Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial kickoff to summer in Austin. It is also one of the most genuinely packed and exciting long weekends the city produces all year. This weekend runs Friday May 22 through Monday May 25 and brings the Hot Luck Live Food and Music Festival, the CapTex Triathlon on Lady Bird Lake, the opening of the outdoor swimming season, and four days of the best weather, the best lake conditions, and the best outdoor energy Austin has to offer. Here is everything worth doing.
Quick Answer — Best Things to Do in Austin for Memorial Day Weekend
The best things to do in Austin for Memorial Day Weekend 2026 include ziplining at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures, the Hot Luck Live Food and Music Festival, swimming at Barton Springs Pool and Beachside Billy’s on Lake Travis, kayaking and paddleboarding on Lady Bird Lake, tubing the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels, the CapTex Triathlon on Memorial Day, Sixth Street and Rainey Street nightlife, the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony at sunset, and outdoor adventures at McKinney Falls and Pedernales Falls State Parks. Memorial Day Weekend is the best weekend of the year to be in Austin outdoors.
#1 Lake Travis Zipline Adventures — The Best Outdoor Experience of the Weekend
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the single best thing you can do in Austin on Memorial Day Weekend. It delivers the perfect combination of outdoor adventure and lake access that defines what Memorial Day weekend in Texas is supposed to feel like.
Your group boards a boat that takes everyone across Lake Travis to Zip Island. This private island is accessible only by water, near Beachside Billy’s and The Oasis on the north shore. It sits about 25 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin. Once there, your group spends three hours on five world-class ziplines through the Texas Hill Country. The signature Double Barrel Shotgun sends two people side by side down over 2,800 feet of cable at speeds up to 65 mph from 22 stories above Lake Travis. In late May, with the lake at its most beautiful and the Hill Country fully green, the views from up there are genuinely spectacular.
After the ziplines, your ticket includes full-day access to the private lakefront property on Zip Island. Jump off the boat dock into Lake Travis. Relax in hammocks. Enjoy one of the most beautiful outdoor settings in Texas during peak lake season. This is the Memorial Day lake day that your group will talk about for years.
The Details
- 5-Line Zipline Tour: $138/person, includes full-day lakefront property access
- Double Barrel Single-Line Tour: $88/person
- Location: Near Beachside Billy’s and The Oasis on Lake Travis, about 25 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin
- Best For: Groups, couples, families, bachelor and bachelorette parties, anyone who wants the best outdoor adventure in Austin
- Reservations: Required at laketraviszipline.com
Pro Tip: Memorial Day Weekend is the single busiest weekend of the year for Lake Travis. Slots sell out weeks in advance every year without exception. Book now at laketraviszipline.com before it is too late.
Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures for Memorial Day Weekend now.
#2 Hot Luck Live Food and Music Festival — Memorial Day Weekend’s Best Event
Hot Luck Festival is one of the best food and music festivals Austin produces all year and it runs all four days of Memorial Day Weekend. Created by James Beard Award-winning pitmaster Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, Mohawk owner James Moody, and Feast Portland co-founder Mike Thelin, Hot Luck is built around a deceptively simple idea. Great food, great music, and the kind of communal eat-with-your-fingers energy that feels more like a legendary backyard cookout than a ticketed festival.
The format is unique. Rather than one big venue, Hot Luck takes over multiple iconic Austin locations throughout the weekend. Events range from intimate chef dinners to massive outdoor cookouts. Chefs from across the country bring their most ambitious and personal food to Austin for four days. Live music runs across multiple genres at venues including the Mohawk, venues on Red River, and pop-up locations throughout the city.
The Whole Enchilada Pass grants access to every show and early access to each food event. It is the best value and typically sells out well in advance. Individual event tickets are also available for people who want to pick and choose specific experiences. Check hotluckfest.com for the 2026 lineup and ticket options as they are announced.
The Details
- When: Friday May 22 through Monday May 25, 2026
- Where: Various locations throughout Austin
- Cost: Individual events from $15, Whole Enchilada Pass for full weekend access
- Website: hotluckfest.com
- Best For: Food lovers, music fans, anyone who wants the most uniquely Austin Memorial Day experience
Pro Tip: The Whole Enchilada Pass sells out every year. Buy it as soon as it goes on sale. Furthermore, wear comfortable shoes because the festival involves moving between multiple venues across the city throughout the weekend.
