Locals Know Art Tours | Monthly: 1st Sundays & 3rd Fridays, 9:45am-12pm
Ready to go deeper than Austin’s best barbecue? We’re leveraging our local expertise to showcase the creative artists who add vibrance to our beloved city. Two different walking tours explore the city’s historic sites, take in its music history, and sample some of the best hidden menu gems in town. It also includes sipping creative concoctions (enter dill pickle martinis) and gazing upon colorful murals while exploring the savory and sweet sides of Austin’s rich culinary history. Tickets start at $40 and provide enough local legend and folklore that you’ll be telling everyone you know (even the mailman) to join in on the next one. eastsideatx.com/arttours
Locals Know Tacos Tours | Fridays & Saturdays, 11:30am
This short walking tour has local expertise and mouthwatering taco trucks that deliver the best of the best of Austin’s culture and cuisine, sampling tacos, chips & dips, and Mexican traditions and delicacies from various iconic spots like Michelin Guide-recognized La Santa Barbacha. It also includes sipping margs and mural photo ops while exploring the savory and sweet sides of East Austin’s culinary history. Tickets start at $85 and provide enough food to fill bellies for both lunch and dinner. eastsideatx.com/tacotours | 2808 Manor Rd.
The Art of Banksy without Limits | Daily until September 6, 12-7pm
Featuring over 200 pieces from the legendary street artist Banksy, this exhibition offers guests the chance to step into the works through the immersive Infinity Room. Tickets range from $19 to $53 depending on age, date, and add-ons. Immerse yourself with living projections of Banksy works, like the iconic Dismaland Bemusement Park, before or after viewing up-close displays of famous murals. It’s a rare chance to experience such a large collection of their art, moving past the frame and into the mind of Banksy, and Austin has a front row seat. artofbanksyus.com/austin |1100 E 5th St.
Austin Sketch Fest | August 14-16 & 21-23, times vary
For two weekends in August, Coldtowne Theater showcases some of the best in sketch comedy. Featuring big names and rising comedic stars like Andrew Dismukes (UT Austin’s own SNL castmember), Aly Dixon, Assssketch, and Shitty Mozart. While there are individual tickets for headliners starting at $35, badges are available to see the entire festival for $169, including premier seating and five-minute early access before doors open. Badge holders also get a free t-shirt, which is literally a priceless way to remember a weekend full of belly laughs. atxsketchfest.com | 1700 E 2nd St.
Come from Away | Aug. 19-Sept. 27, showtimes vary
Visit Zach Theater’s Topfer stage for the Tony-winning musical, Come from Away. Set in a tiny town in Canada’s Newfoundland after 7,000 passengers were diverted to their airport during the 9/11 attacks, the locals greeted the new arrivals with open arms. With a Celtic folk and Bluegrass songbook, this touchingly true story has tickets starting at $70. Be sure to look out for their Champagne Opening on August 19, or themed nights like Pride Night on August 20 and Zachademia Night for educators with tickets as low as $22. zachtheater.org | 202 S Lamar Blvd.
Austin Pride Parade & Festival | August 22, 11am
Pride Month may be over, but the celebrations continue in Austin well into August, as our official parade and festival kick off. Expect a roaring crowd given last year saw over 400,000 people in attendance to show support for the LGBTQIA+ as the parade marches along Congress Avenue. The parade is free to attend; however, festivities before the parade may have a cover, including a Selena-themed drag brunch on August 12 at The Brewtorium. austinpride.org | Congress Ave.
The Front Festival | September 5-7, times vary
To celebrate the end of summer, Future Front is cooking up a weekend’s worth of indie music, film, art, and community across Austin. With single-day passes for $20 to $40 or weekend passes that include access across film and music showcases, along with both opening and closing pool parties for $55 to $100. For artists and art-lovers, this festival captures the locally-oriented vibe Austinites strive to keep alive. thefrontfest.com | various venues
LEVITATION 2026 | Sept. 10-13, showtimes vary
LEVITATION is back for a four-day weekend of live music across Austin. Radio East is the festival’s hub, with two stages at the coffee shop/bar/music venue, while the rest of the fest takes place at venues like Stubbs, Mohawk, 29th Street Ballroom, Hotel Vegas, The 13th Floor, and Elysium. The city comes alive with the sound of eclectic, genre-spanning music, and ticket prices range from individual show tickets to multi-day stage passes. levitation.fm | venues vary
Locals Know BBQ Tours | Saturdays & Sundays, 11am-2pm
There’s an overwhelming number of choices when it comes to Austin’s barbecue joints, and it’s easy to put off sampling the best when the lines are long. But for $145 per person, locals and visitors alike can experience the priceless joy of not facing the dreaded “restroom dilemma” of “should I stay or should I go?” while waiting in said lines but skipping them altogether at each spot: Mum’s Foods, KG BBQ, la Barbecue, Micklethwait Craft Meats, Parish Barbecue, and a secret location kept on the down low. Have your brisket and eat it too, as you’re chauffeured from pit to pit learning about the rich history of Texas’s best kept secrets. eastsideatx.com/bbqtours | 3108 Manor Rd.
Fantastic Fest | September 17-2, showtimes vary
At South Lamar’s Alamo Drafthouse, the theater is possessed by rabid fans of all things horror, sci-fi, and action as the film/TV festival screens premieres of various new and old titles in those respective genres. Secure a badge and settle in for a frightfully good time as the theater comes alive with activations, events, secret screenings, and celebrity sightings. Badges start at $275 for the second half of the festival and tend to sell out freakishly fast. fantasticfest.com | 1120 S Lamar Blvd.
Mrs. Doubtfire | September 22-27, showtimes vary
The beloved Robin Williams comedy comes alive on stage at Bass Concert Hall as a part of their Broadway in Austin Series. It’s a musical comedy adaptation that takes the heartwarming tale of an out-of-work actor as he dons a fiery, Irish nanny persona to prove there’s no limit to how far a dad will go to support his kids. Tickets start at $42 with show times ranging from 1pm to 8pm. texasperformingarts.org | 2350 Robert Dedman Dr.
Join the Club (Literally)! | August 31 & September 28, 7-8pm
EASTside ATX Mag hosts monthly Book Club Meet-ups the last Monday of each month. Expect local coffee, occasional custom cocktails, and discussions over whether fictional characters deserve redemption arcs. Each month features a different genre (voted on by you) and a rotating venue: think patios, bookstores, and breweries. August’s meet-up takes place at First Light Books, and we’re chatting about one more summer romance before the season ends. September’s meet-up is at El Chile to discuss a “much more serious” academic-inspired trope. Follow along on Insta for details, or sign up to vote on the next read and to get notifications. eastsideatx.com/bookclub | @eastsideatxmag | First Light Books: 4300 Speedway, Unit 104 & El Chile: 1900 Manor Rd.
