This is the last full weekend before Labor Day and Austin is going out with a genuinely outstanding lineup. MeadowFest returns for its third year at Radio East on Saturday August 29 with a stacked roster of Cimafunk, Cure for Paranoia, Combo Chimbita, Angélica Garcia, Chuwi, Jon Muq, Gina Chavez, and Quentin in a mental health benefit festival that has gotten bigger and better every year. The Front Festival wraps its 10th anniversary four-day run with Independent Film Night at Laguna Gloria on Saturday and a closing pool party at the LINE Hotel on Sunday. Tommy Emmanuel’s Austin Guitar Camp wraps up at the Fairmont Austin all weekend. UT Austin kicks off the new academic year with Gone to Texas on Friday evening. The Paramount Summer Classic Film Series continues at the State Theater. And Lake Travis is delivering one of the last great summer afternoons before fall officially arrives. Here is everything worth doing from Thursday through Sunday.
Quick Answer — Best Things to Do in Austin This Weekend August 28 to 30
This weekend in Austin is headlined by Lake Travis Zipline Adventures for the best outdoor experience of the weekend, MeadowFest 2026 at Radio East on Saturday August 29 with Cimafunk, Cure for Paranoia, Combo Chimbita, Angélica Garcia, and more, The Front Festival 10th Anniversary closing weekend with Independent Film Night at Laguna Gloria on Saturday and closing pool party at the LINE Hotel on Sunday, Tommy Emmanuel’s Austin Guitar Camp at the Fairmont Austin, UT Austin Gone to Texas on Friday August 28, the Paramount Summer Classic Film Series at the State Theater, the Golden Hour Quartet at Radio East on Sunday afternoon (free), Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee on Thursday, and the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony approaching peak numbers at sunset all weekend. Here is the complete breakdown.
#1 Best Thing to Do in Austin This Weekend — Lake Travis Zipline Adventures
Before MeadowFest and the Front Festival closing party and the Guitar Camp concerts. Book this first.
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the single best thing to do in Austin this weekend. Late August on Lake Travis is still genuinely beautiful, with the lake warm and clear and the Hill Country air beginning the first subtle shift toward fall. This is one of the last great summer weekends on the lake before September changes the seasonal rhythm of Austin outdoor life.
As someone who has guided zipline tours on Lake Travis, I can tell you that a late August afternoon on Zip Island is genuinely special. The lake is at its warmest and clearest of the entire year. The afternoon light starts carrying the first gold of early fall. And the view from 22 stories above the water looking out across the Hill Country on a clear August day is one of the most beautiful versions of this experience the whole year produces.
Your group boards a boat that takes everyone across Lake Travis to Zip Island, a private island in the middle of the lake about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin. Three hours on five world-class ziplines through the Texas Hill Country follow, including the Double Barrel Shotgun, which sends two people side by side over 2,800 feet of cable at speeds up to 65 mph from 22 stories above Lake Travis. After the tour your ticket includes full-day access to the private lakefront property on Zip Island. Jump off the dock into Lake Travis. Relax in hammocks. Enjoy one of the last great summer lake afternoons of 2026 before heading back to Austin for MeadowFest or the Front Festival.
The Details
- 5-Line Zipline Tour: $138/person, includes full-day access to the private lakefront property on Zip Island
- Double Barrel Single-Line Tour: $88/person
- Duration: 3 hours for the full tour plus full-day lakefront access after
- Location: About 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin on Lake Travis
- Best For: Groups, couples, families, all experience levels
- Reservations: Required at laketraviszipline.com
Pro Tip: Pre-Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the late summer season on Lake Travis. Afternoon slots fill up fast. Book your afternoon tour now at laketraviszipline.com before the weekend sells out.
Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures before your spot sells out.
Thursday, August 27 — Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee
Mozart’s Coffee Roasters on Lake Austin and Lake Austin Calm host Movies on the Lake every Thursday at 8:30 PM. A massive screen is set up right on the water. Watch for free from the deck or rent a paddleboard, donut boat, or two-person lounge float and watch from the lake itself. Live music plays before the film and a pop-up bar runs throughout the evening.
Having spent 30 years in Austin, Movies on the Lake is one of those summer Thursday traditions I genuinely treasure. The late August evenings on Lake Austin have a particular quality, a little cooler, a little quieter, with the first hints of fall starting to settle in. Make the most of it before the season turns.
