Here comes autumn with temperatures that won’t cool off until mid-October. But that’s never stopped fall events from, well, falling into place in ye olde Bat City. The contrast is what makes Texas so dang special, isn’t it? Having an iced pumpkin spice latte with one foot in the pool; attending a haunted house in board shorts; and sweating off your Thanksgiving dinner via a sweltering turkey trot. Start planning your hot guy/girl/nonbinary person autumn with our event calendar, where the Chron crew’s rounded up all the big stuff so the only sweat you’ll shed is from too many layers.  – Calendar Editor James Scott
A word to the wise, however: Budget cuts, weather forecasts, and acts of God – or Satan – may affect these dates, so make sure to double check the event details before attending.
SEPTEMBER
House of Torment
September 13-November 9, House of Torment
Austin’s most famous haunted house cracks open the door to terror for the 24th year with its biggest scares yet, and plenty of treats to go along with the tricks. houseoftorment.com.
Pecan Street Festival
September 13-14, Hill Country Galleria
Celebrating 50 years of markets, music, and more, this fest may no longer be on Pecan Street – aka Sixth Street – but it still brings its mix of shopping and Austin vibes. (This time with better parking options.) Jo James and THEBROSFRESH headline the music stage. pecanstreetfestival.org.
You Me She Fest
September 13, Rancho Moonrise, Manor
Spend the day celebrating sisterhood at the largest women’s empowerment festival in Texas. Enjoy a pool party, live music, motivational workshops, local food trucks, and an artisan marketplace. All by women, for women. youmeshefest.com.
Boulet Brother’s Dragula Season 666 Tour
September 14, Emo’s
Alt-drag reality competition queens the Boulet Brothers tour their devilishly delightful season 6 cast, including Grey Matter, Auntie Heroine, and reigning Drag Supermonster Asia Consent. bouletbrothersdragula.com.
Jane Goodall
September 16, The Long Center
Does Jane Goodall even need an introduction? The British primatologist and conservation hero is known worldwide not just for her work protecting chimpanzees but also for being a force of good, full stop. Prepare to be inspired when the now-91-year-old takes the stage. thelongcenter.org.
Andrew Bird
September 17, Bass Concert Hall
Whether he’s whistling, fiddling, or singing his hyperliterate tongue twisters, the multitalented Andrew Bird defies categorization. Here, he revisits breakthrough album The Mysterious Production of Eggs on its 20th anniversary backed by a full orchestra. andrewbird.net.
Fantastic Fest
September 18-25, Alamo South Lamar
Chaos reigns as America’s leading genre film festival celebrates 20 years of horror, action, and just plain weirdness. The international destination has a big local contingent this year, with premieres for C. Robert Cargill’s Black Phone 2, Owen Egerton’s Whistle, and Shelby Oaks from local studio Paper Street Productions. fantasticfest.com.
Texas Women Songwriters Festival
September 19-21, Lockhart
Honoring Texas’ long tradition of songwriters, nine stages in historic downtown Lockhart host a weekend of song swaps and round-robin performances from up-and-coming wordsmiths and renowned songwriters Rosie Flores, Tish Hinojosa, Sara Hickman, Kimmie Rhodes, and Pauline Reese. texaswomensongwritersfestival.com.
Vibe Downtown
September 19-20, Old Sixth Street
Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation aims to enhance and celebrate the Violet Crown’s vibe via performances from local musicians, artists, and makers across this two-day fest. downtownaustin.com/explore/signature-events/vibe-downtown.
Greater Tuna
September 19 – October 5, TexARTS New Facility
This quirky comedy comes to TexARTS for a fall run. tex-arts.org/events.
Ben Schwartz & Friends
September 20, ACL Live
The comedian and actor famous for playing Parks and Recreation’s outrageous Jean-Ralphio (as well as being the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog) gathers funny friends to craft an entirely improvised show before your very eyes. acllive.com.