#3 Barton Springs Pool — Austin’s Greatest Memorial Day Tradition
Barton Springs Pool is where Austin celebrates the beginning of summer. The naturally spring-fed pool inside Zilker Park stays at a constant 68 degrees year round. On Memorial Day Weekend it becomes one of the most vibrant and communal spots in the entire city. Families, friends, dogs, frisbees, picnic blankets, and the kind of easy Austin energy that makes the city so worth visiting all converge on the grassy banks around the pool throughout the long weekend.
Go in the morning to beat the crowds. Entry is free before 8 AM and under $10 for the rest of the day. Combine it with a picnic at Zilker Park for the most quintessentially Austin Memorial Day afternoon you can have without leaving the city.
The Details
- Address: 2131 William Barton Dr, Austin TX 78746
- Cost: $9 for non-resident adults, free from 5 to 8 AM
- Best Time: Early morning or late afternoon to avoid peak crowds
- Website: austintexas.gov
#4 Beachside Billy’s at Volente Beach — Lake Travis Waterpark
Right near Lake Travis Zipline Adventures on the north shore of the lake, Beachside Billy’s at Volente Beach is the best lakeside Memorial Day destination for families and groups. The waterpark features four slide attractions, two pools, a private beach swim area, a full restaurant with lakefront views, and lifeguards on duty throughout the day. On Memorial Day Weekend the whole property buzzes with summer energy and live music on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Furthermore, Beachside Billy’s pairs perfectly with a morning at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. Both sit on the north shore of Lake Travis within minutes of each other. Combine both into a single full day on Lake Travis for the ultimate Austin Memorial Day experience.
The Details
- Address: 16107 FM 2769, Austin (Volente), TX 78641
- Website: beachsidebillys.com
- Best For: Families, groups, anyone who wants waterpark access on the lake
- Pro Tip: Arrive early on Memorial Day Weekend. The property fills up fast and waits for the waterpark can get long by midday.
#5 Hill Country River Tubing — Guadalupe, Comal, and San Marcos
Memorial Day Weekend is the traditional opening weekend of the Texas river tubing season. The Hill Country rivers are cold, clear, and ready. Three options within 90 minutes of Austin each deliver a slightly different experience.
The Guadalupe River near New Braunfels is the most popular and the most festive. The water flows from Canyon Lake at a constant 68 degrees and the weekend energy is electric. Multiple outfitters offer tube rentals, shuttle service, and cooler tubes starting at $15 to $25 per person.
The Comal River, also in New Braunfels, is shorter and calmer at just 2.5 miles. It is the best choice for families with younger kids or anyone who wants a more relaxed float.
The San Marcos River through San Marcos is the clearest and most pristine option. Texas State Tubes runs shuttle service and equipment rentals right in the heart of the city.
The Details
- Location: New Braunfels (45 minutes south) and San Marcos (30 minutes south) of Austin
- Cost: $15 to $25 per person for tube rental with shuttle
- Best Time: Arrive before 10 AM on Memorial Day Weekend to avoid the biggest crowds and parking issues
Pro Tip: Book outfitter reservations in advance for Memorial Day Weekend. The Guadalupe in particular gets extremely crowded by midday Saturday. A Friday or Monday float is significantly more relaxed than Saturday or Sunday.
#6 CapTex Triathlon — Memorial Day Monday on Lady Bird Lake
The CapTex Triathlon on Monday May 25 is one of the most exciting athletic events Austin hosts all year and it takes place right in the heart of the city. Competitors swim in Lady Bird Lake, bike through downtown with the Texas Capitol as a backdrop, and run through Butler Park before finishing at Auditorium Shores. Even if you are not racing, the course runs through public spaces and the finish line festival at Auditorium Shores is open to all spectators.
The race offers multiple distances including Supersprint, Sprint, and Olympic, as well as the USA Paratriathlon National Championship. It attracts everything from first-timers to elite professional triathletes.
