Austin Events Calendar: August & September 2021
For the latest updates about the status of each event, please check each event's website.
Check out this list for a selection of the largest annual events in Austin during August and September. For a more extensive list of daily happenings, see the searchable Events Calendar.
August 2021 Austin Events and Festivals
5/27/21 - 9/9/21 (Thursdays)
The Drop-In Summer Concert Series
Long Center
ACL Radio & The Long Center have teamed up to bring you a free weekly concert series on the Long Center lawn all summer long. The lineup will feature a diverse lineup of Austin’s favorite and emerging artists in the heart of downtown. Tickets are free but limited and must be reserved in advance.
thelongcenter.org
7/9/21 - 8/14/21
Zilker Summer Musical
Hill Country Galleria
Pack a picnic and come enjoy the free, annual musical at the Hill Country Galleria pavilion. The outdoor theatre troupe will host performances of "Little Shop of Horrors" Thursdays through Sundays beginning around 8:15 p.m.
zilker.org
8/22/21
Outlaw Music Festival Tour
Germania Insurance Amphitheatre
Willie Nelson is heading back on the road for this year's Outlaw Music Festival Tour. Willie will once again be live and in concert with family and friends, including Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lucinda Williams, Ryan Bingham, Margo Price, Yola and more as part of the 14-stop tour starting in Austin.
blackbirdpresents.com
8/26/21 - 8/29/21
Hot Summer Nights
Red River Cultural District
Each summer, 20 venues throughout the Red River Cultural District host four days of free live music, alongside local food and vendors. Local acts like Golden Dawn Arkestra, Emily Wolfe, Moving Panoramas, Ringo Deathstarr and more have taken over stages in past years to celebrate summer in the Live Music Capital of the World®.
redriverculturaldistrict.org
8/26/21 - 9/6/21
aGLIFF (All Genders, Lifestyles and Identities Film Festival)
Virtual & In-Person
aGLIFF is the oldest and largest gay and lesbian film fest in the Southwest and the largest LGBTQI+ cultural event in Austin. The event will go virtual over two weekends this August and September, offering feature and short films showcasing the diverse experiences of Queer people.
agliff.org
TBA
ATX Black Food Week
Local Restaurants & Food Trucks
Austin Justice Coalition hosts the annual ATX Black Food Week, celebrating food, drinks and community empowerment. Support local, Black-owned restaurants for two weeks, plus a full week dedicated to food trucks. Learn about the history of Austin while supporting the businesses that make this city feel like home. Find full details about participating restaurants on the website.
austinjustice.org
TBA 2022
Austin Pride Parade
Fiesta Gardens
Celebrated during Austin Pride Month each August, don’t miss this giant parade down Congress Avenue during the largest annual LGBTQI advocacy and fundraising event in Central Texas.
austinpride.org
TBA 2022
Bat Fest
Congress Avenue Bridge
Celebrate this batty event as the world's largest urban bat colony (1.5 million Mexican Free-Tailed Bats which take up seasonal residence beneath the Ann Richard's Congress Street Bridge) take to the skies for their nightly flight. Enjoy live music, children activities, a costume contest and more.
roadwayevents.com
TBA 2022
Blues on the Green
Zilker Park
Pack a blanket and the family and make your way to Zilker Park for this summertime tradition. Held over two nights in July and two nights in August, Austin's largest free concert series will welcome performances by local artists.
acl-radio.com
September 2021 Austin Events and Festivals
Through 9/5/21
Beyond Van Gogh, The Immersive Experience
Circuit of The Americas
Immerse yourself in Vincent Van Gogh’s artwork like you’ve never seen it before. Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience will be in Austin for a limited engagement, featuring a walk-through exhibition with audiovisual projections, and masterpieces which come alive and titillate your heightened senses.
vangoghaustin.com
9/2/21 & 9/9/21
The Drop-In Summer Concert Series
Long Center
ACL Radio & The Long Center have teamed up to bring you a free weekly concert series on the Long Center lawn all summer long. The lineup will feature a diverse lineup of Austin’s favorite and emerging artists in the heart of downtown. Tickets are free but limited and must be reserved in advance.
thelongcenter.org
9/6/21
Free Day of Yoga
Various Locations
All day long, participating studios across the Austin area offer free classes as an opportunity for every age and fitness level.
freedayofyoga.com
9/10/21
Zilker Relays
Zilker Park
The Zilker Relays is a 10-mile team race. Each participant runs a 2.5 mile loop from one central festival/transition area. The team concept of the Zilker Relays is not unique, but the combination of a relay, festival home base, drinks and music, make this experience a favorite for runners of all calibers and ages.
zilkerrelays.com
9/10/21 - 9/11/21
Blended Festival
Long Center
Blended Fest is set to make its Live Music Capital debut at The Long Center for Performing Arts outdoor pavilion this September. The wine-centric event will also feature culinary stations, craft cocktails and live music household names in pop, country and EDM.
blendedfestival.com
9/11/21 - 9/12/21
Renegade Craft Fair
Fair Market
Celebrate Austin's creative spirit at this annual market and craft fair. Shop independent makers and local vendors, enjoy food truck fare and craft libations, and rock to hand-picked local DJ sets.
renegadecraft.com
9/12/21
Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
Far Out Lounge & Stage
If you wanna beat the heat this summer then you gotta eat the heat! Join the Austin Chronicle for one of the world's largest hot sauce festivals, with categories ranging from local restaurants to commercial bottlers.
austinchronicle.com
9/14/21
HAAM Benefit Day
TBA
The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) hosts an annual, citywide benefit to raise support for local musicians. For one day, hundreds of local music showcases and concerts will take place, featuring many of your favorite local musicians.
myhaam.org
9/16/21 & 9/18/21
¡VIVA Mexico!
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican-American Cultural Center
The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican-American Cultural Center will host its annual Viva México celebration to showcase visual art, dance and musical performances that explore Mexico’s history through cultural art traditions.
maccaustin.org
9/19/21
Austin Museum Day
Museums Across Austin
Organized by the Austin Museum Partnership, this special day features free exhibitions and activities at participating Austin-area museums and cultural sites.
austinmuseums.org
9/22/21 - 9/25/21
Moontower Comedy Festival
The Paramount Theatre and other locations
Moontower Comedy Festival presented by the Paramount Theatre brings to Austin some of the funniest, wittiest and oddest world-class comics from around the globe. National headliners, up-and-comers and local Austin-based comedians ensure four hilarious days of fun.
austintheatre.org
9/23/21 - 9/30/21
Fantastic Fest
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the U.S., specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, action and just plain fantastic movies from around the world.
fantasticfest.com
9/25/21
Austin Summer Carnival
The Venue ATX
A samba dance party celebrating African heritage and Brazilian, Latin and Caribbean music with DJs, guest musicians and plenty of spectacular costumes.
austinsummercarnival.com
TBA
Out of Bounds Comedy Festival
Various Locations
Comedians from around the country show Austinites their comedy chops and throw down in a mini-golf tourney.
oobfest.com
TBA 2022
Fall Pecan Street Festival
Historic Sixth Street
The Pecan Street Festival is a free, bi-annual juried music, arts and crafts festival. The 2020 festival will be entirely virtual, allowing for the opportunity to expand the event from one weekend to a much longer stretch of programming – providing more opportunity for public engagement with vendors, artists, musicians and other special guests.
pecanstreetfestival.org