Texas Football vs. Sam Houston State
September 20, Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
The Longhorns wrap up their nonconference slate with a home tilt against the Bearkats. UT should win this contest comfortably, but star linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and the rest of Texas’ defense will still need to be wary of SHSU dual-threat quarterback Hunter Watson. texaslonghorns.com/sports/football.
Pride in Local Music
September 21, 3ten ACL Live
Austin LGBT Chamber and Dell present a fest celebrating the city’s vibrant LGBTQIA+ music scene and creative culture, featuring Julie Nolen, promqueen, and more. austinlgbtchamber.com.
Austin FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC
September 21, Q2 Stadium
Get into your Verde best and cheer on the home team as they take on Washington’s major league footballers. austinfc.com.
Austin Museum Day
September 21, various museums
More than 30 local museums are flinging open their doors for this annual free & family-friendly event. Peep the Austin History Center’s brand-new digs, take part in a scavenger hunt at Chateau Bellevue, tangle with a tyrannosaur at Texas Science & Natural History Museum on the UT campus, and so much more. austinmuseums.org.
Matthew McConaughey Poems and Prayers: Revival Book Tour
September 21, Bass Concert Hall
The favorite son of Austin tours his new book with spoken word performances, music, and a conversation with special guest Jon Batiste designed to “put a mirror to our souls to see if we recognize each other again.” texasperformingarts.org.
The Crooner & the Cowboy: Leon Bridges with Charley Crockett
September 23, Moody Center
Some 10 years removed from their days busking in Deep Ellum, soul singer Leon Bridges and prolific country outlaw Charley Crockett reunite on a uniquely Texan arena tour. leonbridges.com.
HAAM Day
September 23, multiple locations
Step outside and you’ll probably find a festival performance in your corner of the city during the biggest fundraiser of the year to support Austin musicians in doing what they do. There’s 250+ performances at 150+ venues (including the Chronpound) in under a 24-hour window. myhaam.org/haam-day.
Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail
September 25 – November 30, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Texas Performing Arts brings Halloween Town to Austin via this walkable rendition of the classic animated film. Visitors are invited to throw on a costume and spend an hour walking the gardens. thenightmarebeforechristmaslighttrail.com.
Just Mercy
September 25, the State Theatre
Paramount Theatre and community org Tejemos Foundation screen the 2019 Michael B. Jordan-starring picture based on the life and work of Alabama’s Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson. DJ Kay Cali spins pre-show. austintheatre.org.
Levitation
September 26-28, Palmer Events Center
Most years, Levitation populated several venues throughout the Red River Cultural District on Halloween weekend. Now the alternative rock festival sticks to one central location before spooky season, but still hosts a stellar lineup featuring TV on the Radio, Pavement, Mastodon, and more. levitation.fm.
Haim
September 26, Moody Center
Haim’s first single in four years sticks in your brain with slip-n-slide bass and a perfect refrain: “fuckin’ relationships.” Sisters Danielle, Este, and Alana bring that groovy exasperation to the aptly named I quit, and to Moody Center on Sept. 26. haimofficial.com.
Grimm Tales
September 26-28, Long Center
Ballet Austin launches its 2025-26 season with a feminist rethink of three classic fairy tales – the Frog King, Snow White, and the Juniper Tree – featuring choreography by BA Artistic Director Stephen Mills, original music by Graham Reynolds, and fantastical artwork by Austin native Natalie Frank. balletaustin.org.
Ninth Annual Recovery in the Park
September 27, Fair Market
Combining inspiring stories of recovery with live music, this event features local community orgs coming together to share resources while having fun and enjoying free food. recoveryinthepark.com.
St. Jude Walk
September 27, The Pitch
If cancer can suck an egg then childhood cancer can suck a baker’s dozen eggs. Gather a team or just become a one-person donation-collecting machine while walking with some like-minded haters (of cancer, that is). stjude.org.