The Details
- When: Thursday August 27, live music before 8:30 PM, film at 8:30 PM
- Where: Mozart’s Coffee Roasters, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin TX 78703
- Cost: Free deck seating with RSVP, paddleboard rentals $20, two-person lounge float $30, donut boat $150
- Water Rentals: lakeaustincalm.com
Pro Tip: Water rentals sell out every week. Book now at lakeaustincalm.com.
Thursday through Sunday — The Front Festival 10th Anniversary Closing Weekend
Future Front Texas’ flagship event, the Front Festival, celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026 with a four-day run highlighting more than 40 Texas-based women and LGBTQIA+ artists in music, film, and more.
August 28 features Independent Music Night at Swan Dive with candid conversations, panels on making music and building your own stages in Austin, and musical performances by Babi Doll, LYNN, and more. August 29 features Independent Film Night at the Contemporary Austin Laguna Gloria with a panel and performance followed by a curated short film showcase featuring 13 films including Firewall by Iranian-Texan filmmaker Bita Ghassemi and mini-doc How We Grieve by comedian and writer Meghan Ross. August 30 features the closing pool party at the LINE Hotel Austin with Front Festival Resident DJs and Riobamba.
The Front Festival at its 10th anniversary is one of the most genuinely community-rooted and most creatively substantial arts events Austin produces all summer. The combination of independent music, independent film, art installations, and poolside celebration across four days and multiple iconic Austin venues makes it a uniquely Austin experience that rewards attending more than one event. All tickets and proceeds support Future Front’s creative programs and art commissions supporting local artists.
The Details
- When: Thursday August 27 through Sunday August 30
- Where: Swan Dive (Friday), Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria (Saturday), LINE Hotel Austin (Sunday)
- Cost: $10 to $100 per event, passes available at thefrontfest.com
- Best For: Independent music and film lovers, the Austin LGBTQIA+ creative community, anyone who wants the most culturally substantive arts events of the weekend
Friday, August 28 — UT Austin Gone to Texas
UT Austin kicks off the new academic year with Gone to Texas, the University of Texas at Austin’s official welcome event for new and returning students on the UT Main Mall on Friday August 28 from 6 PM to 10 PM.
Gone to Texas is one of the most genuinely electric evenings on the UT Austin campus all year. The Main Mall fills with thousands of students, faculty, and community members for the annual welcome celebration that marks the official beginning of the UT fall semester. For anyone connected to UT Austin as an alumna, a current student, or a parent, Gone to Texas on Friday evening is the most authentically campus Austin experience of the entire late summer calendar.
The Details
- When: Friday August 28, 6 PM to 10 PM
- Where: UT Main Mall, 110 Inner Campus Dr, Austin TX 78712
- Cost: Free
- Best For: UT students, faculty, alumni, families of incoming students
Saturday, August 29 — MeadowFest 2026 at Radio East
MeadowFest, a benefit festival for mental health awareness for music, returns for its third year August 29 at Radio East. The full lineup includes Cure for Paranoia, the Dallas alternative hip-hop collective that won NPR’s 2026 Tiny Desk Concert, Cimafunk, Chuwi, Combo Chimbita, Angélica Garcia, Jon Muq, Gina Chavez, and Quentin. MeadowFest has gotten bigger every year, with a sustained lean toward Latin American artists.
MeadowFest is one of the most meaningful and most genuinely exciting music festivals Austin produces all summer. The festival honors the memory of Meadow Goodman, a drummer and aspiring musician in Austin who died by suicide in 2023 at 15 years old. Every performer on the lineup and every ticket sold serves the festival’s mission of using music to reduce stigma around mental health and support the Austin music community.
The lineup for 2026 is genuinely extraordinary. Cimafunk is one of the most electrifying live performers in Afro-Cuban funk music. Combo Chimbita is one of the most exciting Colombian psychedelic cumbia bands working today. Cure for Paranoia won NPR’s 2026 Tiny Desk Concert and brings a deeply personal hip-hop set rooted in frontman Cameron McCloud’s own experience with bipolar depression. Angélica Garcia is one of the most compelling singer-songwriters in Latin indie music. This is the strongest MeadowFest lineup in the festival’s three-year history and one of the most genuinely exciting single-day festival lineups in Austin this entire summer.
The Details
- When: Saturday August 29, 2026
- Where: Radio East, Austin TX
- Cost: From $41.24, tickets at do512.com
- Presented by: KUTX 98.9 and Resound
- Best For: Latin music fans, hip-hop fans, anyone who wants the most musically diverse and most meaningful festival of the weekend
- Pro Tip: First-tier tickets have already sold out. Buy now before the third tier pricing kicks in.
