Last year, thousands of people came out to the Austin Ice Cream Festival to cool off under the summer sun. With live bands and plenty of games for the kids, everyone we talked to was having a great time.
But if ice cream isn’t your thing, you can also dip into some of the best hot sauce in the country.
August is packed with events in Austin. It may be the hottest month of the year, but we embrace the elements and make the most of the fresh air and sunshine. Especially when eating ice cream in the shade.
Here are some of the best events going on in town this month:
August 1-2: Time to party with Fido! The Austin Pet Expo brings nationally-known pet experts into the city for a two-day event for everyone who loves their pets so much that they want to take it to the next level with fun products and tips on how to live happily with your pet. The expo also has reduced-price vaccinations and microchipping that can help locate your pet should it get lost.
When: Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Aug. 2, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road
August 8: It’s hot out — blazing hot. So why not scoop up some ice cream and cool down. The Austin Ice Cream Festival is the marquee event of Austin’s expanding ice cream scene. Packed with tasty treats, the event also features live music, barbeque and other treats, as well as games for the kids. Tickets are $10 and include some free ice cream. Proceeds benefit local charities.
When: Aug. 8, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St
August 8: New Mexico seems to have the market on hot air balloons cornered. But Austin has a pretty spectacular event, too. Dozens of hot air balloons will drift over the newly-replenished Lake Travis during the early morning — when it’s not too hot to stand out and enjoy such things.
When: Aug. 8, 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Where: Mansfield Dam Park, 4370 Mansfield Dam Road
August 22: Thousands of tourists flock to the Congress Avenue Bridge every day to see millions of Mexican Free-tail Bats emerge from their home underneath the bridge. It’s always an exciting time. But Bat Fest brings it to a new level with dozens of vendors selling tasty treats and cold drinks. Meanwhile, two stages host some of the area’s best bands. This year’s lineup includes one of the biggest names in rap, Cypress Hill, along with Alejandro Escovedo, Men Without Hats and more. The event costs $15.
When: 4 p.m. to midnight
Where: Congress Avenue Bridge in downtown Austin
August 23: It’s never hot enough at the Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival. Add to the burn with many of the world’s greatest hot sauce makers. Few cities embrace the heat like Austin — and we’re not talking temperature. Just don’t mix this event up with the Ice Cream Festival, which occurs in the same place a couple weeks prior. Dale Watson and His Lone Stars are headlining the diverse music lineup this year. It’s a free event, but there is a $5 suggested donation to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas.
When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St
August 29: Austin is known for embracing its LGBT community, and the PRIDE Festival is perhaps the biggest event of the year — although it may be tough to top the celebrations centered around the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage across the nation. The event features food, games, drinks, live music and more. Tickets are $17, and the money flows to dozens of local nonprofit organizations.
When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St
