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City Cast Austin

Find the best of everything that Austin has to offer. 

Kelsey Bradshaw

, a free, three-day music festival, starts Thursday and runs through Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:

Get Familiar With Red River Cultural District

The festival takes over Austin’s Red River Cultural District downtown, which runs along Red River Street from East 12th Street to East Seventh Street. You don’t need a ticket or a badge — just show up 

Thirteen venues in the area are participating in the festival:

Obviously yes, this festival is happening locally, but it’s local in another way. Dozens of Austin bands and artists are on the lineup, showcasing what the Live Music Capital of the World has to offer. Blakchyl, Libby and the Loveless, and Big Wy’s Brass Band are among the artists slated to play.

Shows start around 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and closer to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and run past 1 a.m.

In addition to some homegrown music, you’ll also have your pick of local food vendors including Ditty Dog, Jo’s Coffee, and Hoboken Pie. Food specials, like 10% off all food at Stubb’s BBQ, are available during the festival.

If music and food isn’t enough, a night market featuring Austin creatives is happening on Saturday.

I applaud you Type B people who can just go with the flow, but for an event like this, I prefer to go in with as much information as possible. Peruse the 

 and map out who you want to see and where. Leave a gap or two in your schedule for exploring, too!

Hot Summer Nights Is Here. Your Guide to Austin’s Free Music Festival.

Austin’s Best

Austin's Best

Temperatures will near triple digits on Saturday with a high of 99 degrees expected during the day. Skies will be clear and mostly sunny, 

. At night, temperatures will dip to a low near 77 degrees and skies will be partly cloudy. Saturday will be a classic summer day in Austin!

The annual, free summer musical put on by Zilker Theatre Productions makes me feel lucky to live in Austin. Starting July 10, 

you can see a production of “Singin’ in the Rain”

 on Thursdays through Sundays at Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater. Shows start at 8:15 p.m. and you can set up a blanket or camping chair for watching. You can pack a picnic, too!

July is prime hot dog season in Austin. Yes, of course, I’m sure you’re enjoying a dog year-round, but there’s just something about July.

Maybe it’s Jennifer Coolidge’s delivery of 

“You look like the Fourth of July! It makes me want a hot dog real bad”

 in “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde.” Or maybe it’s because 

, a totally real holiday, falls on July 15. Either way, here’s 

If that’s not enough, you could always go to 

Fourth of July gets all the publicity, but Austinites know the premiere July event in town is 

Hot Summer Nights, a free, three-day music festival

 downtown. The festival runs July 16-18 and takes place in the Red River Cultural District and features dozens of local musicians, eats, and vendors. All you have to do is show up!

One More Chance for ‘Jaws’ on the Water

I get excited about this event every summer. Volente Beach does two showings of “Jaws” where attendees watch from tubes in Lake Travis with scuba divers lurking below, reading to grab a limb or two. 

The final such event for the summer is on July 18

Your Guide to July 2026 in Austin

It’s summertime and you live in the Live Music Capital of the World, of course I have a list of five free concerts happening this summer!

Here’s where to catch some live, free tunes:

Try Austin’s Oldest Outdoor Concert Series

The Pan Am Hillside Summer Concert Series is celebrating its 66th year this summer, making it the oldest outdoor concert series in Austin. 

Concerts are on Tuesdays throughout July from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

 on the hillside next to Oswaldo A.B. Cantu Pan American Recreation Center. The concerts often feature Tejano music.

St. Elmo’s Brewing Co. puts on free bluegrass concerts every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at both its Springdale Road and St. Elmo Road locations. 

 happens every Thursday during the summer through Aug. 13. Grab a blanket and find a spot on the grass outside the Long Center near Auditorium Shores. Shows start at 8 p.m.

H-E-B offers free concerts at its Lake Austin and South Congress locations 

. At Lake Austin, shows are every Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The South Congress store hosts concerts every third Saturday of the month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hot Summer Nights Music Festival is coming up, y’all! 

The three-day, free festival runs July 16-18

 in the Red River Cultural District downtown. Dozens of local musicians are on the lineup, along with a vendor market and lots of food and drink specials.

They don't call us the "Live Music Capital of the World" for nothing!

5 Free Concerts Happening This Summer in Austin

It’s that time of year, Austin! The Fourth of July is a little over a week away and fireworks, good food, and live music are all on the agenda:

Launderette in Austin’s Holly neighborhood is hosting its eighth annual seafood boil on July 3. Pop in for lobster, shrimp, sausage, clams, corn, and potatoes. Dessert options include strawberry cheesecake, key lime pie, and a soft serve sundae. Tickets are $105.60 and you 

Meanwhile Brewing Co. in Southeast Austin is hosting its own Fourth of July Fest that starts at 10 a.m. The fest includes live music, free face painting, tie dye, a cornhole tournament, and World Cup watching. Entry is free but you need to 

Tickets for Willie Nelson’s annual Fourth of July Picnic are still available and 

. The picnic is at Germania Insurance Amphitheater this year and 

 from Nelson, Billy Strings, Sheryl Crow, and Wilco.

