Austin Highlights: May 18 To May 21 – Food, Music, Arts & More

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The best free and fun events in Austin, May 18 – May 21, include Memorial May Community Event, Annual VYSHYVANKA RUN 2026, and more!

Austin turns up the energy long before the weekend hits, and this list rounds up the can’t-miss events keeping the city buzzing all week long. Explore what’s happening from May 18 to May 21 and keep your weekdays packed with Austin’s signature spirit and creativity!

Editor’s Note: We work hard to provide you with accurate and up-to-date information. However, all details are subject to change. Please verify information before heading out.

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Check out our recent updates to our guides: Date Ideas in Austin, Things To Do with Teens in Austin, and Best Summer Camps in Austin.

Free and Fun Events in Austin this Monday, May 18, 2026

Much Ado About Nothing — Austin Shakespeare

Catch Shakespeare’s most beloved comedy under the Austin night sky at Zilker Hillside Theatre.

Austin Shakespeare will transport Much Ado About Nothing to 1950s Italy, drawing on the cinematic world of Fellini with sun-drenched piazzas, effortless style, and lively music woven throughout.

Watch as sharp-tongued Beatrice and sworn bachelor Benedick spar their way through love denial while the romance around them lurches toward chaos. Bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and settle in for a night of wit and warmth.

Where: Zilker Hillside Theater, 2206 William Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78746
When: Monday, May 18 – 24, 2026
How Much: Free (donations welcome)

Ice Age in the Wild at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The Wildflower Center is about to get prehistoric. Starting May 9, 15 life-size, gigantic Ice Age mammals, including a 17,500-pound woolly mammoth, will take up residence throughout the gardens for a summer-long run.

Come face-to-face with a saber-toothed cat, a dire wolf, a woolly rhinoceros, and more as you wander the native plant gardens. New weekly Quest of the Week challenges keep every visit fresh, and general admission gets you in.

Where: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX 78739
When: Monday, May 18, 2026 | runs through August 15
How Much: Included with general admission; free for members

Free and Fun Events in Austin this Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Sip + Solder Flowers: Stained Glass Workshop at Meanwhile Brewing

Step into a hands-on stained glass workshop where you will learn the basics of lead came construction while building a decorative garden stake.

You will choose from themed flower patterns, pick from a wide range of colored glass, and use all provided tools and materials to create your own floral piece.

You will also work with materials like lead came, solder, flux, and copper wire as you shape your stained glass flower. You should note this workshop may expose you to chemicals, including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm.

Where: Meanwhile Brewing Co., 3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX 78744
When: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | 6 pm – 9 pm
How Much: $80 per person | $140 for 2 people

Memorial May Community Event

Image credit: Carry the Load

Gather at Zilker Park’s Baron Springs Multipurpose Field for a morning of reflection, movement, and community connection. Get to hear inspiring stories from veterans, first responders, and families before joining a 1.8-mile walking loop in honor of those who served.

Complete the walk and transition into a post-walk hangout before the event concludes. The program begins at 8:30 am with opening remarks and ends at 11:30 am after a shared morning of remembrance.

Where: Zilker Metropolitan Park, Austin, TX 78746
When: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | 8:30 am – 11:30 am
How Much: Free

Free and Fun Events in Austin this Wednesday, May 20, 2026

All Levels Hatha Yoga

Practice yoga in the serene art gallery of the Neill-Cochran House Museum, surrounded by inspiring works of art.

Where: The Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel St, Austin, TX 78705
When: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 | 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm
How Much: $15 per session

Touch the Art Experience

Image credit: almostrealthings

This is the one art show where touching everything is not just allowed, it’s encouraged — that’s the whole point!

Almost Real Things’ 4th annual Touch the Art Experience transforms the gallery into a fully immersive, all-senses installation featuring work from 83 artists, including collaborating students from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

The Grand Opening on Friday kicks things off with live music, themed drinks, and interactive sound sculptures. Come back any day of the run to explore tactile installations, discover artwork for sale, and experience what it feels like when art truly includes everyone.

Where: ART Gallery at Canopy, 916 Springdale Rd, Bldg 2 #101, Austin, TX 78702
When: Wednesday, May 20 – July 5, 2026
How Much: Starts at $20

Free and Fun Events in Austin this Thursday, May 21, 2026

ATXplained Live

Head to the stage for ATXplained Live, where KUT brings brand-new community stories to life based on questions from Austin residents.

Hear reporters share unforgettable local stories that expand on the radio and online series. The show delivers fresh perspectives that help you better understand the place you live.

Where: Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Dr, Austin, TX 78712
When: Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 7:30 pm
How Much: Starts at $39.60

Wakey, Wakey by Will Eno

Watch a revival of this moving play where a man reflects on what one small life can mean. Ken Webster and Rebecca Robinson return to their acclaimed roles in a performance praised for its humor, depth, and emotional impact.

Where: Hyde Park Theatre, 511 W 43rd St, Austin, TX 78751
When: Thursday, May 21 – June 13, 2026
How Much: Starts at $30

Ground Floor Theatre presents Pueblo Revolt

Image credit: Ground Floor Theater

Experience a powerful two-person play set during the 1680 Pueblo Uprising in New Mexico. And follow two Indigenous brothers as they navigate colonialism, identity, family, and the emotional cost of resistance.

Where: Ground Floor Theater, 979 Springdale Rd #122, Austin, TX 78702
When: Thursday, May 21 – 23, 2026 | 8 pm
How Much: Starts at $30

Annual VYSHYVANKA RUN 2026

Image credit: UNWLA Branch 147, Austin and San Antonio TX

Join a 3K family-friendly run and walk celebrating Vyshyvanka Day with vibrant Ukrainian culture and community spirit. Wear your vyshyvanka, move at your own pace, and enjoy a shaded trail filled with music, flags, and festive energy.

The first 100 participants receive a finisher medal, adding an extra reward to your run or walk.

Where: Lakeline Park, 1510 Alexis Dr, Cedar Park, TX 78613
When: Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 6 pm
How Much: Starts at $15

Already planning for the weekend? Browse our latest picks for Friday through Sunday in Austin — concerts, food festivals, date ideas, and more await!

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Lacey Morris

Lacey is a freelancer and Austin local who’s always on the hunt for new restaurants to try, fun activities to do, and local events to attend. She loves sharing her discoveries with others through her writing and hopes her work encourages both visitors and locals to be active in the community. When she’s not writing, you can find her exploring one of the city’s many hiking trails with her Blue Heeler, Oreo, getting lost in a good book, or dancing the night away to some house or techno beats at one of her favorite rave spots.