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City Cast Austin

Find the best of everything that Austin has to offer. 

Becky Fogel

Enemies to lovers. Fake relationships that lead to real feelings. Best friends destined to end up together. Inject every version of these romance novel tropes into my veins, whether they involve hockey players, mystical beings, or journalists. (Wink, wink.)

If you, like me, are an avid consumer of romance fiction, Saturday is your time to shine… or should I say, swoon. Aug. 15 is 

 across the U.S. and beyond. A number of 

 in the Austin area are participating in the annual event, which first began in 2019.

 can be discouraging, romance readers are bucking that trend with about 

. Jean Elizabeth Buckner, the owner and general manager of 

, said one reason this genre is so popular is because “love stories remind us what it means to be human.”

“When the world feels tough, romance novels remind us that even when life delivers you your 'third act breakup' you can still find your happily ever after,” Buckner added.

Get ready for a blind date you might actually enjoy.

Bookstores will have special Romance Day editions of 

. Although the books will be wrapped to conceal their titles, there will be clues to help you figure out if the book is your perfect match. 

 will be offering book blind dates and the cafe there is also going to offer a special romance-themed menu.

Romance authors will mingle with readers at local shops dedicated to selling the genre, such as 

 in the morning, a happy hour in the evening, and prize wheel giveaways throughout the day. (They had me at mimosas.)

Looking for a bargain on classic romance novels? 

 is having a big sale and offering a 10% discount on used romance books, too. Vintage Bookstore also has a deal on romance novels: If you buy one romance novel, you’ll get 10% off the second.

And really, this is just a sampling of all the activities Austin book shops are planning to sweep readers off their feet.

Bookstore Romance Day Gives Austin Readers a Reason to Swoon 

Austin’s Best

Austin's Best

Kelsey Bradshaw

 instead of June and that means all of the best events are happening soon.

 at Moody Amphitheater as part of Austin Pride Week. The movie shows at 9 p.m., but starting at 7 p.m. you can hang out on the lawn, try food and drink vendors, listen to a set by DJ Eriq Stylez, and more. The event is free to attend.

 at Meanwhile Brewing Co. and includes a music lineup of country, Americana, folk, and roots. The event benefits OUTLaw Pride and the Transgender Education Network of Texas. Tickets for the 6 p.m. event are $12.21.

 at ACL Live at the Moody Theater. Next of Kin, The Cowgays, Brigitte Bandit, and Ed West are all performing as part of a showcase. Attendees can shop from a market that showcases queer-owned business and artists, too. The event starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $29.80.

The Austin Pride Foundation is hosting its 

annual Pride Festival and Parade on Aug. 22

. The day starts at 11 a.m. with a free festival at Fiesta Gardens near Lady Bird Lake in East Austin. The parade starts at 8 p.m. downtown near the Capitol. Whether you’re spectating or walking the parade, it’s sure to be a fun night!

. Head over to The VORTEX in East Austin starting at 11 a.m. for shopping, speakers, and entertainment. The march itself starts at 4 p.m. Everything is free to attend.

Your Guide to Austin Pride 2026

 in Austin, deviating from the national event that is held in June. Pride events will be on our events calendar all month long! The city’s biggest Pride event is 

 on Aug. 22 at Fiesta Gardens hosted by the Austin Pride Foundation. The event includes live music, performances, local vendors, food, drinks, and more.

The Rainey Street District is hosting a First Thursday event the evening of Aug. 6 that includes drink and food specials at bars and restaurants in the area. 

 and Daydreamer Coffee is selling wine for $5 off, for example.

Austin Pets Alive! is hosting its 15th annual Paddle for Puppies 

. The day starts at Rowing Dock and participants row or paddle on Lady Bird Lake. Proceeds from the event help puppies in the shelter’s Parvo ICU program.

Austin Independent School District students go back to class 

, which means you need to start watching for school speed zones again. Speeding in a school zone is punishable 

Austin City Council members will finalize the city’s budget 

. The budget will go into effect on Oct. 1. At stake is a rise in property taxes, millions of dollars in cuts to the city’s social service budget, and an increase in the Austin Police Department’s recruiting budget.

