BEST TIME TO VISIT AUSTIN, TEXAS

Best time to visit Austin, Texas

There is so much to see and do in this amazing Texan city that we have mapped out your options in our guide to the best time to visit Austin.

Best time to visit Austin

Best Time for Sightseeing: Spring and fall when the weather is great, although it’s also peak season. More peaceful times include November or February, when the weather is still good, although it may rain. Peak summer is the worst time to sightsee, when there’s scorching heat, so avoid July and August. 

Best Time to visit Barton Springs Pool: The spring-fed waters of iconic Barton Springs Pool remains a steady 20°C year-round. It’s the place to be in summer – weekends are the busiest, so arrive before 8am (it opens at 5am) or stand in a long line. Another option for avoiding crowds and the fees is to go during the free swimming hour every night from 9 to 10pm. You can go at other times of the year, but you may find the water too chilly unless it’s boiling hot outside, which happens sometimes in May, September & October.

Best Time to Visit the State Capitol: The Texas State Capitol building sits on top of a hill with a picturesque view of downtown Austin and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One of Austin’s most popular attractions, it offers free guided tours Monday through Saturday with the exception of major holidays. To avoid standing in the queue, make a reservation for a weekday as early in the morning as possible. Even with a reservation, because of security and screening, you’ll need to get there at least 45 minutes before your scheduled time.

Best Time to See the Bats: Austin’s Congress Avenue Bridge is home to North America’s largest urban bat colony, with 1.5 million bats. Every March, the bats return to give birth and raise their pups, sticking around through October. The best time to see them is in late August and early September when the babies join their mothers in flight. Each evening, just before the sun sets, visitors gather on the bridge to watch the bats emerge. While it usually happens at sunset, it can happen up to 30 minutes before or after, so arrive early to ensure you don’t miss it.

Austin Travel Seasons

  • High Season (March till the end of May, September & October): Austin has 2 high seasons, during spring and fall, when the weather is mild and there are plenty of festivals, concerts and parades. It’s crowded and expensive, though compared to many other cities, Austin is relatively affordable. If you want to visit at this time, plan ahead, especially during major festivals such as South by Southwest in March as well as in late September/early October when the Austin City Limits Music Festival is on. If you’re looking for a cheap room at the last minute in high season, you may need to raise your budget a bit, or stick to real economy accommodation.
  • Shoulder Season (November till the end of February & June): Accommodation is more affordable and booking at the last minute will be easier. The weather is reasonable throughout most of winter, ranging between 13° & 18°C. It’s a great time to enjoy outdoor activities and the biking, hiking and horse riding trails will be quiet.
  • Low Season (July &August): The peak of summer means scorching temperatures that keep tourists away. But if you can stand the heat, you can take advantage of a significant drop in hotel accommodation and less crowded attractions.

Austin Special Events by Month

 January

  • Free Week First week in January: A great time to be in Austin, as hundreds of local bands participate in at multiple venues across the city – free. 
  • Martin Luther King March and Festival Third Monday in January: Martin Luther King’s legacy is celebrated with a community march, kicking off with a short program at the civil rights leader’s statue on the University campus. This is followed by a festival featuring local musicians and lots of vendors.

 February

  • Austin Marathon and Half Marathon Mid-February: More than 20,000 runners and thousands more spectators congregate for one of the country’s largest combined marathons and half marathons. Both courses run through some of Austin’s most scenic and historic areas, including Lady Bird Johnson Lake, the Allandale and Hyde Park neighborhoods, Congress Avenue, the University of Texas campus and the State Capital complex.
  • Valentine’s Day February 14: Austin wineries and hotels offer a variety of romantic packages. There are also a number of One of Anti-Valentine’s Day events including the Home Wreckers & Heartbreakers Ball, hosted at Gibson Bar, where everyone celebrates being single, dancing to a DJ throughout the night. 
  • No Idea Festival Late February: 4-day fest featuring improvised music and performance art with and providing free improvisation, composition, noise and sonic interventions.
  • Texas Union Film Festival Late February: Also called TUFF, it’s an evening that highlights the cinematic talents of UT Austin students.

 March

  • Zilker Kite Festival Early March: Fun kite competition using homemade single-line kites plus kids-only competitions, contests for the smallest and largest kites, oldest and youngest kite-fliers and more. There’s a VIP breakfast plus food and exhibitor booths too.
  • South by Southwest (SXSW) Mid-March: Major 10-day event featuring the latest and greatest in the music, film and interactive industries, plus performances by more than 2,000 bands from around the world. It takes place on over 100 stages throughout Austin, including the Austin Convention Center.
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17: Family-friendly fun celebrating Irish culture at Pioneer Farms with local and international Celtic musicians, Irish dance performances and bagpipe bands. Includes lots of authentic Irish cuisine and Irish brews, especially Guinness.
  • Rodeo Austin Mid-March: 2-week event with a Top 10 ProRodeo, daily concerts, a livestock show and more.

