15 Fun Things To Do in Austin This Month!

Here’s a list of some of the great events happening in and around Austin this month. Many are both family friendly and FREE! Don’t miss out on all the fun!

1. Now through August 12th: Zilker Summer Musical

The Zilker Theatre Production kicked off its 59th Annual Zilker Summer Musical back in July and through August 12th you can catch a live performance of The Wizard of Oz at the Zilker Hillside Theatre. Performances are free (But donations are welcome!) and are done every Thursday – Sunday starting at approximately 8:15pm.

2. August 2nd: Blues on the Green

Austin’s largest free concert series is held monthly throughout the summer, and August 2nd is your last chance to enjoy some local Austin tunes under the stars! The event is family and pet friendly so pack up some blankets and head to Zilker Park, the show starts at 8pm!

3. August 3rd: Ballet Austin Presents Rhythm on Stage

Though it’s open to all ages, millennials especially are going to love this free event at the long center where they get to dance on stage to the 90’s classic “It’s Gonna Be Me” by their favorite boy band, NSYNC (unless of course they were team Backstreet Boys). All dance levels are welcome, from beginners to experts, and dance instructor Tara will show you the moves! Sign up for a spot on the Ballet Austin website. Doors open at 7pm and dancing begins at 7:30pm!

4. August 5th: Summertime Austin Flea

A shopping extravaganza, the Summertime Austin Flea Market is happening at Peached Social House and will feature more than 20 local vendors selling handmade and vintage items. Free massages and delicious food from The Mighty Cone food truck will also be available all day in case you need a break from shopping! The doors open at 11am and close at 5pm and entrance is free!

5. August 5th: Deep Eddy Splash Party Movie Night 

The last Splash Party Movie Night of the summer is happening on August 5th, and it’s featuring everyone’s favorite Disney Movie of the summer – Moana! The movie will start at dusk and the regular pool entrance fees apply ($3 for adults, $2 for kids 12-17, and $1 for ages 1-11 & 62+). Grab a spot on the grass for a late night picnic or bring a float and relax in the refreshing water on what’s sure to be another hot summer night!

6. August 6th: Jack’s Generic Triathlon

Athletes from all around the Austin area will wake-up at the crack of dawn to compete in the 14th Annual Jack’s Generic Triathlon at Lake Pflugerville. The race kicks off at 7:30am with a fun festival awaiting the competitors and their cheering fans at the finish line. Race participants get free food, drinks, and massages! A live band will play once the race is complete, so be sure to stick around until the end! Even if you aren’t up for competing, this triathlon is a whole lot of fun for spectators too!

7. August 12th: Austin Ice Cream Festival

Presented by H-E-B, the 11th Annual Austin Ice Cream Festival is fun for all ages! Ice cream vendors from all over Austin come out to compete for the title of “Best of ATX Frozen Treats” and the best part is, you get to be the judge! For $15 you can get three sampling tickets to use at any of the event’s Frozen Treat Sponsors and then vote for your favorite! In addition there are plenty of fun games and events including ice cream eating, frozen treat making, and popsicle stick sculpture contests; rock climbing; a dunk tank, and more! Stick around after 6pm for a movie in the park!

8. August 15th: Long Center Trailer Food Tuesday

On August 15th approximately fifteen of your favorite Austin food trucks will come together on the City Terrace for the last time this summer. Bring your family, friends, and pets for a picnic with live music, lawn games, and a great view of downtown! The event is open to all ages and entrance is free, you just pay for the food! The trucks will be open for business at 5pm.

9. August 18th to August 20th: 22nd Annual Austin Fall Home & Garden Show

If you have a big remodeling, landscaping, or DIY project coming up, you’re definitely going to want to check out the Home & Garden Show at the Convention Center. They’ll have exhibits displaying the latest in products and services from builders, contractors, decks, pools, spas, storage, landscaping, kitchenware, and much more! Plus, celebrity guests Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri from HGTV’s Kitchen Cousins will be conducting a seminar on Planning & Preparing for a Renovation. Tickets are $9.50 for adults for a day. Hours run from 2pm – 7pm on Friday, 10am – 7pm on Saturday, and 11am – 5pm on Sunday.

10. August 19th: Austin Bat Fest

While you can see the Congress Street Bridge bats on almost any clear night throughout the summer, on August 19th their flight is celebrated with live music, activities for the kiddos, a bat costume contest, and more! The Congress Street Bridge will be closed off to traffic and the event begins at 4pm and goes until midnight. Tickets are $15 for adults and children 8 and under are free!

11. August 19th to August 20th: Austin Pet Expo

The 7th Annual Austin Pet Expo kicks off on Saturday, August 19th. Pet owners can make a trip to the vet fun by bringing their pets in for discounted vaccinations and free nail trims and then sticking around for live entertainment, pet activities, a costume contest, and more! Don’t own a furry friend but wish you did? They’ll have dozens of rescue organizations there with loving pets looking for their forever home! The event will take place at the Palmer Events Center from 10am – 5pm on Saturday and from 11am – 4pm on Sunday.

12. August 20th: Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival

From 11am – 5pm hot sauce connoisseurs and spicy food lovers can head to Fiesta Gardens to sample hundreds of delicious salsas in the Austin Chronicle’s Annual Hot Sauce Competition. The contest started small back in the 90’s and has since grown to include over 350 competitors! There will also be local food vendors and live music by local artists and bands including Mike and the Moonpies, Carson McHone, Alesia Lani, Superfónicos, and Tiarra Girls.

13. August 27th: Paddle for Puppies

Austin Subaru sponsors this charity event benefiting the Austin Pets Alive! Parvo Puppy Program, saving hundreds of puppies from euthanasia each year! For a $40 registration fee you’ll be able to participate in the five mile paddle from Mopac Bridge to Congress Bridge on Lady Bird Lake. If you don’t have a canoe, kayak, or stand up paddle board, no problem! You can reserve a rental ahead of time from the Rowing Dock and all the proceeds will go to Austin Pets Alive! as well. There will also be live music on the water to keep you entertained while you paddle. Bring your own pup to support the cause too! The event starts at 6:45am and upon arrival you’ll get a free t-shirt!

14. August 27th: Ballet Austin Free Day of Dance

Ballet Austin’s 10th Annual Free Day of Dance allows active Austinites to spend an afternoon getting free dance lessons at the AV Studio Theatre. A variety of genres will be featured, including Ballet, Bollywood, Hula, Hip Hop, and Brazilian Samba. There are multiple classes going on every hour, so there’s plenty of spots for everyone! Bring your whole family and your dancing shoes! There will also be giveaways and great sales promotions if you want to sign up for future classes! Doors open at 12:30pm and the event runs until 5:45pm.

15. August 29th to September 4th: Out of Bounds Comedy Festival

If you love a good laugh, spend your Labor Day Weekend checking out some of the best acts in improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy at Austin’s Out of Bounds Comedy Festival. Over the course of seven days over 350 comedians will perform in 130 shows at 6 different venues around Austin. Passes for the whole week are just $139.