Your Guide to Memorial Day Weekend in Austin

There are tons of things to do in Austin this Memorial Day weekend and these events are some of our top picks. While you’re having fun, don’t forget what this holiday is really about though! Take a moment to remember and honor those who have died serving our country!

Hot Luck Festival

Get the weekend festivities started early with this festival that kicks off Thursday. A celebration of what Austin is best known for – food and music – this festival features tastings with award winning chefs from all over the country including tons of Austinites like the event’s founder, Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue. And of course it wouldn’t be an Austin festival without live music. You can check out shows around town featuring artists like DJ Questlove, Galactic, and Joshua Hedley. Check out the schedule of events on the festival website. Tickets for food and music events are sold separately.

Memorial Day Weekend Pig Roast at Duchman Family Winery

Sunday night you can head to Driftwood for the Duchman Family Winery’s annual pig roast on the lawn. The event kicks off at 6pm and will feature live music from the Texassippii Two. Buffet tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for kids. Along with your share of a whole roasted pig you can feast on Mexican grilled corn salad, chips and guac, Mexican wedding cookies, and more! Adult tickets also include one glass of the Duchman Family’s delicious wine. You can get your tickets here, they must be purchased in advance!

Life Time Tri CapTex

If you’re feeling extra ambitious this Memorial Day you can register to race in the CapTex triathlon. This race draws both experienced athletes and first time triathletes alike, so don’t be intimidated if you’re new to the triathlon world! The race begins with a swim in Lady Bird Lake where beautiful views of downtown will distract you from how tired you already are! Next you will bike through town to the Capitol building and finish up the race with a run through Butler Park. The post-race party at Vic Mathias Shores is where the real fun begins! Register for the race here or if you’d prefer to be a spectator and cheer on the incredible competitors, head downtown early Monday morning. The first part of the race kicks off at 6:45am!

Zip Lost Pines Memorial Day Weekend Zip Line Tour

All weekend long Zip Lost Pines will be offering zip line tours through McKinney Roughs Nature Park at 10am and 2pm. You and up to five of your friends can all zip along together on the park’s 6 side-by-side zip lines. You’ll be flying at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, so it’s the perfect Memorial Day adventure for all the adrenaline junkies out there! Tours take between two to three hours depending on the size of your group and feature views of the lost pine forest, steep canyons, and Colorado River valley. When your tour is over you can spend the rest of the afternoon playing lawn games like corn hole, giant Jenga, and Horseshoes and you’re welcome to bring your own food and beverages to enjoy! Tickets are $115 per person. Visit the Zip Lost Pines website to reserve your spot for the weekend!

ABGB 2nd Annual Hell Yes Project Olympics and Memorial Day Party

The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. will be hosting its 2nd annual Hell Yes Project Olympics on Monday starting at 3pm. Cheer on eight Austin area nonprofits while they give it their all in field-day style events in the hope of winning a $1,000 Gold Medal Prize. This year’s competitors include Austin Pets Alive!, Ghisallo Cycling Initiative, Austin Habitat for Humanity, Save our Springs Alliance, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, Central Texas Food Bank, AIDS Services of Austin, and Foundation Communities. Competitive events include a water balloon toss, corn hole, Simon says, and more. For the grand finale each nonprofit team will take the stage for a live band karaoke performance. Crowd participation will help determine the event’s winner so don’t forget your foam fingers and be prepared to get loud! While you watch the friendly competition you can enjoy some of ABGB’s delicious food and beer. We can’t wait to see if Austin Habitat for Humanity can take home the top prize again this year! Visit the ABGB website for more info!

Texas Military Forces Museum “Close Assault 1944”

Remember what Memorial Day is really about at the Texas Military Forces Museum. The museum will be open and entry will be free from 10am – 4pm all weekend and on Monday. On Saturday and Sunday the “Close Assault 1944” reenactment will honor American veterans and and the history of the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard during World War II. Reenactments will take place at 11am and 2pm both days. Entry to the reenactments is also free! Visit the museum’s website for more info.