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Sometimes you just want your party to be perfect, and sometimes Karter arrives dressed as a foot. (You’ll have to read the book to figure that one out.) Local children’s author Anne Wynter offers a trip into the mind of Patrick, who learns to find enjoyment in the imperfections of his friends, family, and food. Bring your picky offspring to the Burnet Road bookstore, meet the author, and maybe they’ll leave a little more open to the chaos that life can sometimes be. – James Renovitch

You know who’s funny? Drag performers! So it’s a no brainer to catch this storytelling series that’s running all June-long, where each show features a special guest drag artist telling their tales along with a cast of stellar local improv comics. He-he, haw-haw, and all that.

Hoo-wee! Does anything feel better than a dip in the pool during a hot Texas summer? While some among us may be privileged to own private watering holes, most of us get to enjoy the great Austin PARD’s work at the 44 public aquatic facilities to choose from this summer. You’ve got regional, neighborhood, and community pools; a wading pool; splash pads; and the crown jewel: Barton Springs. Check austintexas.gov/pools-splashpads for up-to-date info on which pools are open, what their entry fee is, and whether you have what it takes to be a public pool lifeguard. Now, outta the way if you don’t wanna get wet: I’m gonna do a cannonball! – James Scott

Summer seems a natural time for lightness, airiness. There’s a freedom the soul craves. Diana Greenberg’s latest exhibit, on display at Wally Workman, utterly fits those summer vibes. Inspired by nature, her art evokes the breeziness of a hammock in the sun, a picnic in a meadow, the possibilities of a bright sunny day. That’s perfectly complemented by the art’s pastel palette, pearly pinks and hazy yellows adding to the seasonal feeling. Welcome nostalgia and hope of longer days with Greenberg’s impressions of the world around us. – Cat McCarrey

Find the best femme, nonbinary, and women DJs around at the Babe ATX’s electronic music festival that “aims to empower and connect femme and gender-expansive electronic music artists and bring joy to attendees and participants through music and art.”

With an eight-day lineup of Pride activities, all queer Caldwell County citizens can find a little fun this June. That’s right: a downtown Pride walk; PFLAG meetups; a drag talent contest and pro drag show featuring Austin-area’s Brigitte Bandit; a screening of Rocky Horror; and much more.

Though the arrival of Camera Obscura’s new Look to the East, Look to the West is 11 years removed from their last record, the quintessential Glasgow indie-poppers rang recognizable as ever on selects like “Big Love.” Singer Tracyanne Campbell sat on the cover, nailing energetic twee under light country/electro influence and consistent observational humor. Unfortunately, the only set list possibility from the band’s ebullient 2001 debut – produced by Belle and Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch and later reissued by Merge – appears to be “Eighties Fan.” I’m sure 4AD favorite “French Navy” will suffice. – Rachel Rascoe

America’s real independence day – when, in 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay and informed more than 250,000 still-enslaved African Americans that they were free. Austin celebrates it early on the Eastside.

Think you know Frozen? Well, if you’ve only seen the movie version of the adventures of Anna and Elsa, then you only know half the story – and half the songs. Prepare to be enchanted once again in this touring version of the Broadway musical (and don’t miss our online interview with Caroline Bowman, the singer who has made “Let It Go” all her own). Let’s just hope they can bring some of Arendelle’s Scandinavian weather with them to take the edge off this summery heat. – Richard Whittaker

Host Malibu Imported brings her cast featuring the Queen Fantasia, Maria G., Jeffica Fox, and Kiki Divine to this Pride brunch where you can enjoy a quiche Lorraine and espresso martini during divine drag.

Stand aside, Anya Taylor-Joy and Gwyneth Paltrow. Heck, I’ll include Alicia Silverstone in there as well. Get back, ladies, because there’s a new Emma in town. Austin Playhouse presents their own updated Emma, giving that meddling matchmaker a new twist in the old setting. Emma might know what’s best for everybody else, but can she see what’s right in front of her? You probably know the answer, but this guarantees a laugh-a-minute journey along the way. Romance and absurdity – a recipe for greatness. – Cat McCarrey

There’s not a single situation on Earth that can’t be made better by puppets. Avenue Q and Team America: World Police prove my point. For some more family-friendly puppet improvements, check out the all-ages production of La Maleta de Maebelle, Glass Half Full’s creative telling of Tricia Tusa’s picture book Maebelle’s Suitcase. It tells the story of a young girl and her bird friend, both of whom yearn to return home to Colombia. With Colombian music by Kiko Villamizar and incredible puppets, made and handled by master puppeteers, Glass Half Full offers a perfect production for all. – Cat McCarrey

I have nothing but respect for my sovereign ruler of Texas, H-E-B. Setting a play there sounds like a stroke of genius. A few lucky souls may have been inducted into the tale of turbulent grocery visits at FronteraFest, where playwright Raul Garza debuted this as a short play to great acclaim. But the extended version is now on the market, getting deeper into the nitty-gritty lives of three different grocery store people. Who knows what will happen, but whatever does, I’m sure H-E-B will take good care of any physical or emotional needs. – Cat McCarrey

Every writer needs feedback, but where can you get honest, experienced voices to help make you a better author, to encourage you when you are your worst critic, and to help you turn the page to the next chapter of your literary ambitions? The North Austin Writers group is open to everyone, regardless of experience, to help foster the next generation of aspirational authors. – Richard Whittaker

For cool queer folks ages 13 and up, this dance features dueling sets from three different Queer Vinyl Collective DJs, whose turntables and tunes vye for your library-provided noise-canceling headphones space.