Your Guide to August 2026 in Austin

First things first: This is not a hate piece about “Dazed and Confused.” Alright, alright, alright? I love the movie that launched Matthew McConaughey’s career and gave us hits like: “You just gotta keep livin' man, L-I-V-I-N” and “It'd be a lot cooler if you did.”

and maybe a little cliche if I included the movie in this list. Everyone knows Austin for the Richard Linklater hit. Here’s five movies based, or sort of based, in Austin you might be a unfamiliar with:

 is a perfect film. The 2009 film is packed with stars: Elliot Page, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis, Kristen Wiig, and Eve, among many others. Page plays teenager Bliss Cavendar, who is growing up in the fictional town of Bodeen, Texas and is sick of being a pageant girl. Cavendar runs into three women in Austin who are part of a roller derby team. Page’s character secretly joins the team and finds confidence, friends, and strength.

This list wouldn’t be complete without a love story. 

 stars Uma Thurman in her rightful place as president of the United States. Her son Alex, played by Taylor Zakhar Perez, meets a British prince named Henry, who is played by Nicholas Galitzine. It’s an enemies-to-lovers story, which is the best kind. Alex’s family’s vacation home is in Austin. I won’t give anymore away, but there’s secret service, hidden kisses, and Buckingham Palace!

“Chef” is the most rewatchable movie around. Starring Jon Favreau as a disgraced chef, 

 takes us behind the scenes of cheffing, long before “The Bear” did it. Favreau’s character purchases a food truck to redeem himself and takes it across the country, including a stop in Austin with a cameo from Aaron Franklin. If you love close up shots of food being chopped, a man becoming a better father, and Sofia Vergara, this is the movie for you. Bonus: It premiered at South by Southwest!

I love “Zombieland.” The 2009 movie stars Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, and Abigail Breslin. The four meet up after a virus that turns people into zombies spreads and together they travel across the U.S., fighting off the creatures while looking for a safe place to stay. I included this movie on the list because Eisenberg’s character, Columbus, is attending college in Austin when the zombie apocalypse starts. 

 is goofy, plenty gory, fun, and heartfelt.

‘The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl’

“The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl”

 came out in 2005 and was directed by Robert Rodriguez. The movie follows a boy named Max who lives in Austin and writes in a dream journal. His journal comes to life, leading to the adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl, two superheroes who have to defeat villains Mr. Electric, played by George Lopez, and Minus. The movie is creative, fun, and a little silly.

It's too hot out to not be inside watching movies, y'all.

5 Movies Set in Austin That Aren’t ‘Dazed and Confused’

 you can use? And the rates aren’t bad, either. Here’s the scoop:

 for Monday through Thursday open at 9 a.m. a week in advance and on the Monday before at 8 p.m. for Saturdays and Sundays. Monday through Friday tee time reservations can be made in person when a course’s pro shop opens and 30 minutes before the first tee time by calling the course you’re interested in.

Two exceptions to this reservation system are the Hancock Golf Course and Grey Rock Golf Club. Hancock operates 

. The course has a pay station that golfers must use to pay a green fee before playing.

, just not through the city’s reservation system.

The Roy Kizer Course and Jimmy Clay Golf Course are in Bluff Springs in Southeast Austin. A regular round at both ranges from 

. Both courses offer 18 holes, making the venues a 36-hole complex.

The Lions Municipal Course, also known as MUNY, is located in Tarrytown near the intersection of Enfield Road and Exposition Boulevard. The 18-hole course is open seven days a week and 

a regular round ranges from $35 to $44 depending on the day.

The Hancock Golf Course is open seven days a week in Austin’s Hancock neighborhood. The course is located just south of the Commodore Perry Estate. A regular round of golf 

If you live in the East MLK area, the Morris Williams Course is for you. The 18-hole course is open seven days a week and a regular round 

 where you can order margaritas, snacks, tacos, and more.

Grey Rock is near Circle C Ranch in Southwest Austin and is the most expensive of the bunch. A round of 18 holes on the course 

is $90 during the week and $105 Friday through Sunday

Where to Golf on the Cheap in Austin

, 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.

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. 