13 Things we Love in August & September
Words Deven Wilson
Locals Know BBQ Tour
Saturdays & Sundays 10:45am – 1:30pm
Anyone who claims waiting in line makes barbecue taste better has never savored the feeling of skipping the line altogether. KG BBQ, Micklethwait Craft Meat, Mum Foods, la Barbecue, Parish Barbecue, and a secret spot (that also accumulates a line every morning) are all featured on the food tour, with each plate ready by the time the shuttle arrives. For $145 per person, get a taste of the award-winning Austin barbecue scene with every smoky bite.
eastsideatx.com/foodtours | meeting location: central Austin
Free Monday Tango
Aug. 4-Sept. 29, Mondays 7pm
Start the week on the right foot with a tango lesson at Esquina Tango Austin. The sultry dance might look intimidating, but the welcoming community of dancers teach all levels of skill every Monday, with cocktails on hand to help ease the nerves. Free to attend, anyone without a partner or with two left feet is welcome to break up their routine in style.
esquinatango.org/monday-tango | 5012 E 7th St.
Lez Be Friends Comedy & Blind Date Show
August 5 & September 2, 7pm
Every first Tuesday at Rozco’s Comedy Club, Airelle Isaac Norman hosts a comedic showcase-meets-dating show, featuring a lineup of stand-up comedy followed by an on-stage blind date. Guests can observe, but the brave can fill out a questionnaire for Arielle and her girlfriend to use to match with others on stage. And while it might sound intimidating, it’s a better alternative to the app scene. Tickets start at $15 online but are $20 at the door.
rozcoscomedy.com | 1805 E 7th St.
End of Summer Bash!
August 9, 11am-1pm & 3pm-5pm
Before classes start, and the holidays roll in, send summer 2025 out in splashy style at the Thinkery. With special performances by Strawbitty Yops, sweet treats, and special STEAM summer activations, children and adults can celebrate the end of the season for $35 per person. Without revealing all the museum’s plans, expect splashy activations during both sessions of the celebration.
my.thinkeryaustin.org | 1830 Simond Ave.
Second Sunday Concert Series
August 10 & September 14, 10am
Unwind with a breakfast taco, coffee, and a side of a children’s concert. With the help of local musicians from Groundwork Music Projects, guests at Cherrywood Coffeehouse can bring their kids to sing, dance, and play as they enjoy the morning at the cafe on the second Sunday of every month. Free to patrons, parents and their kids can bond over the locally loved art form and a delicious Cherrywood breakfast.
cherrywoodcoffeehouse.com | 1400 E 38th 1/2 St.
Cello Noir
August 23, 2pm, 5pm, & 8pm
Attend a hauntingly beautiful cello concert featuring a quartet from Austin Camerata with guest artist Naala, set inside the stunning, art-filled sanctuary/venue at The Cathedral. Intimate, immersive, and deeply Austin, tickets start at $50. thecathedralatx.com | 2403 E 16th St.
Austin Pride Festival
August 23, 11am
At Fiesta Gardens, this year’s Austin Pride will champion the voices of the local LGBTQIA+ community with an unapologetic celebration. For $20 per person, join in the fun to catch live performances from a variety of world-class entertainers alongside locals and visitors alike, all coming together to be loud and proud.
austinpride.org | 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St.
4DAWA FEST
September 12, 6:30pm
At Radio East’s outdoor stage, KUTX is teaming up to celebrate six years of DAWA (Diversity Awareness and Wellness in Action). Killer Mike & The Mighty Midnight Revival take the stage, and tickets are $55, with all proceeds going to a music charity that supports people of color working in various fields, including musicians, social workers, artists, teachers, healing practitioners, and service workers. Catch an evening of live music, coffee, cocktails, food trucks, and charity. radiocoffeeandbeer.com/radio-east-events | 3504 Montopolis Dr.
¡VIVA Mexico!
September 13, 5pm-9pm
The 17th annual Viva Mexico, hosted by the ESB MACC, is back at the Pan American Recreation Center. Paying tribute to Mexico’s Independence Day, festival features a marketplace, food, live mariachi music, folkloric dancing, and family-friendly activities. The event is free for anyone who wants to celebrate the cultural traditions of Austin’s Mexican, Mexican-American, Latino, Chicano, and Tejano communities.
austintexas.gov/page/viva-mexico | 2100 E 3rd St.
Crown Act Festival
September 14, 11:30am-6pm
FroFessionals hosts this third annual festival to honor the passage of the Crown Act, legislation that prohibits discrimination based on a person’s hair texture and the use of protective hairstyles. With tickets at $12.45 per person, the event will feature a live band competition, soul food vendors, black-owned business vendors, a financial literacy workshop, and a natural hair show at the Asian American Resource Center.
bit.ly/3rdAnnualCrownActFestival | 8401 Cameron Rd.
HAAM Day
September 23, times vary
The massive music fundraiser is back, and numerous bars and venues will host live acts throughout East Austin. Help raise thousands of dollars to keep music alive in Austin with over 250 performances spread across the city. HAAM continues to be a vital source of support for local artists, and HAAM Day is a chance to celebrate both their hard work and the unbeatable Austin’s music scene. The shows are free to attend in venues ranging from iconic stages to grocery stores, with everyone encouraged to donate to support the health of live music in Austin.
myhaam.org/haam-day | locations vary
Levitation
September 25-28, times vary
While the main stage of this event is located at Palmer Center, various venues across East Austin will host live acts for the four-day music festival. Covering a variety of genres, including indie, dream pop, psychedelic, metal, darkwave, punk, and electronic, venues like 13th Floor and Radio East will feature their festival acts. With kick-off and night shows, the Eastside will come alive with the sound of music during Levitation.
levitation.fm | locations vary
Sarah Sharp
August 15, 7pm
Spend an evening at Pershing Hall with the winner of the Austin Music Awards’ 2024 Best Jazz Singer, Sarah Sharp, as she croons original music from her forthcoming album. Sarah’s show promises to be an intimate evening, featuring her new and old soulful songs. Tickets start at $28.49 per person in a living room-like setting, or for $111, you can indulge in the moodiness with a leather couch for four. posh.vip/e/sarah-sharp-pershing-hall | 2415C E 5th St.