Matt Rife: Stay Golden Tour
September 27-28, ACL Live
Despite having possibly the most punchable face on the scene today, this TikTok sensation boasts a top-performing Netflix special as well as one of the biggest comedy tours in over 20 years – which swings by ATX this September. mattrifeofficial.com.
Bat City Scaregrounds
September 27-November 1, Buda
“The best haunt house in Texas” returns for frightful performances and three horrifying haunted houses that are open to all ages. Beware of electrifying strums from live music performances by the Immortalz, Ghstflsh, and Tricie and the Phantom Punks. batcityscaregrounds.com.
OCTOBER
World Coffee Fest
October 1-5, Mozart’s Coffee Roasters
At this caffeine lover’s paradise, celebrate everything coffee with samples from countries around the world, music and performances that span genres and cultures, and a variety of family-friendly activities. mozartscoffee.com.
Gamera Film Fest
October 2, AFS Cinema
Celebrate Japan’s other protector with a double bill of Gamera the Giant Monster and Gamera: Guardian of the Universe and a special vendor show dedicated to the monster turtle who is friend to all children. damconlive.com/pages/gamera-film-fest.
Oktoberfest
October 3-5, Fredericksburg
Polka and Western swing; German tacos and classic Kraut dogs; Hi-Striker competitions and lederhosen – it’s Oktoberfest at the Marktplatz in a mainstay of German Texas history. Drink, dance, and shop at this three-day festival in the heart of Fredericksburg. oktoberfestinfbg.com.
Oktoberfest on Main Street
October 4, La Grange
You gotta love the description on La Grange’s web page of its annual Oktoberfest celebration: “Oktoberfest is Saturday, October 4th.” Other sources confirm the event will be held under the oaks on the town square, with over 60 craft beers to sample, authentic German wurst, and music from live bands. cityoflg.com/tourism/oktoberfest.
Austin City Limits
October 3-5 & 10-12, Zilker Park
Hozier, Sabrina Carpenter, and the Killers headline this two-weekend, multi-genre festival. Performances by Luke Combs, the Strokes, John Summit, Doechii, T-Pain, Cage the Elephant, and many more national acts promise something for everyone – plus local performers like Briscoe, Geto Gala, S.L. Houser, and Asleep at the Wheel. aclfestival.com.
Boo at the Zoo
October 3-25, Austin Zoo
On weekends in October, the Austin Zoo transforms into a fun Halloween haunt. The animal sanctuary offers a family-friendly “Spooky Train,” haunted house, and picnic grove, and costumes are encouraged. austinzoo.org.
Sacred Springs Powwow
October 4-5, Meadows Center, San Marcos
Nonprofit Indigenous Cultures Institute organizes this two-day celebration featuring over 50 arts & crafts vendors, traditional drums and dancing, and a Native Cultures Tent featuring storytellers, musicians, and educational programming. sspowwow.com.
Re-Animator Turns 40
October 6, Paramount Theatre
Stars Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton drop in for this 40th anniversary screening of Stuart Gordon’s debut cinematic Lovecraft adaptation, and stick around for a Q&A. austintheatre.org.
Good Things: An Evening With Samin Nosrat
October 7, Paramount Theatre
The Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat author shares her inspirations for new cookbook Good Things, which centers on recipes and rituals shared with loved ones. Musician and co-host of Nosrat’s podcast Home Cooking Hrishikesh Hirway sits down with her. austintheatre.org.
Garbage: Happy Endings Tour
October 8, ACL Live at the Moody Theater
“There’s No Future in Optimism,” Shirley Manson knows, but the Garbage singer is equally aware of the fatal dangers of despair. Sonically gothic but lyrically hopeful, May’s Let All That We Imagine Be the Light ushers in what the Nineties alternative survivors admit might be their final headlining tour. garbage.com
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
October 9, the Long Center
Ready your corsets and slices of toast because this 50th anniversary screening features not only the original unedited movie but Magenta herself, Patricia Quinn, joins the show with the DASH cast (Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston). thelongcenter.org.