Hill Country Galleria’s annual Independent Day Festival starts at 4 p.m. and includes a market 

. The free festival includes live music, water games, food, free parking, and more before fireworks at night.

 is free and open to the public on July 4. The fun kicks off at 4:30 p.m. and includes shopping, live music, food vendors, and family activities. The Austin Symphony Orchestra will perform and fireworks start at 9:45 p.m. 

you can bring your own cooler with snacks and drinks!

where-guide-celebrate-fourth-of-july-2026-events-austin

Where To Celebrate Fourth of July 2026 in Austin

Father’s Day is this Sunday and if you’re still trying to figure out how to celebrate the father in your life, we’ve got you covered! Here’s your guide to Father’s Day in Austin this year:

Pitmasters from Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma will compete in a barbecue contest at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, 8212 Barton Club Dr., on Saturday. The competition starts at 5:30 p.m. and includes tastings, drinks, live music, and fireworks. 

, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr., are still available. Bargatze is the perfect comedian for a Father's Day activity — he does plenty of bits about being a dad. Tickets start at just $25 for his 3 p.m. show and $50 for the 7 p.m. show.

 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in its parking lot at 1512 Holly St. The event is free to attend and includes a vendor market and a special sundae made with mango, sticky rice, coconut milk ice cream, and coconut sauce. Yum!

Head over to Little Darlin’ in South Austin, 6507 Circle S Road, on Father’s Day for a showing of pre-1988 hot rod, classic, and custom cars. 

 and includes live music, a vendor market, and is dog-friendly. The fun starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m.

The Little Longhorn Saloon, 5434 Burnet Road, hosts chicken shit bingo every Sunday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Where To Celebrate Father’s Day 2026 in Austin

Juneteenth is right around the corner, y’all! The holiday 

 in 1865 when remaining enslaved people in Galveston were notified that they were free, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

Celebrations for this year’s Juneteenth, which is next Friday, kick off this weekend in the Austin area.

Here’s what you should add to your calendar:

Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park is hosting a 

 that includes a vendor market, DJ sets, food, and more. The fun starts at 5 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m.

Celebrate at the Library’s 100-Year Juneteenth Community Cookout

Austin Public Library is celebrating Juneteenth and the library’s 100th anniversary at the Carver Branch in East Austin on June 14. Head over between noon and 3 p.m. for food, music, dancing, games, crafts and a Dominoes tournament. 

Get Your Steps In at the Annual Juneteenth FunRun

The city’s African American Cultural and Heritage Facility is hosting a fun run at 8:30 a.m. on Juneteenth. The run follows the same route as the parade later that day 

Walk in a Parade and Then Head to a Festival

 starts at 10 a.m. on June 19 at the intersection of East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Leona Street. The route goes south on Chicon Street and ends at Rosewood and Boggy Creek parks. 

 starts in the parks at noon and goes until 9:30 p.m.

The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural, and Genealogy Center is hosting its Juneteenth event 

 The kickback is free to attend and includes barbecue, music, hands-on activations, shopping, and more.

Reflect at the Neill-Cochran House Museum

The Neill-Cochran House Museum is hosting a day of reflection and celebration on June 21 from noon to 4 p.m. 

 and includes barbecue, live music, and tours.

Where To Celebrate Juneteenth 2026 in Austin

It is a thrilling time to be a San Antonio Spurs fan. For the first time since 2014, the team is in the NBA Finals facing the New York Knicks and Austinites are 

a couple games at Austin’s Moody Center

 for the last four seasons, so it feels like we’re part of this, too, OK? Besides, watching 

Right now, the Spurs are down 1-2 against the Knicks and 

In Austin, you’ve got lots of ways to watch the remaining games:

The NBA has been hosting official watch parties throughout the playoffs and so far in the finals. Updated 

 as the finals continue. Tonight, a watch party at Armadillo Den starts at 6 p.m. and includes giveaways and a free photo booth.

All Austin locations of Pluckers Wing Bar have been designated 

. Fans who show up wearing Spurs merch can get five free wings with the purchase of an adult entree.

Bouldin Acres is offering food and drink specials 

, which are held at all three of the restaurant’s locations. Attendees get free Jell-O shots when the Spurs win.

The Lucky Duck in South Austin Has Lots of Room

The Lucky Duck on Lynnbrook Drive off Menchaca Road has a big screen for watching the Spurs from the bar’s 

 that is covered in turf. You can bring your own fold-up lawn chair, too. The bar’s watch party for tonight 

Chalmers has been packed with Spurs fans since the playoffs and the bar even had 

 for the finals. That means you need to show up early if you want to get a good spot to watch the game!

The San Antonio Spurs are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.

Where To Watch the 2026 NBA Finals in Austin

A recent Friday evening inside Austin’s Paramount Theatre downtown felt like being in the Panthers locker room in Dillon, Texas.

Kyle Chandler, who played Eric Taylor on “Friday Night Lights,” brought the room to a quiet halt as he spoke about his experience on the show, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

“It’s hard to describe this show. It was so magical. It really truly was and not just for what the audience sees, but for the actors,” Chandler said. “Going onto a show like this is like going to a masterclass in acting. It’s not Shakespeare and classical, it’s freedom.”

