There’s a lot going on in Austin in springtime! So much, in fact, that you might have a hard time picking and choosing among all of the fun events and happenings in this lovely city. The line-up of spring festivals, annual parties, special shows, etc. is as bountiful as this year’s best bluebonnet patch. To help you stay in-the-know and plan ahead, we’re sharing this big event roundup so you don’t miss a thing!
Spring Festivals:
— HONK!TX @ various locations
April 1-3
HONK!TX is a nonprofit, community-driven festival that brings brass bands from around the country to perform an array of genres ranging from European Klezmer and Balkan, to New Orleans second-line brass music, in the public spaces of Austin on South Congress Ave., in Hyde Park & Pan-Am Park. Click here to see the line-up & schedule.
— Zilker Garden Festival @ Zilker Botanical Garden
April 2 & 3, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Flower show, plant sale, gardening experts, live music, kids crafts, food & more — this annual event will be bustling with family-friendly fun. A spring favorite in Austin for over 50 years. Click here to view all of the scheduled activities. Admission is $10 for adults, $4 for children (age 4-12), free for kids under age 4. Parking is $5.
—NOLA, Texas Food and Music Festival @ Cedar Park Center
April 3, 12 p.m.
The best of the bayou is coming to the Austin area. Enjoy a crawfish boil, Cajun favorites, and music from Dr. John, Leon Russell, Asleep at the Wheel & more. Click here for the event schedule. Kids ages 10 and under are free! General admission advanced tickets are $30, and can be purchased online here. Tickets at the door will be $40.
— 15th Annual Lonestar Round Up @ Travis County Expo Center
April 8 & 9, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
A huge outdoor car show and live music festival with tons of vintage hot rods and custom cars driven here from all over the country. Admission is $15 at the gate, kids under age 12 are free!
— Bluebonnet Festival @ Downtown Burnet (daytrip to Burnet, TX)
April 8-10, events at various times
The annual Bluebonnet Festival has grown into one of the most exciting and successful small-town festivals in Texas. The event draws crowds topping 30,000 each year. Click here for info about all of the scheduled events. Free admission.
— South Asian New Year Festival @ Zilker Hillside Theater
April 9, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Traditional open air cultural program, with authentic cuisine, ethnic dresses, jewelry, henna, kids’ entertainment, and more. Admission is free.
— Old Settler’s Music Festival @ Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion & Camp Ben McCulloch
April 14 – 17
Central Texas’ signature music event featuring Grammy-winning Americana, arts and crafts, camping, food and libations. Acoustic jazz, blues and bluegrass are all performed by old-time local favorites and award-winning artists from around the world. Click here for schedule info. Children age 12 and under get free admission. Click here for tickets.
— Austin Reggae Fest @ Auditorium Shores
April 15 – 17
A fundraiser for the Capital Area Food Bank, Reggae Fest features three days of reggae, world and dub talent, along with more than 50 vendors selling food and arts & crafts. Click here for schedule & line-up. Click here for tickets.
— 18th Annual Butterfly Festival @ EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens (Daytrip to Wimberley)
April 16, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Live Butterfly Releases will happen every 30 minutes! You can also enjoy: Butterfly Art, Flight House featuring Texas Native Butterflies, nature activities, pirate and princess tents, games, concessions and live entertainment. Free admission, but donations appreciated.
— 22nd Annual Louisiana Swamp Thing & Crawfish Festival @ Austin American-Statesman Parking Lot
April 23, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
It’s a Cajun festival in Texas. More than 5,000 pounds of crawfish are consumed at this annual event, which also features zydeco, brass band, funk, blues and rock music. Kids under age 8 are free. Adults are $20. Click here for tickets.
— Red Poppy Festival @ Georgetown Courthouse Square (Daytrip to Georgetown)
April 22-24, events at various times
A Georgetown and Central Texas tradition, the Red Poppy Festival is a time to enjoy family and friends, music, food, and fun. Lots of family activities! View the full event schedule here. Admission is free.
— Austin Earth Day Festival @ Browning Hanger at Mueller
April 23, 12-7 p.m.