Austin Horror Film Festival
October 9-11, 29th Street Ballroom
Head to the underground for three dark, dark nights of cutting-edge indie horror, curated into themed blocks that will stretch your nerves to breaking point and take a stab at your funny bone. austinhorrorfilmfestival.com.
USMNT vs. Ecuador
October 10, Q2 Stadium
Don’t blink now, but the 2026 FIFA World Cup hits American shores in less than nine months. The United States men’s national team continues its tournament preparation against Ecuador, which has also already qualified for next summer. ussoccer.com/teams/usmnt.
32nd Texas Mesquite Arts
October 10-12, Marktplatz in Fredericksburg
Hill Country’s finest wood artisans are back to showcase handcrafted furniture and decor ranging from tabletops to unique lamps with a touch of Texas flair. Come one and all to browse for free or find your next centerpiece carved with a Texas lone star. visitfredericksburgtx.com.
OVO Cirque du Soleil
October 11, the Moody Center
Rush into nature’s colorful world with the high-flying artists of this all-human circus, who embody the playful and powerful energy of insects as they eat, crawl, flutter, and … “look for love”? Okay, love bugs! cirquedusoleil.com.
Lone Star Zine Fest
October 11-12, Blue Genie
Stapled, sewn, folded, and scanned: There’s every type of zine under the Texas sun at the ninth annual event dedicated to DIY creativity. Shop over 100 vendors, participate in a comics jam and zine-making, and maybe snag a cool door prize or two. lonestarzinefest.org.
Keep Off the Moors: An American Werewolf in London
October 16, The Paramount
Expect a howling good time when David Naughton, aka the titular American werewolf, tells stories of life on the Yorkshire moors for this special screening of John Landis’ horror-comedy classic. austintheatre.org.
All Genders, Lifestyles, and Identities Film Festival
October 16-19, Multiple locations
Catch the queerest and oldest film festival in Austin for their 38th year of platforming LGBTQ and BIPOC voices in cinema. agliff.org.
Jay Leno
October 17, ACL Live
Driving in with his classic comedy stylings – and probably a vintage automobile – the former late-night host and longtime stand-up shares his wit with the Bat City crowd. acllive.com.
Austin String Band Festival
October 17-19, Camp Ben McCulloch, Driftwood
Enjoy performances under the stars by Texas natives Brandi Waller-Pace, Mariachi Las Altenas, the Here and Now, and artists beyond the state. Weekend and day passes available as well as free admittance for kids under 15 with adult ticket purchase. aftm.us/2025-austin-string-band-festival.
Eastside Kings Festival
October 17-19, Multiple Eastside locations
Eastside Kings Foundation presents headline performances by Darrell Nulisch, Omar Coleman, Veronika Jackson, Jai Malano, and Mel Davis and the Blues Specialists, plus many more at their three-day extravaganza of blues, jazz, and gospel concerts by local and traveling artists on four East 12th stages. eastsidekingsfest.com.
Formula One United States Grand Prix
October 17-19, Circuit of the Americas
McLaren’s intrasquad battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for the Drivers’ Championship rolls on as F1 returns to COTA. Similar to last season, Austin is just one of six race weekends to feature a sprint. circuitoftheamericas.com/event/f1.
Polyester in Odorama + Cecil B. Demented With John Waters
October 17, Paramount Theatre
“Pope of Trash” John Waters pops in for a double feature treat, providing commentary for Polyester – complete with Odorama cards – then introducing Cecil B. Demented. austintheatre.org.
11th Annual Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival
October 17-19, multiple locations
Celebrate the art of songwriting with 70 shows by more than 35 up-and-coming songwriters in historic downtown Dripping Springs, all for free. destinationdrippingsprings.com.
Art From the Streets Show and Sale
October 18-19, Blue Genie
Aiming to provide a safe space for those experiencing homelessness to create and share their art, Art From the Streets presents their 33rd annual showcase. Featuring over a thousand artworks, many of the AFTS artists will be on hand to discuss their pieces as well. artfromthestreets.org.
