Up and Coming Festivals and Events in Austin

Annie You | August 16, 2021

One of my favorite things about Austin is that something is always happening. Whether it is a food festival, a raging concert, or a rowdy carnival, if you’re in the know, your weekends can always be filled. But sometimes, being in the know around Austin is harder than going to these events in the first place. Despite living here for 10+ years of my life, I still miss out on dozens of exclusive Austin events every single month. So to make sure that YOU don’t miss out on these opportunities, Texas Tasty compiled a list of all the up-and-coming events in Austin that are happening in the remainder of the year! 

Austin City Limits Music Festival

Description: This year marks the 20th year of the renowned music festival that brings our favorite artists outside of the studio and into one of our favorite parks. The festival occurs over 2 weekends, each featuring a diverse lineup with 8 different stages and over 90 different artists and bands. Because they’re celebrating its 20th anniversary, the ACL lineup include George Strait, Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus, Stevie Nicks, Rufus Du Sol, Dababy, Erykah Badu, and numerous other stars! 

Date: Weekend 1, October 1-3, Weekend 2, October 8-10

Location: Zilker Park 

Ticket Price: One day Passes range from $135 general to $2100 VIP and Platinum. 3-day tickets range from $300 general to $4000 VIp and Platinum.

***Tip:  Currently, all direct ticket sales are sold out at the moment, there are third party websites that are reselling tickets. Different Facebook groups such as UT Buy/Sell/Trade or Austin Buy/Sell Trade are good places for potentially lower costs. 

Austin Food + Wine Festival 

Description: A three day weekend filled with countless opportunities to bless your palates with signature bites from top rated Central Texas chefs and the chance to savor top wines from all over the country. There will also be Fire Pits where you can eat entrees hot off the plate cooked right in front of you and a Feast Under The Stars that feature a 5-course meal prepared by expert chefs right next to the beautiful Austin skyline. 

Date: November 5th – November 7th, 2021 

Location: Auditorium Shores and Republic Square Park 

Ticket Price: Ticket prices are not released yet due to the event being rescheduled. Sign up for their email list to get the latest updates. 

Behind the Scenes: Hollywood Sistine Chapel 

Description: Texas Performing Arts has a nearly complete replica of the Sistine Chapel. This exhibition is the very first public viewing of the entire Sister Chapel suite. You can experience an immersive, up-close examination of hand-painted artworks that depict scenes from the Old Testament painted by artists such as Michelangelos, Perugina, Botticelli, and numerous others. 

Date: June 25th to August 1st, 2021 

Location: Bass Concert Hall 

Ticket Price: Full Price tickets are $20, Seniors and Military tickets are $15, Student tickets (primary, secondary, and college) are $10, groups of 10 or more receive special rates of $12 per ticket. 

Dessert Fest Austin 

Description: If you love desserts and enjoy beer, this is the event for you! Dessert fest is a specially curated treat just for their guests. You can enjoy Sunday Funday festivities while sampling various desserts and beers from around the city. This event is sponsored by Hi Sign Brewing and Food + Travel with a portion of the proceeds going towards the Hospitality Fund. There are two different ticket options: VIP and General Admission. The VIP Ticket includes an early entry time, dessert sames, 2 beer drink tickets, voting ballot to name Best Dessert, non-alcoholic beverage samples, goodie bags, access to photo booth, eating contest, prize giveaways, and music. On the other hand, the general admission includes everything except for Goodie Bag, 1 Beer ticket, and early entry time. 

Date:  October 24th,  2021 @1:00pm – 5:00pm

Location: Hi Sign Brewing 

Ticket Price: General tickets are $15, VIP tickets are $25, and Kids tickets are $10. 

2021 Taste of Round Rock 

Description:  This is a community led event that features 30+ restaurants in the local area to showcase their cuisine. For that reason, this is a great opportunity to explore small businesses around your home, try different menus, discover new places, and share a nice evening with your colleagues, friends, and family. 

Date:  August 10th, 2021 

Location:Round Rock Sports Center 

Ticket Price: General admission is $25 with children under 12 free and free parking

Austin Music and Arts Festival

Description:  A showcase of major concerts, contemporary art displays, classic car shows, motorcycle shows, and exclusive access to wave pools and lazy rivers. An all in one event where you can enjoy the Taste of Texas Food Garden with delicious cuisine and domestic craft beers. There will be live music from national recording artists throughout the day on the main stage alone. In addition, there will be visual artists presenting cultural heritage pieces from Austin, Texas! 

Date:  September 25  to September 26, 2021 from 11am – 9pm 

Location: Typhoon Texas Water Park in Pflugerville, Texas 

Ticket Price: General admission is $10. The ticket includes an all weekend access pass to everything for both days of the event. Children under the age of 12 are free! 

Pecan Street Festival 

Description:  This festival is one of the largest, and longest-running arts/crafts and music festivals in the nation. This is a free two day art festival that is held bi-annually on 6th Street. This festival includes hundreds of local and national hand crafted creations made by national artisans from all around. As a result, this is a great place to get authentically crafted items made from metal, wood, fiber, clay, leather, glass, stone, or repurposed materials. There will also be a variety of live music and food booths throughout the event. 

Date:  September 18 (11am-10pm) and September 19 (11am – 8pm) 

Location: Downtown Austin, 6th Street 

Ticket Price: Free!

We hope you enjoy some or all of these Austin events! Share your experience with us too, be sure to tag @Texastasty on instagram!