Celebrate Earth Day at Mueller Lake Park. There will be 150+ exhibitors, hands on activities for kids and adults, inspiring speakers, and delicious food vendors. Performances by Asleep at the Wheel, Ruby Jane, Sweet Spirit, and Riders against the Storm and more! 2016 will be the biggest Austin Earth Day Festival yet. Free admission.
— Sunset Valley ArtFest @ Toney Burger Center
April 23, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunset Valley ArtFest is a one day event that hosts artists from the area offering classic paintings to music, local foods, jewelry, forging, sculpting, and activities for the kids! Free admission.
— Art City Austin Festival @ Palmer Event Center
April 29 – May 1, Fri. 12- 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Nearly 200 national artists, top local restaurants, two music stages and hands-on art activities make this one of the city’s favorite festivals. Adults admission is $10, kids 12 and under are free.
— Levitation Fest @ Carson Creek Ranch
April 29 – May 1
Levitation, formerly known as Austin Psych Fest, will return to Carson Creek Ranch with on-site camping and three stages with music featuring Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Courtney Barnett, the Black Angels, Animal Collective and more. Kids under 13 are free, but must be with an adult at all times. Click here for schedule and ticket info.
— Lake Travis SpringFest @ Hill Country Galleria
April 30, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Live kids performances on the main stage at 10 a.m. Live music starts at 2 p.m. Artisan shopping all day, and a Kidzone that will keep the kids busy for hours. Enjoy central Texas beer and wine in the BrewHaus/WineStomp tent. Free admission and parking!
— 39th Annual Old Pecan Street Spring Arts Festival @ East Sixth Street
May 7 & 8
The Pecan Street Festival is the oldest and largest art festival in Central Texas. Musicians, food vendors, artists and crafts people turn Sixth Street – historically called Pecan Street – into a lively street fair where there is something for people of all ages. Free family event!
— Violet Crown Spring Festival @ Brentwood Elementary
May 7, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Browse local art and craft vendors, hear live music and take part in plenty of family activities at this free event. Kids can meet the Tree Man, enjoy face painting, life-sized Jenga and chess, hula-hoops, legos, different craft stations, and ladder golf.
— 2nd Annual Derby in the City Music Festival @ Austin American Statesman Lot
May 7, 1:30 p.m.
Watch the Kentucky Derby on a jumbotron while experiencing the very best of the Americana, Indie Rock, Bluegrass & Folk genres. Ladies grab your biggest derby hats and gentlemen come out sporting your most dapper attire! Kids under age 10 free.
Special Events:
— Sherwood Forest Faire (Daytrip to McDade, TX)
Last weekend – April 2 & 3, 10 a.m. – dusk
Located in McDade, Texas, the Faire is set in a 23-acre wooded village that’s bustling with shoppes, pubs and entertainment. Click here to read all about our experience at the Faire. It is open from 10 a.m. – dusk. Tickets at the gate are $23 for ages 13 & up, $13 for ages 6-12, and children ages 5 and under are free. You can save by ordering your tickets in advance online here.
— KGSR Unplugged at the Grove @ Shady Grove
April 7 – August 25, Thursdays at 8 p.m.
It’s the return of the long-running free live music series from KGSR. On Thursdays through August 25 you can see hear great live music from such bands as Sweet Spirit, Ray Wylie Hubbard and more this year. Click here for the lineup.
— 2nd Annual Bricks & Blocks Bonanza @ Thinkery
April 8, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
The Thinkery invites LEGO®-lovers to unite for an epic night of building, art, engineering, food and tons of family fun at this exclusive after-hours party. Click here for ticket info.
— Clean Sweep City-wide Service Day @ various locations
April 9, 9-11 a.m.
Each April, Keep Austin Beautiful hosts Clean Sweep, a city-wide service day spanning 130+ sites in 31 zip codes throughout Austin and resulting in over 29 tons of trash removed. The network of cleanups is followed by a not-to-be-missed volunteer party featuring free t-shirts, lunch, live music, children’s environmental activities, recycled art, a unique object contest, door prizes, and more! Register here.