No Kings
October 18, location TBD
Consider this your “save the date” for the next national day of action led by No Kings, a coalition of groups like the ACLU, American Federation of Teachers, MoveOn, 50501, and more dedicated to peaceful protest pushing back on Trump’s authoritarian moves. www.nokings.org.
Seventh Annual Wing Fest
October 18, Railroad Park, Smithville
It’s getting hot in here! WingFest has all the sauce for this year’s cook-off, where you can win the People’s Choice Award. Festivities include chicken bingo and a poultry pageant to show off your most prized bird. business.smithvilletx.org/events.
Diwali Festival of Light
October 18, Mozart’s Coffee Roasters
Celebrate Diwali on the lake with holiday-inspired drinks, traditional snacks, cultural performances, activities for every age, and a dazzling light show. mozartscoffee.com.
Roots & Wings Festival
October 18 – November 2, multiple locations
Connect with your local ecosystem and neighbors during this eighth annual celebration of nature by finding a community-led event in a neighborhood near you. rootsandwingsfest.com.
MasterChef All-Stars Live!
October 19, Bass Concert Hall
The heat is on as the worldwide hit cooking competition show takes some of its best chefs on the road for head-to-head cook-offs, creative challenges, Q&As, and more. texasperformingarts.org.
The School-tastic Book Fair for Grown-ups
October 19, Baker Center
Spend a Sunday feeding your nostalgia for childhood book fairs of yore while enjoying the independence and buying power that comes with being the Awesome Adult Bibliophile you are today. Bonus: You’ll be supporting Austin independent booksellers and publishers, enjoying throwback jams and book-themed flash tats, and benefiting the AISD Literary Fund. instagram.com/schooltastic_bookfair.
The Outsiders
October 21-26, Bass Concert Hall
S.E. Hinton’s landmark YA work and the Francis Ford Coppola film based on it get adapted in this new musical with book by Adam Rapp and Justin Levine. Follow Ponyboy, Johnny, and the rest of their greaser family through this story of self discovery directed by the Tony Award-winning Danya Taymor. texasperformingarts.org.
Co-Opportunity Fair
October 22, dadaLab
The cooperative movement is based on principles including democratic member control and equitable decision making, where every member has a vote. Learn more about the movement in Austin at this fair where local co-ops will be providing services, sharing job opportunities, and teaching about the benefits of the movement. austintexas.gov/department/small-business-division.
Reneé Rapp: Bite Me Tour
October 22, Moody Amphitheater
She dazzled you as Regina George on both the stage and screen adaptations of the Mean Girls musical. Now watch the sapphic pop idol take over Downtown Austin on her Bite Me tour. R&B artist Ravyn Lenae opens. shop.reneerapp.com.
Viva La Vida
October 25, Fourth & Congress
Austin’s largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos event, Mexic-Arte’s 42nd annual Viva La Vida festival and parade promises hands-on activities, live performances, a lowrider exhibit, and a healthy attitude about honoring our dead and living life to its fullest while we’ve still got the chance. mexic-artemuseum.org.
Alice Cooper & Judas Priest
October 25, Germania Insurance Amphitheater
The king of shock rock and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal pioneers come screaming for vengeance in this night of metal madness. Sludge-blues heavyweights Corrosion of Conformity kick things off. circuitoftheamericas.com.
Hogeye Festival
October 23-25, Downtown Elgin
We’ll spare you the pig puns, but rest assured they will be abundant at this swine soiree in the sausage capital of Texas. Thursday has a stroll and hog-calling contest, Friday brings the dance floor to the downtown streets, and Saturday features vendors, live music, and more. elgintexas.gov/191/Hogeye-Festival.
