Things To Do In Austin This Weekend | August 28

The best things to do in Austin this weekend, August 28 – August 30, include Olivia Dean in Concert at Moody Center, DID I WIN? Live Game Show, and more!

I’ve rounded up the top events and activities happening across the city, from festivals and outdoor fun to live shows and family-friendly picks. Please scroll down for my picks or use the links above to skip to your favorite section!

Weather this Weekend – August 28 – August 30: Austin will see a modest dip in extreme temperatures as cloud cover fluctuates, bringing slightly less intense heat while maintaining warm conditions and negligible rain chances across the weekend.

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 or Cheap Things to Do in Austin this Weekend

Night Plant Market

Beat the daytime heat and shop under the stars at a vibrant night market hosted by Ani’s Day and Night featuring a wide variety of local plant vendors.

Explore offerings ranging from common house plants and rare, unique finds to handmade ceramic pots, plant trinkets, garden starts, and seeds, all while participating in a free community plant swap brought to you by Leafy Life.

Where: Ani’s Day and Night, 7107 E Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78741
When: Friday, August 28, 2026 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
How Much: Free

Austin Micro-Latinx Book Festival

Celebrate Texas’s rich, multifaceted culture, literature, and creative spirit through a vibrant weekend gathering presented by Red Salmon Arts and Casa de Resistencia Books.

Connect with established and emergent writers, publishers, booksellers, and activists to discuss the impact of Latinx and Indigenous publications in the face of censorship and erasure, while enjoying live readings, book signings, workshops, music, food, and local vending.

Where: Red Salmon Arts | Casa de Resistencia Books, 2000 Thrasher Ln, Austin, TX 78741
When: Saturday – Sunday, August 29 – 30, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 7:00 PM
How Much: Free

Stargazing Party

Transform St. Elmo Springdale’s beer garden into an open-air cosmic observatory as expert volunteers from the Austin Astronomical Society set up powerful telescopes to guide you through the night sky.

Grab a beer, browse delicious options from onsite food trucks like Pueblo Viejo, Via313 Pizza, and Spicy Boys Chicken, and observe planets, distant galaxies, colorful nebulae, and sparkling star clusters with fellow astronomy enthusiasts of all ages.

Where: St. Elmo Brewing (Springdale), 8110 Springdale Rd. Austin, TX 78724
When: Saturday, August 29, 2026 | 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
How Much: Free

COME DANCE!

Image credit: Ballet Austin

Step onto the floor for a welcoming afternoon of movement during the 20th annual community dance day presented by Ballet Austin’s Butler Dance Education Center. Here, adults of all ages and abilities are invited to try something new.

Sample a massive array of styles taught by expert instructors, ranging from ballet, Broadway cardio, and JAM Dance Fitness to contemporary, jazz, Hawaiian dance, heels, hip-hop, musical theatre, line dancing, pom dance, tap, West African dance, and AfroBeats.

Where: Ballet Austin’s Butler Dance Education Center, 501 W 3rd St, Austin, TX 78701
When: Sunday, August 30, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 5:45 PM
How Much: Free

Things to Do in Austin this Friday | Weekend Kickoff Events

Weather on Friday: Intervals of sun and passing clouds with a high of 101°F, a low of 76°F, and an 18% chance of precipitation.

AVENUE Q

Where do you live when the only address you can afford when fresh out of college, out of a job, or just trying to find your way in life is a rundown neighborhood? You live on Avenue Q!

This unforgettable bunch of puppets and their neighborhood friends discover that life’s biggest lessons are never as simple as they seem.

Follow Princeton, Kate Monster, Gary Coleman, yes, that one!, Christmas Eve, Rod, Nicky, and their newfound companions as they valiantly seek jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in this crazy, crazy world.

Featuring sharp wit, catchy songs, a wicked sense of humor, and the prestige of a Tony Award Triple Crown win, this laugh-out-loud musical comedy features talented actors and puppets alike trying to make sense of adulthood.

Where: Genesis Creative Collective, 1507 Wilshire Blvd Unit #1, Austin, TX 78722
When: Friday, August 28 – September 13, 2026 | Thursday – Saturday: 8:00 PM, Sunday 3:00 PM
How Much: Starts at $25

Buddy Guy 90 Tour

Celebrate a monumental musical milestone as living blues legend Buddy Guy takes the stage in Austin as part of his high-profile “Buddy Guy 90” tour honoring his landmark 90th birthday.