 April

  • Austin Urban Music Festival Early April: 2 days of entertainment showcasing soul, R&B, hip hop, gospel and neo-soul as a platform for talented local African-American artists.
  • Zilker Garden Festival Early April: 2-day fest with a flower show, food court, beer garden, live entertainment, kids’ corner and a host of vendors selling plants, pottery, garden-themed accessories, jewelry and herbal products.
  • Austin Reggae Festival Mid-April: 3 days of reggae at Auditorium Shores in downtown Austin.
  • Texas Community Music Festival Second half of April: 15 days of fun at Central Market North with free music performances in different genres, everything from solo acts to 70-piece ensembles.
  • Texas Burlesque Festival Late April: 3-day showdown celebrating the revival of burlesque, vaudeville and cabaret with parties, a brunch/roundtable, workshops and performances.

 May

  • Cinco de Mayo TBA: A weekend that celebrates the day in 1862 when Mexican troops beat the French during the Battle of Puebla, winning their independence. Festivities are held at Fiesta Gardens Park on the weekend closest to the holiday with food, fun and a host of live Tejano and Mexican music.
  • Lone Star Jam Early May: Weekend showcasing a diverse line-up of regional and national country music artists along with some of Austin’s best food trucks.
  • Pecan Street Festival Early May: Often coinciding with the Lone Star Jam, this long-running arts, crafts and music festival takes place in the historic Sixth Street District. Features music performances, street magicians, dance performers, a petting zoo, plenty of food options and a classic carnival.
  • Renegade Craft Fair Mid-May: Weekend fair at Fair Market showcasing the best in modern craft and design with over 125 craftspeople selling jewelry, clothing and accessories, modern home décor and more.
  • Deutschen Pfest Third weekend in May: Held in Pflugerville, 17 miles north of Austin, this festival features a parade, live music and a carnival plus plenty of rides, food and drink and stalls.

June

  • X Games Austin Early June: Features world-class action sports competitions, live music, interactive festivals and more.
  • Soul to Sole Festival TBA: Dancers and instructors from across the globe host tap jams, master classes, choreography classes, panel discussions and a variety of performances for 5 days.
  • ATX Television Festival TBA: 4-day festival celebrating television through screenings, panels, Q&As and other industry events. Includes classic shows, shows that were cancelled too soon, cult hits, never-aired pilots and more.
  • Blanco Lavender Fest Mid-June: Held in Texas Hill Country, less than an hour’s drive from Austin, this 3-day festival focuses on lavender. There’s free entry to the area’s lavender farms and many offer special entertainment and activities. Some let visitors pick their own lavender. The whole town of Blanco participates with restaurants serving lavender-flavored dishes and merchants offering all sorts of lavender goods. There are also lavender-related educational programs at the courthouse.
  • Keep Austin Weird Festival Late June: Aimed at “keeping the weird tradition going strong” –  includes a 5km fun run, food vendors with delicious offerings, live music, games and entertainment. Costumes are encouraged – the weirder the better.

 July

  • Fourth of July Symphony & Fireworks July 4: One of Texas’ largest Independence Day celebrations is held at Circuit of the Americas. Features games and contests followed by a massive fireworks display accompanied by the sounds of the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
  • Chamber Music Festival TBA: A 2-week festival of classical music with free community concerts, workshops, master classes and behind-the-scenes lecture performances.
  • Pachanga Presents Mid-July: Held at the Moody Theater with Latin music, culture and cuisine. Includes special events for kids such as a piñata party, folk arts & crafts and music workshops.
  • Float Fest Mid-July: At Cool River Ranch in San Marcos, about a 30-minute drive south of Austin. Outdoor music festival hosting nationally acclaimed acts. People camp over and tubing companies offer inner tubes for floating down the San Marcos River.
  • Body Mind Spirit Expo Third weekend in July: Held at the Palmer Events Center, the expo showcases alternative health products, psychics and mediums as well as wellness, health and fitness industry experts.