Austin Film Festival
October 23-30, multiple locations
Anybody can host a film festival. AFF is unique for its focus on the art and craft of screenwriting in its film lineup, writers conference, and awardees, which this year include Rian Johnson (Knives Out), Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar (Sing Sing), and producing legend Christine Vachon (Kids, Past Lives). austinfilmfestival.com.
Porsche Oktoberfest
October 25, Mozart’s Coffee Roasters
Classic cars & fresh Bavarian pretzels! Mozart’s hosts a free classic car show mixed with iconic fall flavors and croissants. mozartscoffee.com.
The Austin Record Convention
October 25-26, Palmer Events Center
This one is for the music junkies and physical media lovers, with over 300 international vendors in the largest sale of recorded music in the nation. austinrecords.com.
Austin Coffee Fest
October 25-26, Palmer Events Center
Get your caffeine fix and then some at this immersive coffee convention featuring a curated coterie of local and national roasters, barista throwdowns, and live music. If you’re really jonesing for that sweet bean juice, snag a VIP ticket that’ll get you in an extra hour early. austincoffeefestival.com.
Austin Symphony Halloween Children’s Concert
October 26, Long Center
Kids will love this spooky setup for classical music with costumes, pre-concert crafts and games, and a set list of tunes designed for young ears. austinsymphony.org.
Rico Nasty
October 29, Empire Garage
Catch the “Smack a Bitch” rapper and singer tapping into her softer pop diva side on new album, Lethal, though the 15-song track list saves plenty of room for her signature earshaking basslines and scream-along one-liners. Canadian R&B prodigy Sadboi opens. riconastymusic.com.
Austin Jewish Film Festival
October 30-November 9, Dell Jewish Community Center
Expect film premieres, conversations with cast and crew, and parties aplenty. Can’t make it in person? Select titles will be available virtually Nov. 14-23. austinjff.org.
Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin Perform Deep Red
October 31, Paramount Theatre
Twelve years after Austin’s late, great Housecore Horror Film Festival gave Italian prog rockers Goblin their first-ever U.S. gig, keyboardist Simonetti returns this Halloween with his version of the band for a special performance of one of their greatest works: a live soundtrack for Dario Argento’s Profondo Rosso. austintheatre.org.
NOVEMBER
Travis Heights Art Trail
November 1-2, Travis Heights
On this scenic stroll through historic Travis Heights, you’ll be able to shop local artists’ wares for the 23rd year of this participant-run art show. travisheightsarttrail.org.
Texas Monthly BBQ Fest
November 1-2, Lockhart
Hosted by Texas’ most trusted barbecue experts in the state’s grilling capital, this meat extravaganza features the BBQ World’s Fair, a street festival complete with vendors and live music, on Saturday, followed by the Top 50 Picnic – featuring the joints named in Texas Monthly’s 2025 barbecue issue – on Sunday. texasmonthly.com.
Quesoff
November 2, Mohawk
Dozens of purveyors of molten gold compete to win your heart and your vote in a queso competition benefiting Central Texas Food Bank. centraltexasfoodbank.org.
Election Day
November 4
Austin voters will be voting on a potential 5-cent tax rate increase (though the ballot language is currently subject to a high-profile lawsuit). Additionally, there are 17 constitutional amendments on the November ballot to consider. Voter registration deadline: Oct. 6. votetravis.gov.
World Ballet Company: Cinderella
November 4, Bass Concert Hall
The age-old fairy tale dances its way onto the Austin stage with 40 international talents and over 150 hand-sewn costumes. Watch Cinderella’s tale unveil through Marina Kesler’s choreography from an evil stepmother’s home to a beautiful ballroom scene. texasperformingarts.org.
Austin Polish Film Festival
November 6-9, AFS Cinema
From nonprofit Austin Polish Society comes a celebration of Polish filmmaking from features to documentaries, shorts to animation, as well as presentations of incredible Polish poster art. austinpolishfilm.com.