Chandler was with a majority of the show’s cast for a panel at ATX TV Festival. It was a fitting addition to the event’s lineup, said Emily Gibson, a co-founder of the festival. The TV show, which ran 2006-2011, helped launch ATX TV Festival in 2012 with an appearance from Chandler and Connie Britton, his on-screen wife Tami Taylor.


Before Chandler had the floor during this year’s panel, the crowd and the cast on stage had been rowdy. It was a fun and funny discussion. Britton recorded Jesse Plemons from backstage as he revived his character Landry’s high school band Crucifictorious with two songs ahead of the talk. Roars from the audience broke out when Gaius Charles, who played Smash Williams, was introduced on stage. A whole bit about Chandler replacing Billy Bob Thornton, who originally played coach in the movie version of the show, kept everyone laughing throughout the night. Chants of “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” filled the theater more than once.

But when Chandler had the mic, the whoops faded and it felt like we were getting a real life pep talk from Coach Taylor. Even 20 years later, Chandler has a way with the cast and the fans who love them.

“We were lucky because we were doing our thing in Austin, Texas,” Chandler regaled, clad in a pair of cowboy boots.

The show filmed in Texas long before the 

state legislature passed a huge, $1.5 billion incentives

 package for filmmakers to make their movies in Texas. Pflugerville High School served as the show's fictional Panthers Stadium, a Dairy Queen on Manor Road was turned into “Alamo Freeze,” and 

Landry’s band played at The Broken Spoke

While the cast of “Friday Night Lights” only includes a couple of real Texans, the show still holds importance throughout the state. This writer’s dad said, “Oh! You’re seeing Coach?!” when I told him I was headed to the panel. At the afterparty, dozens of attendees made homecoming mums in Panther blue and yellow and donned team baseball caps. 

At one point, Chandler asked the Paramount crowd if anyone was out at the stadiums as extras while the show was being filmed. Hands shot up all over.

“Ya! Thank you,” Chandler yelled back.

20 Years On, ‘Friday Night Lights’ Cast Is Still a Team at ATX TV Festival

 from Fourth Street to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, opens on June 6. The trail includes thousands of new trees and plants, and a way to traverse part of downtown without waiting at traffic stops. The grand opening party is free to attend and starts at 

10 a.m. at 74 Trinity St. at Grandpa’s Lakeview Terrace

Paramount Theatre is hosting a goodbye party as the theater temporarily closes for renovations. On June 15, stop by between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. for a happy hour and a look at the theater’s 1915 hand-painted fire curtain. The party is free to attend, 

! The theater will be closed for 11 months for a 

Hoover’s Cooking ended its table service on May 31 and will officially say goodbye with a retirement party for Chef Hoover Alexander on June 15. Hoova’ Palooza is from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., is free to attend, and includes food and music. Can’t make it? 

The Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees will vote on a final budget plan on June 18. The district is facing a 

 due to low enrollment numbers and a state recapture plan that’s taking money away from the district. A budget plan is 

 as officials have not said what cuts will be made.

Juneteenth celebrates the day in 1865 when remaining enslaved people in Galveston were notified that they were free following the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation two years earlier. This year’s Juneteenth falls on Friday, so you can celebrate all weekend long. The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural, and Genealogy Center is 

Temperatures Are Expected To Stay Near Normal

June 1 marks the start of meteorological summer and 

 the Austin area will stay around normal this month. That means high temperatures in the 90s and lows in the 70s with roughly 3.7 inches of rainfall. Last June was drier than normal, with 

Your Guide to June 2026 in Austin

June is Pride Month across the U.S., and while Austin 

has its own monthlong celebration in August

, we’ve still got plenty to do to celebrate over the next few weeks!

LezFest at Hotel Vegas and Volstead Lounge

Start off Pride Month with a party at Hotel Vegas and Volstead Lounge on June 4. The party is hosted by Scissor Sisters ATX and includes dancing, karaoke, tattoo artists, tooth gems, burlesque, and a dating game show. 

The fun runs 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. and entry starts at $10

Bask in the glory of drag queens Shea Couleé, Diamond Dior Davenport, and The Legendary Mother Lepore at this year’s Majestic Ball at Paramount Theatre on June 6. The show starts at 8 p.m. and includes performance and runway walk competitions, among others. 

Pride Kick-Off Party at Gibson Street Bar

Gibson Street Bar is serving up Pride-themed cocktails, a drag show, and more 

. Stop in between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. for a fun drink, a DJ set, and a performance by local queen Eileen Dover. The party is free to attend.

The Little Gay Shop’s Pride Party at Distribution Hall

Shop your heart out at the Little Gay Shop’s two-day Pride event at Distribution Hall. On June 20 and 21, 

 queer artists, businesses, organizations. The event is free to attend and runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

‘Embodied: Celebrating 55 Years of ATX Pride’ at KMFA

Did you know it has been 55 years since Austin’s first Pride march? Celebrate that 

 with an art gallery, live dance performances, and an original short film premiere starting at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $44.52 and include finger foods and refreshments.

🌈 Need more Pride? The newsletter will include new Pride events every week of June, so keep your eyes peeled!