern food, the Salty Sow features items on its menu like “Chicken Liver Mousse” and “Pastrami Salmon.” The Bacon & Gruyere Roasted Bone Marrow is pure buttery richness, and the Slow-Cooked Beef Shoulder tastes like a slice of roasted heaven.

If you live in South Congress or anywhere near downtown, you’ll be less than 4 miles from this temple to hand-crafted, innovative cuisine.

When Asking for Good Food, Be More Pacific
The owners, immigrant Filipino chefs Giovan Cuchapin and Mark Pascual, began this paean to Filipino food as a successful food truck. They parlayed that success into a real brick-and-mortar shop, located just 3 miles from West Austin, 5 miles from the Domain, and 6 miles from Scofield Park.

The secret of their success is simple – authentic Filipino food served in traditional Filipino styles. They’ve even started the “Kamayan Experience,” which is a real tradition where loved ones and friends eat together without utensils. Just you, your friends, and an entire tray full of delicious fare to go crazy on.

If you love lumpia, adobo, sweet garlic fried rice, and curry coconut dishes, “Be More Pacific” delivers the goods and then some.

Farm to Table Cuisine You Have to Try at Eden East
An actual, authentic farm-to-table restaurant with rave reviews, Eden East is the real deal. Because all of their ingredients are sourced from local ranches and farms, their menu is prix fixe, meaning they only serve what they have. Luckily, their chef has never had a problem crafting mouth-watering, fresh meals that leave customers absolutely satisfied.

Diners eat farm-style under a gorgeous, sprawling tree, and are invited to bring their own wine to enjoy with their meal.

Despite the natural setting, Eden East is only 5 miles from South Congress and 4 miles from Downtown. Enjoy the locally-sourced ranch experience without going on a pilgrimage to the country.

Get Out and Whip In
Whip In is a unique, funky little establishment located just a few miles from Crescent and downtown, and only 7 miles from Hill Country. Whip In began as a local market, and in fact still does business as a local market. However, now they also run a gastropub and eatery out of the location, and even have over 70 beers on tap!

Whip In is a fantastic little lunch spot where you can chow down on anything from their savory red curry goat to simple fair like the Ploughman’s Lunch, which is a nice little snack with a baguette, butter, honey, and a selection of cheeses like gruyere and gouda.

With a full wine list and a stocked market to shop in after, Whip In can turn an afternoon chore into a blissful little vacation.

The Japanese Fusion World of Uchi
Right across the bridge, less than 2 miles from downtown, lies a quaint bungalow that bursts with flavor.

Uchi (which means “house” in Japanese) is the brain child of Tyson Cole, who also serves as head chef. Tyson sharpened his culinary skills in New York, Austin, and Tokyo, spending a decade learning the tricks of the trade with top sushi masters.

For 15 years, Uchi has been Cole’s canvas, upon which he paints the kind of non-traditional Japanese food you won’t forget. Make sure you try the maguro & goat cheese!

Never Go Hungry Again
Forget the national franchises and the steakhouses you see in the commercials: Austin has enough unique, local fare to keep you busy for the rest of your life. Grab a fork, pick a direction to walk in, and you’ll spot somewhere delicious to nosh in no time.

Unwind and Party in the Hottest Nightlife in Texas

It’s no surprise that the Austin nightlife is jumpin’. In a RealtyTrac survey, downtown Austin came up #1 for most bars per capita of any city in the nation – 88, in just that neighborhood alone. That doesn’t even account for all the bars outside of downtown.

So, grab a drink, put on your dancing shoes, and check out these local haunts:

Music and Game Nights Near Crescent
If you’re kicking your shoes off at Crescent, you’re lucky to be right smack dab in the middle of SoCo, one of the hippest sections of Austin.

For starters, you’ll be situated just down South Congress Avenue from The Continental Club, one of the oldest and most famous spots in Austin. Since 1955, the Continental has changed many times, but it’s never lost its luster: from a dinner spot to a burlesque club to a downhome bar to what it is now, a live-music venue famous for hosting such giants as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Plant, and Bill Frisell.

You’ll also be near places like the Gibson Street bar – a chic spot that hosts events like crawfish boils and game nights. They also have hand-crafted cocktails by expert barman Nick Gonzalez, and a food menu that blew famous chef Guy Fieri away on the show “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.”

Find a Classy Good Time Near Barton Creek
Living at Barton Creek and looking for a slice of the nightlife? Check out Barton’s Lounge at the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa. The lounge itself is a refined joint with a classy atmosphere, and deals in craft beers and custom cocktails.