Round Top Film Festival
November 6-9, Round Top
Run by mother-daughter duo Shanna and Skylar Schanen, this film fest aims to bring the cinematic world to the heart of Round top via screenings, panels, and opportunities to connect with visionary filmmakers. roundtopfilmfest.org.
Austin Food & Wine Festival
November 7-9, Auditorium Shores
Taste locally crafted Lone Star bites and sip on expertly paired brews, wines, and spirits at this gathering of top chefs, mixologists, and more from around the state and country. Bring your favorite flavors home with chef demos, grill lessons, and an interactive live fire pit. austinfoodandwinefestival.com.
Texas Book Festival
November 8-9, Downtown Austin
Readers, writers, and literacy lovers unite en masse at this annual festival featuring readings, panels, and discussions with 250+ authors from every section of the library, plus booths and workshops by local presses, bookstores, and advocacy organizations. texasbookfestival.org.
OK Go
November 8, Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
You’ll be saying “Here It Goes Again” when catching this band’s upcoming Austin performance, where they’ll deffo break out the styles and stage presence that got their work into MoMA’s permanent collection. Alt rockers L.A. Exes open. okgo.net.
Austin Celtic Festival
November 8-9, Pioneer Farms
If “Celtic” doesn’t conjure much more than kilts, then you might learn a lot at this celebration of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and more. Expect live music (fiddles!), Highland Games (caber toss!), animals (mini-horses!), and more (etc.!). austincelticfestival.com.
Austin Studio Tour
November 8-9 & 15-16, Austin-area art galleries, studios, and creative spaces
Kicking off a new era of this Austin classic, local magazine/event series/community org Almost Real Things takes over from gallery Big Medium for two weekends packed with free glimpses into the city’s artistic scene. almostrealthings.com/austinstudiotour.
Evil Dead in Concert
November 9, Paramount Theatre
See the Sam Raimi cult classic like never before, with a newly restored version screening along with a live performance of the revamped score by composer Joe LoDuca. austintheatre.org.
John Mulaney
November 13-15, Bass Concert Hall
He’s been pigeonholed as both a fast-talking, lost-in-time altar boy and a troubled, unknowable addict. On his first stand-up tour since his 2023 tell-all Baby J, we’ll meet who John Mulaney considers himself now: Mister Whatever. johnmulaney.com.
Texas Tribune Festival
November 13-15, Downtown Austin
In today’s polarized political climate, the idea of crossing the aisle is kind of unimaginable, but that’s what Trib Fest aims to do every year. A diverse speaker lineup includes Colin Allred, Marty Baron, John Bolton, Jane Coaston, Jasmine Crockett, Adam Kinzinger, Amy Klobuchar, Jeff Leach, John Mulaney, and Beto O’Rourke. festival.texastribune.org.
Stop Making Sense Hosted by Jerry Harrison
November 14, Paramount Theatre
No big deal: It’s just the best concert film of all time, presented by one of the members of the band from the movie. Join guitarist Jerry Harrison in reliving Talking Heads’ cinematic, life-affirming 1984 performance, captured for posterity by filmmaker Jonathan Demme, in Austin’s historic theatre. austintheatre.org.
Ethereal Horror Fest
November 14-16, AFS Cinema
This female-led indie horror fest celebrates the spectral, spine-chilling, and scary at Austin’s arthouse cinema home, with screenings, panels, and other secrets yet to be revealed. etherealhorrorfest.com.
Blue Genie Art Bazaar
November 14 – December 24, 6100 Airport
The annual go-to market for unique gifts and artisan goods returns. Heck, it opens so early you could get someone a National Bundt Day gift (Nov. 15, in case you didn’t know), and it doesn’t close until late on Xmas Eve for you last-minute gifters. bluegenieartbazaar.com.
Miracle on 5th Street
November 14 – December 28, the Eleanor
Celebrate the holiday season with a little bit of liquid cheer at this Christmas-themed pop-up bar featuring Insta-worthy photo ops as well as sippables like the Stocking Stuffer, Christmasaurus, and the zero-proof Yuletide Buck. miracleon5thst.com.