Saturday, August 29 — Front Festival Independent Film Night at Laguna Gloria
The Front Festival’s Independent Film Night at the Contemporary Austin Laguna Gloria features a panel and performance followed by a curated short film showcase of 13 films including Firewall by Iranian-Texan filmmaker Bita Ghassemi and mini-doc How We Grieve by comedian and writer Meghan Ross.
Independent Film Night at Laguna Gloria is the most beautiful and most atmospherically extraordinary Front Festival event of the entire four-day run. The Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria is a stunning lakeside property in West Austin with one of the most beautiful outdoor settings available at any Austin cultural venue. Independent short films screened at Laguna Gloria on a late August evening with the lake and the gardens as the setting is genuinely one of those only-in-Austin experiences that no other city quite replicates.
The Details
- When: Saturday August 29
- Where: The Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria, 3809 W 35th St, Austin TX 78703
- Cost: Tickets at thefrontfest.com
- Best For: Film lovers, the Austin LGBTQIA+ creative community, anyone who wants the most beautiful film screening setting in Austin
Thursday through Sunday — Tommy Emmanuel Austin Guitar Camp at the Fairmont
Tommy Emmanuel’s Austin Guitar Camp runs August 27 to 30 at the Fairmont Austin, bringing together one of the world’s most celebrated fingerstyle guitarists and a group of dedicated guitar students for an intensive four-day immersive music education experience. Tommy Emmanuel is one of the most extraordinarily skilled and most genuinely warm live performers in acoustic music and the Guitar Camp culminates in performances and showcases that are open to the public.
The Details
- When: August 27 to 30, 2026
- Where: Fairmont Austin, 101 Red River St, Austin TX 78701
- Website: Check tommyemmanuel.com for public performance schedule and ticket details
- Best For: Guitar enthusiasts, acoustic music lovers, anyone who wants to see one of the world’s greatest guitarists in an intimate Austin setting
Sunday, August 30 — Front Festival Closing Pool Party at the LINE Hotel
The Front Festival closing pool party at the LINE Hotel Austin features poolside sets by Front Festival Resident DJs and Riobamba to close out the 10th anniversary festival.
The Front Festival closing pool party at the LINE Hotel is the most purely joyful and most relaxed event of the entire four-day run. The LINE Hotel’s rooftop pool in East Austin with the Austin skyline visible and the festival’s community energy still running high is genuinely the right way to close out the most creatively ambitious arts festival Austin produces before the fall season begins. Riobamba as the closing set makes it one of the most musically satisfying pool parties available in Austin this weekend.
The Details
- When: Sunday August 30
- Where: The LINE Hotel Austin, 111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin TX 78701
- Cost: Tickets at thefrontfest.com
- Best For: Front Festival attendees, pool party enthusiasts, a genuinely joyful Sunday close to the pre-Labor Day weekend
Sunday, August 30 — Golden Hour Quartet at Radio East (FREE)
The Golden Hour Quartet performs every Sunday at Radio East. The Sunday residency at Radio East is one of Austin’s most consistent and most genuinely enjoyable free recurring live music events. Catching a Golden Hour Quartet Sunday set at Radio East the day after MeadowFest is a genuinely perfect way to ease into the final Sunday before Labor Day.
The Details
- When: Sunday August 30, afternoon
- Where: Radio East, Austin TX
- Cost: Free
- Best For: Jazz and acoustic music lovers, a relaxed free Sunday afternoon in East Austin
All Weekend — The Austin Essentials
Barton Springs Pool stays at 68 degrees year round. Late August heat makes a midday swim here the most essential Austin activity of any weekend before Labor Day. Entry is under $10 and free before 8 AM. With Labor Day Weekend arriving next week, this is one of the last truly peak summer Barton Springs weekends of the year.
The Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony is approaching its annual peak numbers right now as the late August and early September surge builds before the fall migration south. Watching the emergence this weekend is one of the best bat colony experiences of the entire year. Check batrefuge.org for nightly emergence times.
Sisters Sno Shack at 8012 Mesa Dr is the best snow cone stop in Austin. Open Saturday noon to 8 PM and Sunday 1 to 6 PM. A post-lake or post-MeadowFest shaved ice on a late August afternoon is the perfect way to cool down before the evening events.
The Paramount Summer Classic Film Series continues at the State Theater through September 7. Check austintheatre.org for this weekend’s films and showtimes.
The Perfect Austin Weekend — August 28 to 30
Here is how to put the full weekend together.
Thursday Evening: Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee on Lake Austin at 8:30 PM. Book your paddleboard at lakeaustincalm.com now. Front Festival Opening Night Swim at the LINE Hotel to kick off the 10th anniversary celebration.