— MOTOGP Grand Prix of The Americas @ Circuit of The Americas
April 8-10
MotoGP is the pinnacle of all motorcycle World Championships. You can check out this three-day series at the Grand Prix venue. Click here for ticket info.
— Go Fish! Learn to Fish Event @ McKinney Falls State Park
April 9, 9 a.m. – noon
Families can learn the basics of fishing through fun, hands-on activities. Take away a fishing fun pack and enter the drawing for door prizes. Equipment and bait provided or bring your own. No fishing license necessary. Adults must accompany children. Bring sun protection and water. Registration and start time is 9 a.m. Adults $6; kids 12 and under are free.
— Children’s Picnic & Real Food Fair @ French Legation Museum
April 10, 1 – 5 p.m.
Pack a picnic, bring a blanket, grow a garden, get moving, meet farmers and local food vendors, and enjoy cooking demos, baby farm animals, music from Bob Appel and the Austin Community Steel band, and much more! Free.
— Statesman Capitol 10K @ Congress Avenue to Auditorium Shores
April 10, 8 a.m.
Every spring, runners, fitness enthusiasts and healthy families converge in downtown Austin for the Statesman Capitol 10K. This family-friendly events encourages you to run, walk, push that baby stroller, or even bring along your pup for a race through Austin’s picturesque downtown. Then at the Finish Line Festival, you can celebrate your accomplishment with live music, food trucks, a beer garden, kids zone and more. Click here for registration info.
— Eeyore’s Annual Birthday Party @ Pease Park
April 30, 11 a.m.
Live music, local beer, food, acrobats and costume contests surround this annual gathering of Austin’s most eclectic locals. Eeyore’s Birthday serves as fundraiser to benefit many local non-profits.
— YMCA of Austin Family Play Day @ Mueller Lake Park
April 30, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Enjoy a fun and active day in the park as a whole family while learning YMCA programs. Also enjoy a 1K Family Fun Run around the lake! Free.
— Maker Faire Austin @ Palmer Event Center
May 7 & 8, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
This family-friendly event is full of invention, creativity, education, and entertainment. The event will feature souped-up toys like a 30-foot fire-shooting robot, a drone fly zone, racing, and battles, as well as electrifying performances by Arc Attack and more. This year, Maker Faire Austin will host over 200 makers from Texas and beyond. Early bird tickets are $9 for children and $14 for adults, which you can get online here.
— 4th Annual Woodland Faerie Trail @ Zilker Botanical Garden
May 16- June 24
From tiny bridges and stone paths, to meticulously placed acorn shingles, these whimsical creations will delight children of all ages. You can explore the abodes of the faeries and gnomes along the Woodland Faerie Trail through the escarpment pathway and see who is home. Regular admission applies ($3 for adult nonresidents, $2 for adult residents, $1 for children (ages 3-12) & seniors (age 62 & over). Click here for info about special events on the trail.
Family Shows & Children’s Theatre:
James and the Giant Peach @ ZACH Theatre, now through April 10
Alice in Wonderland @ ZACH Theatre, now through May 15
The Town Musicians of Mumbai @ Austin Scottish Rite Theater, April 2- May 1
Jamie Doesn’t Want to Take a Bath @ The Long Center, now through April 9
Peter Rabbit Tales @ Paramount Theatre, April 3
Sesame Street Live @ Frank Erwin Center, April 10
Where the Wild Things Are @ The Long Center, April 13-17
Movies in the Park: Wall-E @ Wooldridge Square Park, April 21
Monster Jam Live @ Frank Erwin Center, April 23 & 24
Movies in the Park: Raiders of the Lost Ark @ Palm Park, May 5
Ballet Austin – Cinderella @ The Long Center, May 7 & 8
The Wizard of Oz @ The Long Center, May 27-29
More to Explore:
10 Best Hikes for Families in Austin
Best Places to Find Bluebonnets
Best Places for Family Picnics
Best Restaurants with Playscapes
Favorite Playgrounds
Places to Go Camping
Favorite Swimming Holes
Where to Rent Kayaks & Canoes
No matter what you do this Spring, we hope you and the kids have an amazing time! For even more ideas, you can always check out our daily calendar for all event listings.