Austin Area Entertainment Options

Austin is considered by many to be the cultural hub of Texas. This diversity is reflected in the varied festivals and events staged in Capital City each year.

Held at the State Capitol in Austin, the annual Texas Book Festival features over 200 authors, as well as exhibitors, live music, food, a children's area and more.

A popular annual event since its inception in 1987, the South by Southwest Music, Film and Interactive Festival has grown into a globally recognized industry and consumer event.

For more than a decade, the Austin Film Festival has provided a venue for up-and-coming screenwriters and filmmakers to have their work brought into the public consciousness.

One of the largest and most popular music festivals in the country, the Austin City Limits Music Festival features in excess of 100 performing acts offering a mix of music from various genres.

Held in Austin each March, South By Southwest (SXSW) is one of the top music festivals in the country. Event performers cover over 50 stages in downtown Austin.

Held each year on New Year's Eve, First Night Austin includes an afternoon family festival, a procession down Congress Avenue, and a night-time art show and festival which features steet corners and storefronts converted into art galleries and stages.

Having held for over a decade, the Austin Celtic Festival has grown to include over 200 artists, musicians, actors and storytellers.

Austin's annual Reggae Festival features world music, arts & crafts, and ethnic food. Held at Auditorium Shores, the event benefits the Capital Area Foodbank.

Why wait 'til December for a Christmas Parade when you can attend Chuy's Christmas Parade in Austin during November? This unique Christmas parade raises money for "Operation Blue," which provides toys to needy children in the Austin area.

Held at Waterloo Park, the Austin Ice Cream Festival is a great way to cool off from the summer heat. The festival itself includes games, activities, live entertainment and, of course, ice cream.

Held each year at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on South Lamar in Austin, Fantastic Fest has become the largest genre film festival in the United States. Those in attendance are treated to a full slate of horror, sci-fi, and action movies throughout Fantastic Fest.

Held each year in Georgetown, just a short drive from Austin, the Red Poppy Festival features a 'Red Poppy Ride,' live music, car show, children's area, parade and more.

Catch a movie and a meal all at one place - the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is a unique setting which allows for both a movie and a meal. Each row of seats within the theatre has a table in front of it and patrons can order drinks, appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts, all while enjoying their favorite movie on the big screen.

Want live music? Check out who's playing at the Austin Music Hall.

Located in the hills outside of Austin, One World Theatre offers a wide variety of live musical performances throughout the year.

Every summer Hill Country visitors have an opportunity to see high quality Broadway musicals being performed under the stars at Austin's Zilker Park.

Situated in San Marcos, a short drive from Austin, the Tanger Outlet Mall features dozens of name-brand stores with outlet prices.

Utilizing a 1916 Southern Pacific steam locomotive, the Austin Steam Train organization offers a variety of steam engine tours throughout the scenic Hill Country region.

Art City Austin, formerly known as the Austin Fine Arts Festival, displays original artwork in a variety of mediums and genre. The festival also includes live music, food, kids' entertainment, art activities and artist demonstrations.

Founded in 1911, the Austin Symphony Orcestra has performed a full season of Classical concerts, educational activities, and other special performances ever since.

Austin's Swamp Romp and Crawfish Festival features lives music, authentic Cajun food, beads and more.

Austin's Zach Scott Theatre Center is dedicated to furthering the performing arts in Central Texas and does so through year-around live performances as well as performing arts instruction and schools.

Austin's annual Keepin' It Weird Festival celebrates all of the odd, crazy, irreverent and funky things that make Austin a unique place to visit and live.

Celebrating the enormous bat colony located under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Batfest features arts & crafts, music, food, children activities and a "Bat Breakfast."

Held at the Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion in Driftwood, just outside Austin, the Old Settlers Music Festival features an array of top shelf musical performances. Good food, camping and arts & crafts displays round out the festival's ambience.

Held at Austin's Waterloo Park, Fun Fun Fun Fest is a progressive and underground music festival that features live acts on multiple stages.

Encompassing the entire month of May, the Latino Music Month is a month-long music festival featuring hundreds of Latino bands performing live at various venues throughout Austin.

A month-long holiday festival centered around the 155-foot Zilker Tree, the Zilker Tree Holiday Festival also features a mile-long walking holiday light trail in the week leading up to Christmas.

One of the largest Carnaval-style celebrations held in the United States, Austin's Carnaval Brasileiro celebrates all things Brazil - dancing, dress, food and more.

Featuring a PCRA rodeo, student livestock exhibition, carnival, nightly live concerts and more, the Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo is one of the most popular livestock shows in the Lone Star State.

Held at Austin's Auditorium Shores, the Urban Music Festival is features a wide variety of live music next to Lady Bird Lake.

Featuring a variety of musicians, artists and craftsmen on Austin's famed Sixth Street (originally named Pecan Street), the Old Pecan Street Arts Festival is a one-of-a-kind event.

Although natural snow is a rarity in most of Texas, each November, cities around the state receive a man-made blizzard. Austin, Dallas and Houston are among the cities have a "snow day" as part of the Texas Snowfest.