Experience an electrifying evening of blistering guitar solos, soul-stirring vocals, and timeless electric blues from a true architect and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame icon of the genre.

Where: Austin City Limits Live (ACL Live & 3TEN ACL Live), 310 W Willie Nelson Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
When: Friday, August 28, 2026 | 8:00 PM
How Much: Starts at $89

Dancing Date Night

Grab a partner and make a fabulous night out by joining a dynamic monthly dance session hosted by Blue Moon Dance Company that covers two popular styles from a rotating curriculum.

Master the beginning steps of favorites like the cha-cha, social swing, waltz, tango, West Coast swing, rumba, foxtrot, and samba in a welcoming environment.

Then cap off the evening with a lively mini dance party to try out everything you’ve learned before heading out to enjoy the many great restaurants surrounding the studio.

Where: Blue Moon Dance Co., 3005 South Lamar Blvd. Ste. 110A, Austin, TX 78704
When: Friday, August 28, 2026 | 7:15 PM – 8:45 PM
How Much: $25

DID I WIN? Live Game Show

Step into the unexpected with Did I Win?, an unpredictable live game show presented by Fallout Theater where lucky audience members are chosen directly from the crowd to participate in fun, quirky games for the chance to win real prizes.

With each round offering unique twists, turns, and surprises, contestants never know what is coming next, ensuring an unforgettable night of laughs and excitement even if you leave wondering about the outcome.

Where: Fallout Theatre, 616 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701
When: Friday, August 28, 2026 | 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
How Much: $25

Latino Moonlight Serenades

Image credit: Texas Rowing Center

Celebrate the 21st year of a beloved Austin summer tradition with a magical evening on Lady Bird Lake hosted by the Austin Event and Dance Center.

Bring your friends and family to enjoy kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and dancing under the Sturgeon Moon to live performances by Kiko Villamizar. Don’t forget to pack your favorite snacks, sunscreen, and dancing spirit for an open-air celebration on the water.

Where: Texas Rowing Center, 1541 West Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78703
When: Friday, August 28, 2026 | 6:15 PM – 9:00 PM
How Much: $25

Olivia Dean in concert

Catch acclaimed songstress Olivia Dean live in concert as she takes the Moody Center stage during a major stop supporting her brand-new album, The Art of Loving.

Experience a breathtaking evening of soulful vocals, rich lyricism, and captivating live instrumentation inside one of Austin’s premier entertainment venues.

Where: Moody Center, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr, Austin, TX 78712
When: Friday, August 28 – 29, 2026 | 8:00 PM
How Much: Starts at $355

The Front Festival

Celebrate a dynamic four-day multi-venue festival highlighting independent film, music, pool parties, and art exclusively from women and LGBTQ+ artists.

Kick off the weekend with an opening night swim featuring a poolside set by DJ Ed West and lobby art installations, followed by independent music showcases, panel discussions, and a curated selection of twelve independent films by Texas directors.

Close out the festivities with an official daytime pool after-party featuring resident DJs.

Where: The LINE Austin, 111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
When: Friday, August 28 – 30, 2026
How Much: Varies by event

Emiliana: A Revolution Cabaret

Journey back to Mexico City in the 1940s to follow Silvia Ibarra, a well-bred doctor’s daughter by day preparing for a respectable marriage who transforms by night into Emiliana, a revolutionary cabaretera worshiping Emiliano Zapata with dreams of returning her grandfather’s land to the campesinos.

Watch as her double life is exposed and throws her future into turmoil.

Inspired by the prostitute melodramas of Mexico’s Golden Age of film, Ground Floor Theatre brings this reimagined story of social justice for Indigenous, femme, and queer communities to life.

Where: Ground Floor Theatre, 979 Springdale Rd #122, Austin, TX 78702
When: Friday, August 28, 2026 | 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
How Much: $30 or pay what you can

Georgetown Palace Theatre presents 42nd Street

Experience the dazzling glitz of Broadway’s golden age through a classic musical following an ambitious young chorus girl from Pennsylvania who gets her shot at stardom when the leading lady is sidelined.