Celebrate Opera! A Birthday Celebration
November 15-16, The Long Center
For their 40th birthday, Austin Opera is gifting our town with arias, ensemble vocals, and other music from the likes of Verdi, Puccini, Bizet, Wagner, and more. Don’t worry if you don’t know Italian, French, and German; translated lyrics will be projected for your operatic edification. austinopera.org.
Queens of the Stone Age
November 19, Bass Concert Hall
This alternative rock band is returning to Austin for one night on the Catacombs Tour following their newest EP Alive in the Catacombs, recorded in Paris. qotsa.com.
Hasan Hates Ronny / Ronny Hates Hasan
November 21, Bass Concert Hall
Frost/Nixon. Gore Vidal vs. William F. Buckley. Cher Horowitz and Amber Mariens. Legendary debates, and now eternal frenemies Hasan Minhaj and Ronny Chieng join that roster with this cerebral dustup where everything is on the table. hasanhatesronny.com.
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
November 21 – December 21, TexARTS New Facility
Greet the winter season with this charming Christmas classic featuring dazzling dances, lovely costumes, and plenty of yuletide cheer. tex-arts.org/events.
Austin Powwow
November 22, Travis County Expo Center
Presented by the Native American Cultural Center, this gathering of over 400 Native dancers, arts & crafts vendors, and food booths returns to once again promote traditional knowledge and encourage cultural appreciation. austinpowwow.net.
Stavros Halkias: The Dreamboat Tour
November 22, Paramount Theatre
Whether you listened to him way back when on the Cum Town podcast or have dropped in for his call-in advice show Stavvy’s World, you’ve got to catch this Greek funnyman while he’s in Bat City for his long-running comedy tour. austintheatre.org.
Lake Austin Festival of Lights
Starts November 22, Mozart’s Coffee Roasters
Mozart’s goes all-out for this annual tradition, with displays featuring over a million twinkling lights to gawk at, live entertainment, and a holiday market to browse before taking a boat ride on the lake. mozartscoffee.com.
Neko Case
November 25, Paramount Theatre
The multitalented New Pornographers founding member brings fresh hits and old favorites to this tour with the Czars’ John Grant. Even better, a dollar from each ticket sale goes to positive youth leadership org Peer Solutions. austintheatre.org.
An Evening with David Byrne
November 25 – 26, Bass Concert Hall
Talking Heads’ former frontman brings his latest album, recorded with Ghost Train Orchestra, to the stage, likely with signature flair. Who Is the Sky? is the first musical release since 2018 from the septuagenarian musician, visual artist, author, and filmmaker known for “Once in a Lifetime” performances. whoisthesky.davidbyrne.com.
ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot
November 27, Downtown Austin
ThunderCloud hits 50 years in the sammie biz right as their hot trot touches down for its 25th anniversary, so now’s the perfect time to sign up for the largest 5-mile run in Texas. This year also features a staggered start time, so runners of all ages can get in on the action without gettin’ trampled. thundercloud.com/event-info.
Texas Football vs. Texas A&M
November 28, Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
What better way to end the regular season than a primetime rivalry game on Black Friday? The Aggies, led by electric quarterback Marcel Reed, visit DKR for the first time in 15 years. texaslonghorns.com/sports/football.
A Nostalgic Night With Macaulay Culkin: Home Alone 35th Anniversary
November 29, Bass Concert Hall
Catch this holiday classic about a boy, wet bandits, and a whole lotta traps on its 35th anniversary. Special for this screening, star Macaulay Culkin pops in for a moderated interview and audience Q&A. texasperformingarts.org.
Peppermint Parkway
Starts in November, Circuit of the Americas
Start Christmas early with a dazzling drive through a light display over a mile long, then explore the Peppermint Plaza’s food, rides, and other magical festive activities. peppermintparkway.com.
This article appears in September 12 • 2025.