Plus, spotting Texas' state mushroom in south Austin.
 
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💃 41 fests and counting

Every Austin festival taking place in 2024
A group of people dancing around two musicians with brass instruments in their hands.
This could be you at Free Week this weekend. | Photo via Renee Dominguez
We’re not fortune tellers, but we see some celebration in your future.

Austin is well known for its live music festivals, but the Capital City is also home to major events centered on comedy, reading, food, drinks, and more.

In fact, there are so many festivals in ATX that it can be hard to stay on top of them all. That’s why we’re keeping track of every local festival taking place in 2024.

*Editor’s note: If an annual festival isn’t listed here, it’s likely because 2024 dates haven’t been announced yet.

Free Week | Friday, Jan. 5 + Saturday, Jan. 6 | Times vary | Multiple locations | Free | More than a dozen venues will open their doors and put on performances from local stars, including Retro Cowgirl and The Tiarras.

People walking into the convention center under a SXSW sign

With hundreds of panels, pop-ups, and activities, SXSW will keep you busy this March.

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Photo by ATXtoday

SXSW | Friday, March 8-Saturday, March 16 | Times vary | Multiple locations | $835-$1,675 | Spend a week immersed with some of the brightest minds, most talented musicians, and most cutting-edge brands at this expansive fest that brings tens of thousands of visitors to Austin.

Moontower Just for Laughs | Wednesday, April 10-Sunday, April 21 | Times vary | Multiple locations | $150-$275 | See performances from Andrew Schulz, Amy Sedaris, Joe Pera, and dozens of others… need we say more?

ABC Kite Fest | Sunday, April 14 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Zilker Park | Free | Bring your coolest kite to show off, or just bring a picnic blanket to take in the views at this nearly 100-year-old beloved local tradition.

A crowd of people wearing shorts and eating at food trucks in downtown Austin

Dig into food from some of Austin’s top chefs at Hot Luck Fest.

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Photo by ATXtoday

Pecan Street Spring Arts Festival | Saturday, May 4 + Sunday, May 5 | Times vary | Downtown Austin | Free | This event featuring hundreds of vendors is one of the nation’s largest and longest-running arts fests.

Hot Luck Festival | Thursday, May 23-Sunday, May 26 | Times vary | Multiple locations | $495 | Dig into bites from some of the best chefs in the country at this fest led by Aaron Franklin, James Moody, and Mike Thelin.
35 more fests
Asked

Which festival are you most excited about this year?
A. SXSW
B. Pecan Street Arts Festival
C. ACL Music Festival
D. Other
Let us know
Events
Wednesday, Jan. 3
  • Sharks Exhibition | Now-Sunday, March 24 | Times vary | Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave., Austin | Free with admission | Come face-to-face with life-sized models of sharks and take a peek into the sea creature’s history.
  • Bee Cave On Ice | Now-Monday, Jan. 15 | Times vary | Hill Country Galleria, 12700 Hill Country Blvd., Bee Cave | $15 | Ring in the new year on ice with a skate session.
Thursday, Jan. 4
  • Intro to Homemade Sushi | Thursday, Jan. 4 | 6 p.m. | Texas Sake Company, 440 E. St. Elmo Rd., Ste B-2, Austin | $65 | Learn how to make your own homemade sushi alongside chef Desiree.
  • Cirque Italia | Thursday, Jan. 4-Monday, Jan. 15 | Times vary | Barton Creek Square, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin | $30-$55 | Follow Cirque Italia’s production about Rafael, a farm boy swept away by a tornado, who lands in the heart of the city’s chaos.
Friday, Jan. 5
  • The Blues Specialists | Friday, Jan. 5 | 6-8 p.m. | The Continental Club, 1315 S. Congress Ave., Austin | Free | Catch this classic band, which has been performing for more than 36 years.
Saturday, Jan. 6
  • Deaf Artisans Market Day | Saturday, Jan. 6 | 12 p.m. | Meanwhile Brewing Co., 3901 Promontory Point Dr., Austin | Free | Join in on Meanwhile’s first market of the year, featuring deaf creators.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Environment
  • The City of Buda entered Stage 3 drought restrictions on Monday. Under the new rules, Buda residents must reduce lawn and garden irrigation and restrain from filling new swimming pools or washing impervious surfaces. (KXAN)
Number
  • 6,534. That’s how many wildfires Texas firefighters fought in 2023, about half the number of fires fought in 2022. According to data from the Texas A&M Forest Service, more than 204,000 acres burned in the Lone Star State last year. (KXAN)
Coming Soon
  • Yeni’s Fusion, a popular Brentwood Indonesian food truck, will open a second location at 510 W. Oltorf St. this Friday, Jan. 5. Try Texas-tinged traditional dishes like nasi goreng, satay ayam, and bubur ayam. (Eater Austin)
Closed
  • Two East Austin food spots — American restaurant Tillery Kitchen and Bar and vegan Mexican food truck Lick It Up — closed last month. Tillery opened in January 2017, and Lick It Up had been at its location at Lost Well since November 2021. (Eater Austin)
Sports
  • As we’re sure you’ve heard, Texas lost to Washington 31-37 in the Sugar Bowl on Monday night. This means we also lost our wager with our friends at SEAtoday — stay tuned to see which local goodies we send them.
Ranked
  • For the third year in a row, Texas topped U-Haul’s list of states where the most people are moving. According to the company’s growth index, Florida was the second-most popular state, followed by North and South Carolina.
 
Environment

A fun guide to fungi

Spotting the strange, noisy fungi that became Texas’ state mushroom
A mushroom poking out of grass
The Texas Star Mushroom is Texas’ new state mushroom. | Photos by ATXtoday
City Editor London here. I was so excited to spot a Texas Star Mushroom on a recent walk through Garrison Park in south Austin.

The unusual and beautiful fungi became Texas’ state mushroom in 2021, making the Lone Star State one of just three to declare a state mushroom. The fascinating mushroom is quite rare, only growing in Texas, Oklahoma, and Japan.

The mushroom is most likely to be seen in late fall, when it shoots out of the ground as a closed capsule, then splits from the center to bloom into a star shape, making a hissing sound as it releases its spores.

Want to see a Texas Star Mushroom for yourself? Look for cedar elm stumps in your neighborhood or check out this month’s Talks and Walks at Zilker Botanical Garden this Saturday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m.
The Buy

The Buy 1.03.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
A colorful planner or calendar to get you organized for the new year with intentionality, purpose, and plenty of inspiration.
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The Wrap
 
London Gibson

Today’s edition by:
London
From the editor
Although I’m heartbroken by Texas’ loss to Washington on Monday (did anybody else hold out hope until that final second?), I’m still starting off 2024 with some good vibes and some exciting plans for the year, including getting married this fall.

Do you have any exciting plans for 2024?
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