This Saturday evening from 5-9pm, Independence Brewing transforms into a wholesome school dance at their blast-from-the-past Pride Sock Hop. Bring the kiddies for screenings of Grease 1 and 2, swing dance to old school tunes by DJ Boi Orbison, and check out vendors including Lonestar Queer and Pride Socks. Celia Light hosts a Sixties girl group drag act with local queens Salem Purchase and Harlot, while drag king Solovino serves Danny Zuko Fifties rock & roll realness. Beer floats included for the adults, and a portion of sales of those made with Convict Hill Oatmeal Stout go to support Kind Clinic. Which Sandy will you come as? Vampy black leather or white sundress girl next door? – Lina Fisher

Though the 2023-launched offshoot Radio/East has quickly become a destination music venue, the Menchaca OG assembles a pretty killer bill to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Repping all sides of our bustling music scene, the beer garden enlists longtime Radio residents the Bluegrass Outfit and Scrapelli, the 25-plus-piece “renegade circus brass band” Minor Mishap Marching Band, and Grace Rowland (without her bandmates from the Deer). Elsewhere, the lineup includes breezy indie rockers the Stacks, jazz-fusion group Mockjaw, R&B singer Motenko, dreamy psychedelic outfit Redbud, and, curiously, Arizona-born pop star Vaishalini. : – Carys Anderson

While the actual Pfpride won’t be until October 5 – good move there; much better marching weather – our pfabulous friends are still celebrating Pride with a vendor market, drag, and a live DJ.

A livestream launched in 2020 in solidarity against a global health crisis and race-related violence, Stay Black & Live now manifests as a barbecue, community carnival, and concert. Houston tag-teams Austin’s historic George Washington Carver Museum with its tours and screenings, via dual headliners in Tarriona “Tank” Ball’s New Orleans funk-hop crew Tank & the Bangas and Geto Boys rapper Scarface. The Greater East Austin Youth Association parades in honor of 159 years of slavery abolition in Texas starting at 10am, while local Afrobeat blowers Zoumountchi touch off the music at 4pm. Programming including films, slam poetry, and a Free Your Mind Symposium continues through Wednesday. – Raoul Hernandez

Who doesn’t want to build up their CV in these trying times? Or perhaps you just want to fill your free time with something other than TikTok? Or maybe you want a behind-the-scenes, hands-on tour of Austin’s best place for sustainable craft supplies? Whatever reason you’ve got, it’s a good time to volunteer for Austin Creative Reuse’s Summer of Service program. Opportunities are abundant, with group projects like fabric rolling, dog toy making, or Funky Fabric Friday – that’s when they process all the weird stuff like purple faux fur or bright yellow vinyl. Sign up on austincreativereuse.org, complete 30 volunteering hours, and earn your Summer of Service certificate. Beats losing eight hours to ASMR slime-scoop videos, I’ll tell you what. – James Scott

Classical musicians worldwide flock to Austin to fill the city with sound for three weekends. Individual and bundled tickets are available.

We Are Blood – who are definitely NOT vampires in disguise – have totally cracked the case on how to make giving blood even more of a good deed. See, for this month only, whenever you take your juicy veins to a WAB donor center or mobile unit, they’ll donate $5 to your choice of one of three partnering nonprofits. That’s right: Donate blood, and you can give Central Texas Food Bank, Austin Humane Society, or TreeFolks a fiver to do with what they please. And usually what they please is helping our Austin community in various positive ways like keeping peeps fed, nurturing puppies and kitties, and growing big beautiful trees whose shade is sorely needed during this cruel summer. – James Scott

Save the date for the Alexa Torres quartet debut album release on Saturday June, 15th at the Dougherty Arts Center. Doors open at 7:00, music starts at 7:30. In Situ is a jazz violin album that features both original compositions and arrangements of jazz standards, foregrounding improvisation throughout. This free concert is presented by Alexa Torres and the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center and is supported by the Austin Live Music Event Fund. To create the album, Torres drew inspiration from her Cuban heritage and her time participating in a geographical diversity of jazz scenes within the US, Europe, and Latin America. If you like modern jazz, Latinx jazz, improvisation, the violin, or just good live music, you won't want to miss this concert! Reserve tickets via EventBrite.

Come party at the Continental Club the night of June 15th for Allisen & The Wy's Guys release of their single "In 2"! Music starts at 10pm with a $12 cover charge at the door.

Thanks to Seventies funk band War, the word “lowrider” often calls to mind the unforgettable sax riff of the band’s 1975 No. 1 single. But lowrider can mean a snazzy customized car with hydraulics or a person who works on such a vehicle, and the culture around these cars has strengthened Mexican American communities in the Southwest since the Forties. Learn more about them at this exhibit featuring an interactive touchscreen mural, cars and bikes on display, and stories about the people who make lowriding a community. A member reception takes place May 18. – Kat McNevins