Explore UT is a day-long open house at the campus of the University of Texas. Thousands of children, parents, and teachers attend this free annual event held on the first Saturday in March. School districts from around the state send busloads of students.
The 22nd annual Texas Book Festival took over the Texas State Capitol and surrounding blocks this weekend. I attended sessions on both Saturday and Sunday. Several were at the huge CSPAN tent on 12th Street, and the rest were in the Capitol Extension building.
Each year Bill and I catch up with friends at the Oktoberfest celebration at the German Free School on East 10th Street. This festival doesn’t attract a huge crowd, which is why we like to meet there. It is sponsored by the German-Texas Heritage Society.
Sunday was the sunniest and hottest day during ACL Fest Weekend 1. Bill and I wanted to see the evening headliners, so we didn’t arrive at the festival until late afternoon. Over the years, we have learned that hot days really sap our energy. This later arrival strategy worked out well for us.
Bill and I sometimes dread the Saturdays of ACL Fest, but this year wasn’t bad at all. Cloudy skies meant slighter cooler temperatures—the daytime high was only 87°F. Zilker Park was noticeably more crowded than the first day, but it was still fairly easy to walk between stages. I think this was partly due to the expanded festival footprint, but also because UT played a home football game in the evening.
Bill and I are attending the first weekend of the Austin City Limits Music Festival. We’ve been going to ACL Fest in Zilker Park for many years now. The music is always great, but the weather can make or break the festival. Friday afternoon was a little hot (high around 90), but the evening was pleasant.
The Texas Tribune Festival was held on the UT campus over the weekend of September 22-24, 2017. This annual event was sponsored by The Texas Tribune, a non-profit media organization that informs Texans on statewide issues. More than 60 sessions were offered, plus podcast tapings, keynote addresses, and various receptions. The sessions were grouped by themes: Trump: Year One, Politics & the Media, Transportation, Energy & the Environment, Diversity & the Law, Health Care & the Economy, Public & Higher Education, 2018, and Cities.
The Austin Ice Cream Festival is one of the few outdoor events that Bill and I are willing to attend here in August. This festival was held last Saturday at Fiesta Gardens in East Austin. When we arrived around 10:30 AM, temperatures were already in the 90s.
Last Saturday Bill and I attended Ney Day on the grounds of the Elisabet Ney Museum in the Hyde Park neighborhood. The event honored the legacy of sculptor Elizabet Ney by celebrating women in the arts, sciences, and civic culture. This year’s Ney Day was originally scheduled for mid-May, but had to be postponed due to rain. Saturday was warm and sunny—perfect weather for an outdoor festival.
The spring version of the Pecan Street Festival took over Sixth Street (also known as Pecan Street) last weekend. In honor of its 40th anniversary, this outdoor arts and music festival has been designated as a “Heritage Event” by the City of Austin.