April in Austin (Part 1)
Thought Austin would slow down after SXSW? Think again.
By Alayna Alvarez, 3:24PM, Tue. Mar. 26, 2013
Spring has arrived at last—and life is a-bloomin’ this April in Austin. To keep you as busy as a springtime bumblebee, we’ve handpicked 12 fun-filled festivals to jam-pack your month with art, food, music, and—of course—good ol’ Texas sunshine.
WobeonFest at Mexican American Cultural Center (@wobeon)
Check out Austin’s first annual World Music Festival, featuring both established and upcoming international and local artists who span countless world music genres. Its headliners include Afro-pop diva Angelique Kidjo (from Benin) and Reggae star Collie Buddz (from Bermuda). The festival’s intended to bring together a hodgepodge of world-class talent and music to Austin, so inject some culture into your weekend and come on down to the MACC.
Tickets: $29.50 and up/ Kids 12 and under are free! A portion of ticket purchases goes to directly benefit United Way for Greater Austin
When: April 6-7th/ 11 AM-10 PM
Texas Vegfest at Fiesta Gardens (@TxVegFest)
Interested in learning about and celebrating plant-based diets, cruelty-free lifestyles, or simply grabbing a bite to eat and getting your groove on? Then be sure to make it to the second annual vegan festival, showcasing best-selling cookbook author Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Seattle restaurateur Ayinde Howell, and “The Blissful Chef” Christy Morgan, as well as other speakers. This is a family-friendly event, offering children’s yoga, tennis, seed planting, coloring, and many other activities right along Lady Bird Lake.
Tickets: Free!
When: April 6th/ 11 AM-6 PM
Texas Burlesque Festival in ‘the BIG room’ at Merchesa Events Center (@TXBurlesqueFest)
Celebrate the revival of all things burlesque and cabaret at Austin’s sixth annual Burlesque Festival. This three-day showdown will be a great opportunity for a select number of performers to strut their stuff in a variety of ways: at parties, a performer brunch and roundtable, competitions, and even workshops. And since things are bound to get a little naughty, this event is 18+. Sorry, kiddos!
When: April 11-13th
Doors: 7:30 PM/ Show: 8:30 PM
Banff Film Festival at the Paramount Theatre(@BanffMtnFests)
If you love exhilarating adventure and exploring the mountain world, then be sure to catch the Banff Film festival. Presented by National Geographic, The North Face, Parks Canada, and brought to you by Whole Earth Provision Co., this is the largest and one of the most prestigious film festivals on the planet. It’s making its way across 32 countries and 350 communities in hopes of presenting a collection of action, environmental, and adventure films that are sure to make your jaw drop.
Tickets: $19 (Proceeds from tickets help support Texas State Parks)
When: April 14th
Doors: 4:30 PM/ Show: 6:30 PM
Cine Las Americas (@cinelasamericas)
Bringing together Latino and indigenous filmmakers, actors, and screenwriters from all across the Americas and Iberian Peninsula, come celebrate the 16th successful year of Austin’s only Latino and indigenous international film festival. This year’s films will be showcased at four different Austin locations: Stateside Theatre at the Paramount, Alamo Drafthouse Village, the Mexican American Cultural Center, and Jones Auditorium at the Ragsdale Center.
When: April 16th-21st
Join us for any one of these fantastic events to see what the buzz is all about and stay tuned for our Part 2 installment of April in Austin due next week!
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