The Details
- When: Monday May 25, 2026
- Where: Lady Bird Lake and Downtown Austin
- Finish Line Festival: Auditorium Shores, open to spectators
- Registration: by.supertri.com/austin-triathlon
- Best For: Competitors of all levels, spectators who want a great free Monday morning event
#7 Kayaking and Paddleboarding on Lady Bird Lake
Lady Bird Lake in the heart of downtown Austin is at its absolute best on Memorial Day Weekend. Multiple rental companies along the shore offer kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards with group packages and life jackets in all sizes. The 10-mile hike and bike trail around the lake is free and one of the most scenic urban walks in the country.
Live Love Paddle, The Rowing Dock, and the Texas Rowing Center all operate along the lake with group rates for Memorial Day Weekend. A sunset paddle on Lady Bird Lake with the Austin skyline in the golden hour light is one of the most beautiful experiences the city offers.
The Details
- Location: Multiple access points along Lady Bird Lake, downtown Austin
- Cost: Rentals from $15 to $25 per hour per person, group packages available
- Best For: Couples, families, groups, anyone who wants to experience Austin from the water
#8 Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Colony — Free and Unmissable
Every evening from May through October, 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk. Memorial Day Weekend is right in the heart of bat season and the nightly emergence is one of the most spectacular free experiences Austin offers.
Watch from the bridge itself, from the hike and bike trail below, or rent a kayak from a nearby outfitter and watch from the water. Capital Cruises and Lone Star Riverboat also offer sunset bat cruises on the Colorado River for a guided experience with snacks and drinks on the water.
The Details
- Location: Congress Avenue Bridge, downtown Austin
- Cost: Free
- Best Time: Sunset, check batrefuge.org for nightly emergence times
- Best For: All ages, first-time visitors especially, romantic evenings
#9 Memorial Day State Park Adventures
Memorial Day Weekend is the perfect time to get into Texas’s state parks before the brutal summer heat makes it impractical.
McKinney Falls State Park is just 13 miles from downtown Austin. It has waterfall swimming holes, hiking trails, and camping facilities all within easy reach of the city. It is the most convenient state park escape from Austin and a consistently excellent choice for a Memorial Day morning.
Pedernales Falls State Park about 40 minutes west of Austin offers picturesque waterfalls, hiking trails, and river swimming in a stunning Hill Country setting. Reservations for day visits and camping during Memorial Day Weekend are essential and sell out far in advance.
Inks Lake State Park about an hour northwest of Austin offers crystal-clear swimming, kayaking, hiking, and camping on pink granite outcroppings that feel more like the desert Southwest than Central Texas.
Pro Tip: All Texas state parks require advance reservations for Memorial Day Weekend. Book camping and day-use passes at texasstateparks.reserveamerica.com as early as possible. They sell out months in advance for this holiday weekend.
#10 Rainey Street and Sixth Street — Memorial Day Nightlife
Austin’s nightlife kicks into full summer mode on Memorial Day Weekend. Rainey Street fills its bungalow bar patios with outdoor seating, cold beer, and live music every evening of the long weekend. Sixth Street runs its nightly bar scene with extra energy from the crowds that pour into the city for the holiday. Moreover, the first real warm nights of the year make rooftop bars and outdoor patios feel genuinely magical.
Start at Rainey Street for dinner and early evening drinks around 7 PM. Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden has over 100 beers on tap and a massive outdoor space perfect for large Memorial Day groups. Then migrate toward Sixth Street around 10 PM when the energy peaks. East Sixth offers the most local and music-focused alternative for groups who want something more authentic than the main drag.
#11 Floatopia on Lady Bird Lake
One of the most uniquely Austin Memorial Day traditions is Floatopia, an informal gathering on the water where dozens of kayaks, paddleboards, inflatable floats, and boats congregate where Barton Creek flows into Lady Bird Lake. No tickets required. No schedule. Just show up with a float or rent a kayak from a nearby outfitter and join the party on the water. It is completely free, completely Austin, and one of those only-in-Austin experiences that makes absolutely no sense until you are in the middle of it.