Friday: Barton Springs Pool early before the heat peaks. UT Austin Gone to Texas on the Main Mall from 6 PM to 10 PM (free). Front Festival Independent Music Night at Swan Dive in the evening.
Saturday: Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in the afternoon. Book your afternoon tour now at laketraviszipline.com. Then Sisters Sno Shack post-lake. Then MeadowFest 2026 at Radio East for Cimafunk, Cure for Paranoia, Combo Chimbita, Angélica Garcia, and the full lineup. Or Front Festival Independent Film Night at Laguna Gloria for a gorgeous alternative. Congress Avenue Bridge bats at sunset between the afternoon and evening events.
Sunday: Front Festival Closing Pool Party at the LINE Hotel. Golden Hour Quartet at Radio East in the afternoon (free). Barton Springs Pool for one final summer swim before Labor Day Weekend arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions — Things to Do in Austin This Weekend
What is happening in Austin this weekend August 28 to 30 2026?
This weekend in Austin features MeadowFest 2026 at Radio East on Saturday August 29 with Cimafunk, Cure for Paranoia, Combo Chimbita, Angélica Garcia, Jon Muq, Gina Chavez, and Quentin, the Front Festival 10th Anniversary closing weekend with Independent Film Night at Laguna Gloria on Saturday and closing pool party at the LINE Hotel on Sunday, Tommy Emmanuel’s Austin Guitar Camp at the Fairmont Austin, UT Austin Gone to Texas on Friday August 28 (free), the Golden Hour Quartet at Radio East on Sunday (free), Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee on Thursday, and the Paramount Summer Classic Film Series at the State Theater. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the best outdoor activity of the weekend.
What is the best thing to do in Austin this weekend?
The best thing to do in Austin this weekend is Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. You board a boat to a private island on Lake Travis about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin 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. Afternoon slots are available now at laketraviszipline.com.
What is MeadowFest 2026 in Austin?
MeadowFest is a benefit festival for mental health awareness for music, returning for its third year August 29 at Radio East. The full lineup includes Cure for Paranoia, the Dallas alternative hip-hop collective that won NPR’s 2026 Tiny Desk Concert, Cimafunk, Chuwi, Combo Chimbita, Angélica Garcia, Jon Muq, Gina Chavez, and Quentin. Tickets from $41.24 at do512.com. The festival honors the memory of Meadow Goodman, a drummer and aspiring musician who died by suicide in 2023 at 15 years old.
What is The Front Festival in Austin?
The Front Festival is Future Front Texas’ flagship event, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026 with a four-day run highlighting more than 40 Texas-based women and LGBTQIA+ artists in music, film, and more, running August 27 to 30. This weekend features Independent Music Night at Swan Dive on Friday, Independent Film Night at Laguna Gloria on Saturday, and the closing pool party at the LINE Hotel on Sunday. Tickets and passes at thefrontfest.com.
What is Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee?
Movies on the Lake is a community movie night hosted every Thursday on Lake Austin by Mozart’s Coffee Roasters and Lake Austin Calm at 8:30 PM. Deck seating is free with an RSVP. You can also watch from the water by renting a paddleboard for $20, a two-person lounge float for $30, or a donut boat for $150. Book water rentals now at lakeaustincalm.com before they sell out.
Make the Most of the Last Weekend Before Labor Day
Austin’s last weekend before Labor Day is genuinely outstanding this year. MeadowFest is the most musically exciting single-day festival of the late summer. The Front Festival closes its 10th anniversary with a stunning film night at Laguna Gloria and a pool party at the LINE. Lake Travis is still delivering the most beautiful outdoor afternoons of the year. And the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony is building toward its annual peak with one of the most spectacular free natural events in the entire country happening at sunset every evening this weekend.
Start by locking in your outdoor adventure. Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures now at laketraviszipline.com and secure your afternoon slot before the weekend sells out. Then get your MeadowFest tickets at do512.com before the third pricing tier kicks in and RSVP for Movies on the Lake at lakeaustincalm.com for Thursday night.
For more Austin inspiration check out our guides to the Best Things to Do in Austin TX, the Best Summer Activities in Austin with Families, and Best Things to Do in Austin for Labor Day Weekend 2026.
About the Author
Rebecca is a 30-year Austin resident, UT Austin alumna, and outdoor recreation and tourism professional who has spent her career in the Austin adventure tourism industry. She has guided zipline tours on Lake Travis and worked in outdoor recreation tourism through the University of Texas, where she studied marketing and business. When she is not writing about Austin, she is out on the lake.
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