14 Can’t-Miss Events for April & May
Words by Austin Rae Downey
Texas Vegfest
April 7, 11am-6pm
Head to the annual Texas Vegfest, located at Fiesta Gardens, to learn about the benefits of a plant-based diet. Vegan clothing lines, food companies, and restaurants will be camped out, and the day’s events include cooking demos, lectures, live music, and more. Entrance to the event is free and it’s sure to be a good time.
2101 Jesse E. Segovia St. | texasvegfest.com
Hops & Games: Board Game Night
April 11, 6-10pm
Join Jessi and Alex, the creators of Boon the Game, for a night of gaming and craft beer. This event will be held at East Austin’s local brewery Hops & Grains, where there will be more than twenty-five board games to choose from. So bring your friends, grab a beer, and enjoy a night out full of tasteful competition.
507 Calles St. | hopsandgrain.com
Art City Austin: Fine Arts Festival 2018
April 14-15 10am-6pm
Join Art Alliance Austin for their 68th annual Art City Austin event, when they transform the Palmer Events Center into an al fresco art block party. This festival offers Austinites the opportunity to admire the art of over 100 local and visiting artists and features a wide variety of crafts, from painting to jewelry-making to metalworking, and more. General admission tickets to this family-friendly event are only $10. There is also a VIP event the evening of April 13th. Read more about Art City Austin here.
900 Barton Springs Rd. | artallianceaustin.org
Workshop: Ceramics 101
April 16, 6:30-8pm
If you’ve ever been interested in ceramics, register to learn more at Craft. The workshop is beginner friendly and introduces participants to the basics of ceramics, including clay types, firing, and best practices. You’ll make, decorate, and glaze a vase to take home. Classes fill up fast, so register soon!
4704B E Cesar Chavez Street #5 | madeatcraft.com
Austin Reggae Festival
April 20-22, All weekend
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Austin Reggae Festival is offering one of its strongest lineups ever, including The Wailers, Black Uhuru, Collie Buddz, and more. Attendees can expect a weekend of great music and chill vibes. The festival offers a three-day pass for only $45, and tickets are on sale now.
900 W Riverside Dr. | austinreggaefest.com
The Pink Bow Project
April 13-May 12, Times Vary
This exhibition, put on by artist Karen Hawkins, brings attention to the tragedy of child sexual abuse through a powerful multimedia work. Held at Gallery Shoal Creek, the exhibition features 52,000 pink bows, symbolic of the number of substantiated female child sexual abuse cases reported annually to Child Protection Services agencies. Admire beautiful art and support a reputable cause during National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
2832 E Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. #3 | karenhawkinsart.com
Public Tour of Ellsworth Kelley’s ‘Austin’ at the Blanton Museum of Art
April 28, 3-4pm
Learn about artist Ellsworth Kelley’s monumental last work, a freestanding stone building located on the UT Austin campus, through this public tour. The tour will examine Kelley’s modern aesthetic, Judeo-Christian themes, and the initial conception and design of the work. The tour is included in the price of admission ($9) to the Blanton.
200 E. MLK Jr. Blvd. | blantonmuseum.org
Sustainable Food Center Farm to Plate
May 9, 7-9:30pm
Held at the Barr Mansion, the SFC’s Farm to Plate event features bites from Austin restaurants that source their food locally. This year’s roster includes the chefs from Pitchfork Pretty, Odd Duck, Eden East, and more. The event also offers artisan cocktails, beer, and wine. You can support the local non-profit by purchasing tickets or a table, and all proceeds benefit SFC’s community programs.
10463 Sprinkle Road | sustainablefoodcenter.org
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Gardens Park
May 5, 12pm
Since 1978, the nonprofit Fiesta Patrias of Austin has put on family-friendly festivals to celebrate the culture and heritage of Austin’s Hispanic community. This year’s Cinco de Mayo festival will offer traditional mouth-watering food and cultural performances to celebrate. Tickets are $10 and a portion of the proceeds will support local community programs.
2101 Jesse E. Segovia St. | cincodemayoaustin.com
Crafternoon at In.gredients
May 12, 12-2pm
One of East Austin’s best health food grocers offers an afternoon of crafting for kids of all ages. Activities include painting, collage making, mixed medium, and more for only $10 per child. Bring the whole family for a fun-filled afternoon!
2610 Manor Road | Facebook.com/pg/ingredients.io/events
Ladies Night DJ Dance Party at the Sahara Lounge
May 20, 9pm
All the single ladies! All the single ladies! All the single ladies! All the single ladies, now put your hands up. Single or not, grab your girlfriends and head to Sahara Lounge for a night of dancing. This lady’s-only event is for those 21 and over, and is sure to be a good time. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
1413 Webberville Rd. | saharalounge.com
Hot Luck Festival
May 27-29, All weekend
This festival melds the music and culinary worlds through one fiery event. Inspired by family reunions and rowdy tailgates, the event features the hottest chefs from all over the country, and performances by bands such as Galactic and Hot Snakes. Individual tickets for music events or culinary events are also available and range from $15-$95.
Various locations around Downtown | hotluckfest.com
Maudie’s Moonlight Margarita Run
June 7, 8pm
This fundraiser for the Trail Foundation brings together a few of Austinites’ favorite things: running and margaritas. Beginning along Walter Seaholm Drive, this 5k winds its way through the streets bordering Lady Bird Lake. Afterwards, runners are encouraged to attend the Post-Race Party on the Great Lawn in front of the Seaholm Power Plant, and the Finisher Party at Sand Beach Park. Maudie’s Tex-Mex and margaritas will be served.
Begins on Walter Seaholm Drive | thetrailfoundation.org
Eastside Yoga Hosts Srivata Ramaswami
June 9-15, Times vary
Start your summer off right by studying with master yoga teacher Srivata Ramaswami. Eastside Yoga offers a weekend pass as well as individual classes. Srivata will offer classes on Mantra Yoga, Samkhya essentials, the four sutras of Yoga philosophy, and more. Yogis, don’t miss this chance of a lifetime!
1050 E 11th St., Suite 150 | eastsideyoga-austin.com