The Details
- Location: Where Barton Creek meets Lady Bird Lake, accessible via Zilker Park
- Cost: Free to join, kayak rentals available nearby
- Best Time: Saturday and Sunday afternoon of Memorial Day Weekend
- Best For: Anyone who wants a relaxed and genuinely fun outdoor gathering on the water
The Perfect Austin Memorial Day Weekend Itinerary
Here is how to build the ultimate four-day Austin Memorial Day weekend.
Friday May 22: Arrive in Austin. Check into your Airbnb or hotel. Open night of Hot Luck Festival at one of Austin’s most iconic venues. Let the food and music set the tone for the weekend.
Saturday May 23: Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in the morning for the best outdoor experience of the weekend. Book at laketraviszipline.com. Afternoon at Beachside Billy’s waterpark on Lake Travis. Evening back in Austin for Hot Luck Festival food events and live music.
Sunday May 24: Morning at Barton Springs Pool or Floatopia on Lady Bird Lake. Afternoon Guadalupe River float trip in New Braunfels. Evening at Congress Avenue Bridge for the bat colony at sunset. Then Rainey Street for live music and Memorial Day Weekend nightlife.
Monday May 25 — Memorial Day: Watch or compete in the CapTex Triathlon along Lady Bird Lake in the morning. Finish Line Festival at Auditorium Shores. Afternoon at McKinney Falls State Park or a final swim at Barton Springs. Final Hot Luck events to close out the weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions — Memorial Day Weekend in Austin
When is Memorial Day 2026?
Memorial Day 2026 is Monday May 25, 2026. Memorial Day always falls on the last Monday of May. Memorial Day Weekend in Austin runs Friday May 22 through Monday May 25.
What is the best thing to do in Austin on Memorial Day Weekend?
The best thing to do in Austin on Memorial Day Weekend is Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. You board a boat to a private island on Lake Travis and spend three hours on five world-class ziplines including the Double Barrel Shotgun at speeds up to 65 mph from 22 stories above the lake. After the tour your group gets full-day access to the private lakefront property. Tickets start at $88 per person. Book now at laketraviszipline.com because Memorial Day Weekend sells out every year.
What is Hot Luck Festival in Austin?
Hot Luck is a live food and music festival that runs all four days of Memorial Day Weekend in Austin. Created by James Beard Award winner Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, it takes over multiple iconic Austin venues with chef-driven food events and live music across genres. It is one of the most uniquely Austin festivals all year. Passes and tickets are available at hotluckfest.com.
Is Memorial Day Weekend busy in Austin?
Yes. Memorial Day Weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the entire year in Austin. Lake Travis boat rentals, Barton Springs Pool, and state park campgrounds sell out weeks or months in advance. Book all reservations as early as possible. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in particular fills up weeks before Memorial Day Weekend every year — book at laketraviszipline.com now.
What are the best outdoor activities in Austin for Memorial Day Weekend?
The best outdoor activities in Austin for Memorial Day Weekend include ziplining at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures, swimming at Barton Springs Pool and Beachside Billy’s on Lake Travis, kayaking on Lady Bird Lake, tubing the Guadalupe River near New Braunfels, watching the bat colony at Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset, and hiking at McKinney Falls and Pedernales Falls State Parks. May weather in Austin is warm and perfect for all of these.
Where should I stay in Austin for Memorial Day Weekend?
Downtown Austin puts you within walking distance of Rainey Street, Sixth Street, the CapTex Triathlon route, and Lady Bird Lake. South Austin near Barton Springs and Zilker Park is ideal for outdoor-focused groups. For groups anchoring their weekend around a Lake Travis boat day or zipline adventure, renting an Airbnb in Lakeway or near the lake puts you right on the water and closer to Lake Travis Zipline Adventures.
Make This the Best Memorial Day Weekend Yet
Memorial Day Weekend in Austin delivers everything the holiday is supposed to feel like. Outdoor adventure, cold water, live music, great food, warm Texas evenings, and a city that knows how to enjoy itself. The only mistake you can make is waiting too long to plan it.
Lock in your outdoor adventure first. Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures now at laketraviszipline.com before Memorial Day Weekend slots sell out. Then build the rest of your weekend around it.
For more Austin inspiration check out our guides to the Best Things to Do in Austin TX, the Best Things to Do on Lake Travis, and Best Family Friendly Activities in Austin TX.