The timeless score is packed with legendary show tunes like We’re In the Money and Lullaby of Broadway.

Where: Georgetown Palace Theatre, 810 S Austin Ave, Georgetown, TX 78626
When: Friday, August 28 – 30, 2026
How Much: Not stated

Things to Do in Austin this Weekend | Top Picks Saturday

Weather on Saturday: Predominantly clear with plenty of afternoon sunshine, a high of 100°F, a low of 76°F, and a 2% chance of precipitation.

29th Street Block Party

Rock out at an energetic neighborhood street festival presented by Resound, Dog Fish Head, Sun Crusiser, and KVRX at the 29th Street Ballroom and Tweedy’s.

Experience a stacked indie lineup featuring ideasforconversations, Haha Laughing, deepstate, Almost Heaven (DJ), DJ Garty, Velvet Underground tributes, DJ Impotent Fetus, a subculture swap, and more across an action-packed evening.

Where: 29th Street Ballroom, 2906 Fruth St, Austin, TX 78705
When: Saturday, August 29, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 11:59 PM
How Much: $25

Austin Train Show

Explore over 25,000 square feet of family-friendly railroading fun featuring operating model layouts, intricate Lego railroads, informative clinics, interactive train rides for kids, and the chance to run trains on a real model layout.

Browse top-tier vendors, check out model railroads from across the Austin area, and enter the exciting raffle for a chance to win a complete model railroad setup or other great prizes.

Where: Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
When: Saturday, August 29 – 30, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
How Much: $10 | Free for kids 12 and under

Le Garage Sale Summer Sale

Top events in Austin this weekend August 28 to 30 2026 - Le Garage Sale

Image credit Le Garage Sale

Shop Austin’s epic 25th-anniversary semi-annual shopping event at the Palmer Events Center, featuring an incredible array of excess inventory, overstocks, and end-of-season designer items priced to thrill.

Rain or shine, hunt for on-trend wardrobe staples, luxury looks, lounge and athleisure, jewelry, vintage wear, shoes, accessories, children’s apparel, menswear, home decor, and local art.

Where: Saturday, August 29 – 30, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
When: Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
How Much: $12 | $25 for VIP pre-shop

PREHEAT Festival

Immerse yourself in a cutting-edge celebration of dance filmmaking presented by Hyperreal Film Club, celebrating dance as a hybrid art form that merges choreography and screen cinematography.

Experience a curated lineup exploring trash, crash, disorientation, rubber gloves, risk, balance, secrets, and lots of movement, complemented by a live halftime performance and an in-depth filmmaker Q and A session.

Where: Hyperreal Film Club, 301 Chicon St Suite A Austin, TX 78702
When: Saturday, August 29, 2026 | 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
How Much: Starts at $10

Things to Do in Austin this Weekend | Sunday Funday

Weather on Sunday: Sunny to partly cloudy, remaining very warm with a high of 99°F, a low of 74°F, and a 1% chance of precipitation.

2026 Oita Japan Summer Festival

Image credit: Austin-Oita Sister City Committee – OSCC Austin Oita Japan

Experience a vibrant cultural showcase celebrating the sister-city partnership between Austin and Oita, Japan, hosted by the Austin-Oita Sister City Committee.

Enjoy authentic Japanese food and drinks, live performances including music, dance, and martial arts, cultural demonstrations such as tea ceremonies and calligraphy, and a curated marketplace featuring unique goods and interactive family-friendly activities.

Where: The Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704
When: Sunday, August 30, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
How Much: $25 for adults | $20 for seniors, students, and kids 3 – 12 | Free for kids 2 and under

The Coffee & Matcha Experience

Savor a slow Austin morning celebrating local roasters, matcha makers, specialty drink artisans, and community presented by Plan and Play Events at Wanderlust Wine Co.

Sip your way through six inclusive samples featuring not just coffee and matcha, but also craft juices, elixirs, and more, while shopping specialty bean blends and artisanal packages directly from local vendors in a laid-back, social atmosphere.

Where: Wanderlust Wine Co. (Shady Lane), 702 Shady Lane, Austin, TX 78702
When: Sunday, August 30, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
How Much: $19

Things to Do in Austin this Weekend with Kids – Family Friendly Events