Just down the street is the Grove Wine Bar, a perfect destination for the inner sommelier inside us all. Heavily stocked with every kind of wine the heart desires, and serving up unique New American cuisine, the Grove is the kind of evening destination that’s perfect for dates or just unwinding after a long week.

The Hometown Watering Holes Near Scofield Park
Within a few miles of Scofield Park lies the Hideout Pub, a bar with the catchphrase, “Why go downtown when you can Hideout?” They focus on yummy burgers and cheap drinks, and promise a down-to-earth oasis from pretension. They’ve got pinball, darts, and chili-cheese waffle fries that are just as delicious as they sound.

Speaking of nearby and unpretentious – Detour is a fun little establishment that hosts karaoke Mondays and spins old school albums on Thursdays. Bring your friends, grab a stool, and slug down your poison of choice at this neighborhood gem.

Or check out the Local Post Pub, which is also nearby and is the go-to spot for anyone who wants to have a beer and play a few games with their pals. Engage in card games, shuffleboard, corn hole, and more while you nosh on smoked brisket sliders and wet your whistle with any of their amazing on-tap drafts.

Beer, Dogs, and Games at West Lake Vistas
Will you be hanging your hat at West Lake Vistas? If so, consider one of these nearby watering holes for a pleasant night after a long day.

Just down the street from West Lake Vistas lies the punny-named Pour House, a pub that serves local drafts like “Blood and Honey,” “Pale Mosaic,” and “Thirsty Goat Amber.” They also have rotating seasonal taps and a nice selection of delicious burgers and pub food.

Right next to the Pour House lies the Yard Bar – a local bar that serves beer, custom cocktails, and dogs. Well, it doesn’t serve dogs, that would be gross – instead, they have an attached dog park that lets dog owners have a pint while hanging out with man’s best friend.

A Party for Every Partier
No matter what flavor of nightlife you’re searching for, Austin offers up a heaping helping of music, craft beer, mouth-watering food, and enough Southern hospitality to fill a wheel barrow.

Need Exercise, Fresh Air, and Gorgeous Vistas? Austin Has You Covered

With the perpetual summer for which Austin is famous, there’s no better place for outdoor activities. The nearby Colorado River and Lady Bird Lake provide ample opportunities for watersports and watercraft activities, while the scenic trails of Austin make a perfect venue for hiking and biking.

The possibilities are endless, but here are just a few outdoor activities located near downtown Austin and well within the reach of Barton Creek, South Congress, and other neighborhoods.

Bike and Brew ATX
Love beer, wine, or spirits? Bike and Brew ATX offers an awesome experience for the true booze enthusiast. They host tours of local wineries, breweries, and distilleries, but the catch is that you do it all from the back of a custom bicycle!

Get the heart pumping, cruise through downtown Austin, and get a snootful of your libation of choice. Bike and Brew ATX specializes in local adventure, connecting you with people from around the world who’ve come to check out this unique brewery tour.

The Trail at Lady Bird Lake
One of the most famous hiking and biking trails in Texas, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail is more commonly known as “The Trail.” This 10-mile stretch of scenic landscape sees almost 2 million local and foreign visitors a year.

The best part is that you don’t have to trek out into the wilderness to enjoy it. The Trail winds around the chunk of the Colorado River that cuts through Austin, past Lady Bird Lake, and all the way to Longhorn Dam in the east.

With an unbeatable view of the water and nature along the trail, there are few better ways to spend a warm afternoon or evening.

Live Love Paddle
Ever been on a kayak, paddleboard, or canoe? Whether on your own or with a guide, Live Love Paddle rents hand-propelled watercraft to any would-be adventurers looking to explore the waterways of Austin.

From Lady Bird Lake to the Congress Bridge, day or night, you can take charge of your destiny, breathe fresh air, and get a little exercise in while you slip down the water.

With rental spots just 2 miles from downtown, right near South Congress, and only 6 miles if you’re in Hill Country, you can go from couch to kayak in less than fifteen minutes.

Lone Star River Boat Tours
Have you ever gone bat-watching? Yes, that’s absolutely a real thing – at least in Austin – and one of the best ways to bat-watch is from the deck of a riverboat. Lone Star Riverboat offers tours down Lady Bird Lake, with three different packages.

Weekend afternoon cruises offer a fully narrated tour down the waterside, and last about an hour. The bat-watching tour takes place at sunset, and gives you a first-class view of the sharp, flocking silhouettes of over a million bats as they take wing from under the Congress Avenue Bridge. The third tour is an evening tour that gives passengers a romantic cruise across the water.

