Pecan Street Festival, which has been produced by Special Events Live since 2006, prides itself on being a place where people from all walks of life can come together to celebrate the arts. | Photo by Will Taylor, LostinAustin.org
Pecan Street Festival will say goodbye to its namesake thoroughfare for its 50th annual spring festival. The largest arts fest in Texas will be held at the Hill Country Galleria in Bee Cave instead from Saturday, May 3 to Sunday, May 4.
Originally named Pecan Street, Old 6th Street has been the home of the free, bi-annual festival since its inception in 1978. This year, organizers were faced with a choice: shrink the event by 100 booths due to the street’s new bollards, or relocate.
According to Zapata, many vendors say Pecan Street Festival is their best-selling art show of the year.
“We would have loved to remain on 6th Street, but we’re unable,” Special Events Live CEO Luis Zapata told ATXtoday. “We would be killing about a third of our income by staying on 6th Street and the options the city gave us didn’t work out.”
Zapata said welcome changes come with the change of scenery, like a sense of safety for vendors leaving their art tents overnight and free parking for attendees.
Art in the Park | 10-11 a.m. | Garrison District Park | Free | Tap into your creativity by crafting a nature-inspired art project led by Painting Pandas.
“Friends” Trivia | 4:30-7 p.m. | Jester King Brewery | Free | Wear an outfit inspired by the 1990s to test your knowledge of the beloved sitcom, plus, pitchers of beer will be 30% off.
Glenn Tilbrook | 8 p.m. | The State Theatre | $35+ | Spend an evening being serenaded by this English singer-songwriter and his son Leon Tilbrook.
Thursday, March 27
Golden Hour Tour | 6-8 p.m. | The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria | Free | Let the Laguna Gloria staff lead you through the art and nature of the grounds when the sun is just beginning to set.
Friday, March 28
“Love’s Gentle Spring” | Friday, March 28-Sunday, March 30 | Times vary | The Long Center | $20+ | Celebrate springtime by attending the world premiere of Ballet Austin’s new work by Artistic Director Stephen Mills.
Saturday, March 29
“Crime Junkie” | 7:30 p.m. | H-E-B Center, Cedar Park | $40+ | Fans of the chart-topping podcast won’t want to miss hosts Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat’s traveling show.
Madhu Chocolate will close at the end of April after seven years of business. Its owners cited a “massive shortage of available cacao” as the reason for the closure in an Instagram post. Celebrate the chocolate purveyor’s legacy at its farewell party from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 12.
Biz
One of the Capital City’s oldest grocery stores, Wheatsville Food Co-op, debuted a $4 million community campaign with plans to open several satellite locations while its South Lamar Boulevard store serves as its central hub. Community members can donate or invest to receive investor shares. (Austin Business Journal)
Civic
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved the funding of a new affordable housing project to the tune of $4.47 million. Once complete, Cairn Point Montopolis will boast 150 new affordable housing units for unhoused and at-risk folks ages 55 and up.
Travel
You win some, you lose some. Frontier Airlines will launch a new nonstop service from AUS to San Diego, operating four times per week starting in June. Meanwhile, Hawaiian Airlines will end its direct route between Austin and Honolulu, effective Thursday, March 27. (KXAN)
Eat
Reservations are live for Uchibā Austin’s new lunch service, which begins on Tuesday, April 8. The Downtown restaurant currently opens at 4 p.m. daily, but guests can soon indulge in daytime specials like the Ba Bento, which features sesame salad, a salmon hand roll, nigiri, and more.
Number
$100,000. That’s how much money is up for grabs in the 2025 Austin FC Dream Starter Competition, an annual initiative that awards funds to local entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups. Submit your application by Monday, April 14.
Outdoors
Big Stacy Pool will close for its annual spring cleaning from Saturday, April 26 through Sunday, May 11. Don’t fret, there are plenty of other places to take a dip in the meantime, including local bars with pools.
Sports
UT women’s basketball’s Sweet 16 matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers is set for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas Longhorns with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Trending
Eyeing some Hoka shoes for spring hiking, running, and walking adventures? Brad’s Deals rounded up which stores are offering the best prices.*
Category
Opening
🍖 Let’s meat up
Keep an eye out for seasonal specials at Parish Barbecue. | Photo provided by Parish Barbecue
What happens when flavors from Louisiana and Central Texas collide? Find out at Parish Barbecue, a new food truck opening on Friday, March 28 at Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches.
Parish Barbecue is the brainchild of Holden Fulco, who brings seven years of prowess from smokehouses like Franklin Barbecue and Interstellar BBQ. He’ll work alongside Jake Haygood — a former pitmaster at Terry Black’s BBQ — and focus on slow cooking methods.
Bonus for barbecue aficionados: All meats will be smoked on a Bison 1,000-gallon offset pit exclusively using Chief Firewood hickory. Here are a few must-try menu items:
Classic meats like USDA Prime Black Angus brisket, pork ribs, and house-cured ham
Inventive dishes like pulled duck with crispy cracklins + Saturday specials like fried pork cracklins
Louisiana-inspired sides like Acadiana potato salad, remoulade vinegar slaw, and crawfish cornbread dressing
A really good Wi-Fi extender, because you deserve reliable internet access (yes, even in that corner of the house). Bonus: It’s 52% off until midnight thanks to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale.
Got an idea for a perfect slice of pizza? Your creation could end up on Home Slice’s daily slice board.
Enter the Signature Pizza Slice Competition by commenting your ideal recipe on this Instagram post. The final four contenders will be announced on Saturday, March 29, and the winner will take home a $100 gift card + swag.
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