 August

  • Austin Ice Cream Festival Mid-August: A celebration of ice cream at Fiesta Gardens by Festival Beach. Enjoy lots of ice creams, live music, contests, kids’ activities and more.
  • Austin Hot Sauce Festival Mid-August: Also at Fiesta Gardens, attracting over 15,000 participants who come to sample as many different types of hot sauce as they can from a variety of more than 350. Lots of food, live music and entertainment too.
  • Bat Fest Third Saturday in August: Celebrates 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats that emerge from under Congress Avenue Bridge downtown at dusk. Features 3 stages with live music, over 75 arts & crafts vendors, food and drink, kid’s activities, a bat costume contest and other bat-related activities.
  • Pride Festival The last Saturday in August: Held in Fiesta Gardens on the shores of Lady Bird Lake to celebrate gay pride with a variety of live performers and an evening parade that starts at the State Capitol and features grand floats.
  • Capital City Black Film Festival Late August: 4-day festival where talented African Americans involved in media and the film industry showcase films, acting seminars, panel discussions, weekend parties and more.

 September

  • Austin Music Video Festival Early September: 4-day festival celebrating music videos produced by local artists and also a platform to connect with professionals in the music, film, gaming and technology industries. Includes an award show, screenings, interactive video technology, live VJ battle, panels, workshops, live concerts and parties.
  • Austin Triathlon TBA: Takes place annually on Labor Day in downtown Austin. Starts with a swim in Lady Bird Lake, followed by a bike course and finishes with a run along the path at Auditorium Shores.
  • Eastside Kings Festival Mid-September: A weekend of blues, gospel and jazz acts to celebrate some of the greatest living musicians. 
  • Texas Craft Brewers Festival Third Saturday in September: Texas’ largest craft beer event focuses exclusively on beers brewed here and takes place at Fiesta Gardens. Offers unlimited tastings from more than 60 state breweries.
  • Fantastic Fest Last week in September: Cinematic celebration showcasing the best fantasy, sci-fi, horror and action films. A movie marathon is hosted at Alamo Drafthouse, with over 50 independent feature-length and short films. Also includes Q&A sessions with actors and directors, film discussions with nationally recognized critics, movie-themed karaoke parties, live podcast recordings, geek pub trivia and award ceremonies.

 October

  • Austin City Limits Music Festival Early October: Massive 2-week event at Zilker Park hosting visitors from all over the world who come to enjoy over 130 bands with a diverse range of genres and styles. Includes fabulous local food, a kids’ area and family-friendly activities.
  • MondoCon First weekend in October: Celebrates art, comics, movies, music, toys and food.  Features artists and creators from around the world plus screenings, panels, food trucks and interactive events.
  • Austin Film Festival Mid-October: Also known as the Writers Festival, it’s dedicated to screenwriters in the film industry. Some acclaimed filmmakers attend for round table discussions and panels and there’s a judging of a famous screenwriting contest. Offers screenings of over 100 films, including feature films, documentaries and shorts.
  • Texas Trucklandia Fest Mid-October: 6 days celebrating Austin’s food truck culture. Some of Austin’s most popular food trucks serve up their signature dishes and compete for cash prizes.
  • Austin Days of the Dead Mid-October to early November: Cross-cultural celebration blending Halloween-themed festivities with the Mexican traditions of the Days of the Dead. Features numerous events across the city including parades, live music and cultural performances, exhibitions, workshops and more. Costumes are encouraged.

 November

  • Austin Celtic Festival First weekend in November: Celebrating all things Celtic at Fiesta Gardens, including Celtic musicians, dance performers, sports events and workshops.
  • Austin Powwow and Native American Heritage Festival First Saturday in November: Honoring the culture and tradition of American Indians at the Travis County Expo Center, with dance contests, an authentic Indian market and educational and heritage programs.
  • East Austin Studio Tour Second half of November: Held over 2 weekends – a self-guided tour to galleries, commercial studios, installations and art-themed parties. The opening party is a special culinary event highlighting local chefs, educational programs and competitions.

 December

  • Austin Trail of Lights Throughout December: Held in Zilker Park, it’s a festive mile-long walk past spectacular light displays.
  • German Christmas Market First Saturday in December: Market at the German Free School with traditional German Christmas music, authentic German items handcrafted in the Erzgebirge region, German cuisine, St Nikolaus and more.
  • Armadillo Christmas Bazaar Mid-December: 10-day art fair and music fest featuring handcrafted items from over 160 artists, live local music and a full bar.
  • New Year’s Eve Festival December 31: Free New Year’s Eve festival at Auditorium Shores & Vic Mathias Shores with live music, local artists and exhibitors, entertainment including aerialists and live painting, art installations, kids’ activities and food trucks. Highlight is the spectacular fireworks display at 10pm.