Here are two more things that might sway you to try the Lone Star River Boat Tours: you can bring your own alcohol, and all of the Lone Star ships are electric, meaning you can enjoy your leisurely cruise without taking a chunk out of the environment.

Your Biker Gang
Located at the heart of downtown Austin, Your Biker Gang is a vehicle rental service for the truly hardcore. You get your own tiny, adorable, but surprisingly beefy electric motorcycle that seats up to two. And the second person gets to ride for free, which is pretty tough to top.

Get your whole family or friend group together, hop on your surprisingly green electric choppers, and cruise around Austin.

Watch the fear and awe in the faces of passersby as you and your crew roll down the street, hopefully blasting your rock music of choice.

Catch Sunshine and a Smile in Austin
Whether you prefer cruising the glittering waterways, slashing through the park on a bike, or taking the shoelace express through miles of hiking trails, every neighborhood in Austin has world-class options for soaking in the Texas sun.

The Arts, Music, and Leisure You Can’t Miss in Austin

There’s a reason Austin ranks at #4 in “Best Cities for Artists,” and any visitor or resident can reap the benefits of this explosion of art and culture.

Wherever you end up in Austin, there’s going to be so many music venues, art galleries, and museums that your only problem will be finding the time to see them all.

An Education in the ‘60s at the LBJ Presidential Library
The LBJ Presidential Library is filled with fascinating artifacts from a turbulent time in US History. There are exhibits devoted to the era of LBJ himself, including a gallery for the assassination of president Kennedy, a Social Justice Gallery full of keepsakes and images from the Civil Rights movement and the Great Society. There’s an entire interactive exhibit devoted to the Vietnam war as well, with photos, files, and films all available for viewing.

The library also serves as a community gathering spot, hosting events like Easter Egg hunts, the Lady Bird Johnson “Environmental Awards” ceremony, fundraisers, and guest speakers on every topic imaginable.

Get Cultured at the Mexic-Arte Museum
Just north of South Congress and adjacent to downtown, the Mexic-Arte Museum celebrates Austin’s rich Latin American cultural history and the artists that make it possible. The museum hosts photo and art galleries with Latin American masters both old and new, and prides itself on featuring up-and-coming young talent.

They also offer learning programs for the community, including educational tours, screen printing workshops, and educator courses designed to help school teachers use and teach contemporary art in classrooms.

A Modern, Digital Offering at the Harry Ransom Center
Are you planning on landing in North Austin? Make sure to check out the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas. A modern museum, not only do they feature traditional art exhibits, they also have digital collections like the Gabriel Garcia Marquez online archive that brings together the Colombian writer’s drafts, screenplays, and unpublished writing.

Tanks, Artillery, and Missiles Invade the Texas Military Forces Museum
There’s no better museum for military enthusiasts than the Texas Military Forces Museum. Near West Lake Vistas, the TMFM is actually on the grounds of Camp Mabry. See old decommissioned military equipment from multiple eras of American history: there’s an entire “Armor Row” in their Artillery Park devoted to old tanks like the M1 Abrams, the M48 Patton, and even an LT-LB Soviet Tracked Vehicle that was taken in Operation Desert Storm.

The TMFM also hosts year-round events for veterans and armed forces historians and fans alike. Check out events like the “Mabry Mixer,” which invites anyone to come and taste champagne and wines with a WWII vintage. They also host an Open House and Muster Day, where military reenactors from every era gather to show off their amazingly accurate gear.

The Local Scene at the Yard Dog Art Gallery
An intimate, quirky little spot right in the beating heart of Austin’s SoCo district, the Yard Dog Art Gallery features contemporary art from both local and established artists. Check out exhibitions of Bob Schneider’s funky mixed-medium pop explosions, or the vibrant and hard-edged work of Bill Miller.

They also specialize in art from talented musicians like Johnny Romeo, Harry Underwood, and Tom Russel.

A Pop Culture Tribute at The Mondo Gallery
A unique temple to the art of pop culture in North Austin, the Mondo Gallery hosts exhibits from comic book art to movie posters to concept art and everything in between and beyond. You’ll find prints from movie poster legend Drew Struzan, the genius behind the famous “Back to the Future,” “Goonies,” “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” “Harry Potter,” “Blade Runner,” and pretty much every other cultural blockbuster.

And not only do they host art exhibits, they also have pop culture apparel, games, and unique or rare figures and statuettes you can pick up right in the gallery shop. The Mondo Gallery is mandatory visiting for any pop culture geek in the family.

In Austin, You’ll Never be Stuck at Home with Nothing to Do
Austin is a hotspot of art, music, and culture that draws visitors from all across the nation. Whether you’re in downtown, SoCo, Barton Creek, or up near Scofield Park, you have your pick of the litter when it comes to museums and music venues.

The venues on this list are just a few local options, but by no means does this list catalogue all the culture you can find in Austin.

In Austin, you’ll have to work pretty hard to get bored.

The Austin Family that Plays Together Stays Together

Austin may be a wonderland for hip young people and more experienced, cultured folks alike, but it’s also a wonderful city for child and family-based activities. From outdoor hiking and watersports to science learning centers, any kids living in West Austin, Downtown, Domain, or any of a dozen neighborhoods will have no trouble at all finding fun for the whole family.

Let us share just a few of many recommendations for the thrill-seeking family on the go.

Under the Sea at the Austin Aquarium
Close to Scofield Park and West Lake Vistas at 13530 N. Hwy 183 #101, the Austin Aquarium is the perfect spot for a day of family fun.

You can feed rays and sharks, watch the mysterious dance of glowing jelly fish, and even see the giant pacific octopus! The Austin Aquarium is happy to host birthday parties, too, if you’re looking for a slightly more educational and worldly experience than the local Chuck E Cheese.

The Austin Aquarium also hosts a summer “Stingray Camp” that teaches young campers how to feed aquarium superstars like the giant octopus, seahorses, and even the reptilian residents. The “Shark Camp” teaches teenage kids about breeding the animals in the aquarium, and how to care for the many creatures of the sea.

Soak in some Rays in the Barton Creek Greenbelt
Just a short jaunt from Crescent and SoCo, and inside Barton Creek at 3755 S Capital of Texas Hwy, the Barton Creek Greenbelt is the perfect kid-friendly spot for families looking for unstructured activities, families who love to explore and strike out on their own.

With over 7 miles of hiking and bike trails and a natural swimming area, you can create your own impromptu Ironman Competition (or Irontot Competition, for the wee ones). Active families and kids who love soaking in the great outdoors can’t miss this park.

Explore the Incredible Cathedral of Junk
Not far from Barton Creek or West Lake, and just south of South Congress, the Cathedral of Junk is a monument to the weird, unpredictable nature of Austin culture. The Cathedral of Junk, crafted by local resident Vince Hannemann, sits on a small suburban lot at 4422-4424 Lareina Dr, Austin. Don’t let the mundane setting fool you, however, because the Cathedral is about as unique as it comes.

The Cathedral of Junk sometimes leaves adults scratching their head, but kids famously love it. The Cathedral is a labyrinth of cast-off bits fused together, everything from car parts to pots and pans to beer signs, time pieces, and half-working TVs that illuminate the lattice of metallic hallways tangled with vines and local plant growth.

Check out the Cathedral of Junk to walk through a quirky, unbelievable piece of living art.

Fall in Love with Nature at the Austin Nature and Science Center
West of downtown Austin, in Zilker Park, the Austin Nature & Science Center is an interactive natural museum, park, and learning center. It’s been operating for over 50 years, serving thousands of kids and inquisitive adults ever since.

The goal of the Austin Nature and Science Center is to bring attention to nature, and foster a life-long love of the environment in future generations. They also host book club meetings, collage workshops, flashlight Easter egg hunts, dance and music shows, urban bird celebrations, and a hundred other family-friendly activities to get your kids out of the house and breathing a little fresh air.

Catch Science-Fever at The Thinkery
The Thinkery is the aptly named center for curiosity and scientific inquisitiveness for children in Austin, near Scofield Park and North Austin, located at 2389 Stratford Drive.

Their mission statement is “to create innovative learning experiences that equip and inspire the next generation of creative problem solvers,” which they do through science exhibits, workshops, and events.

Their “Currents” exhibit teaches kids about fluid dynamics through wet, watery exhibits that lets children have fun with water and learn at the same time. Their “Innovator’s Workshop” combines art and science to teach kids the love of invention, showing them how to create simple machines, paint on glass, or build small engineering marvels from available materials.

A Promise of Family Fun for All
And these are just a few hotspots! Lady Bird Lake, just south of Downtown, rents paddleboats, canoes, and kayaks, and has tons of biking trails and park for any family.

Family fun is around every corner in Austin, no matter where you live.