By Rebecca · Local Austin Expert · Updated October 2026 · 7 min read
Indigenous Peoples Day falls on Monday October 12, 2026. Austin is one of the first cities in Texas to officially observe it. In 2017, the Austin City Council voted to rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day. This year the holiday creates a three-day weekend. On Monday, the UT Austin campus hosts its annual celebration. On Saturday October 10, the Bastrop County Museum hosts a free family event. Throughout the weekend, Austin’s best Indigenous history resources are open and waiting. Here is your complete guide.
Quick Answer — Things to Do in Austin for Indigenous Peoples Day 2026
The best things to do in Austin for Indigenous Peoples Day 2026 include the UT Austin Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration on Monday October 12, the Bastrop County Museum Tonkawa event on Saturday October 10, the Bullock Texas State History Museum, Mexic-Arte Museum, the Austin History Center, Native American literature at BookPeople, outdoor time on the Hill Country landscape, and Lake Travis Zipline Adventures on the land that Indigenous peoples called home for thousands of years.
Why Indigenous Peoples Day Matters in Austin
Austin sits on land with deep Indigenous history.
The Tonkawa, Comanche, and Lipan Apache inhabited Central Texas for thousands of years. The Colorado River and the Hill Country that make Austin so beautiful were home to generations of Indigenous peoples. Their stories shaped everything that came after.
In 2017, Austin became one of the first Texas cities to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples Day. The Austin City Council voted to rename Columbus Day, and that recognition was a meaningful step toward acknowledging the full and honest history of this land.
Above all, Indigenous Peoples Day is an opportunity to learn. It is also a chance to support Indigenous artists and communities, to visit places that honor Indigenous culture, and to spend time on this land with genuine appreciation for everything that came before.
Here is how to spend the long weekend well.
#1 Lake Travis Zipline Adventures — Connect with the Hill Country Landscape
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures sits on Lake Travis in the Hill Country landscape that Indigenous peoples called home for thousands of years.
Why the setting matters
The limestone ridges, the cedar and oak woodland, and the wide Hill Country views from 22 stories above the lake are part of a landscape that predates Austin by millennia. Spending an afternoon here is a genuinely powerful way to connect with the land itself. Moreover, October is the most beautiful time of the entire year on Lake Travis. The Hill Country is shifting into fall colors. The air is crisp and comfortable. Because of the fall light and the cooler temperatures, the view from the top platform is even more extraordinary than in summer.
What to expect
Your group boards a boat across Lake Travis to Zip Island, about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin. Then you spend three hours on five world-class ziplines through the Texas Hill Country. Most notably, the Double Barrel Shotgun sends two people side by side at up to 65 mph from 22 stories above the lake. After the tour, your ticket includes full-day access to the lakefront property on Zip Island. As a result, the experience extends well beyond the zip itself.
The Details
- Tours: 5-Line Zipline Tour and Double Barrel Single-Line Tour available
- Pricing: Check laketraviszipline.com for current rates
- Location: About 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin on Lake Travis
- Reservations: Required at laketraviszipline.com
Pro Tip: October afternoon slots fill up fast. Book now at laketraviszipline.com before the weekend sells out.
Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures for the most beautiful fall afternoon on the Hill Country landscape this Indigenous Peoples Day weekend.
Saturday, October 10 — Bastrop County Museum Indigenous Peoples Day Event
The Bastrop County Museum and Visitor Center hosts its third annual Indigenous Peoples Day celebration on Saturday October 10 from 11 AM to 2 PM.
What the event includes
This free family event honors the Tonkawa and the Indigenous peoples of Bastrop County. Visitors of all ages can explore hands-on activities, artifact displays, cultural demonstrations, and storytelling. Furthermore, the event offers opportunities to learn about Tonkawa language, traditions, and history in a welcoming and family-friendly environment.
The event creates space for learning and reflection. As a result, it deepens understanding of the people whose presence and legacy originally shaped this region.
Getting there
Bastrop is about 30 miles east of Austin on State Highway 71. It makes for an excellent Saturday morning activity before an afternoon at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures.
The Details
- When: Saturday October 10, 11 AM to 2 PM
- Where: Bastrop County Museum and Visitor Center, Bastrop TX
- Cost: Free
- Best For: Families, history enthusiasts, anyone who wants to learn about Indigenous Central Texas history
Monday, October 12 — UT Austin Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration
The Native American and Indigenous Studies Program at UT Austin hosts its annual Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration on Monday October 12.
What to expect
The event features a shared feast, storytelling, cultural activities, and community gathering. In addition, it is open to the broader Austin community and not just UT students and faculty. Because of its welcoming format, this is one of the most genuinely community-centered Indigenous Peoples Day events in Austin.
Check the UT Austin NAIS program website for the 2026 schedule and location.
The Details
- When: Monday October 12, 2026
- Where: UT Austin campus, check utexas.edu for specific location and time
- Cost: Free
- Best For: UT community and Austin residents, families, anyone who wants a genuine community celebration
All Weekend — Bullock Texas State History Museum
The Bullock Museum on Congress Avenue is the most important Indigenous history resource in Austin.
What to see
The permanent Becoming Texas exhibit covers the full history of Indigenous peoples in Texas. Interactive displays let visitors touch tools, traditional clothing, and cultural objects. Additionally, the exhibit covers the Tonkawa, Comanche, Lipan Apache, Caddo, Karankawa, and dozens of other tribes whose histories are woven into the story of Texas.
Although the Bullock’s 14th Annual American Indian Heritage Day event took place on September 25, the museum’s permanent Indigenous history exhibits are open all weekend. They are genuinely extraordinary in depth and quality.
The Details
- Address: 1800 Congress Ave, Austin TX 78701
- Cost: $13 adults, $9 children
- Website: thestoryoftexas.com
- Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM, Sunday noon to 5 PM
- Best For: Families, history enthusiasts, a deep and comprehensive look at Indigenous Texas history
All Weekend — Mexic-Arte Museum
Mexic-Arte Museum on Congress Avenue is one of Austin’s most important cultural institutions. Specifically, it explores the Indigenous roots of Mexican and Mexican-American culture through art, exhibition, and community programming.
Why visit this weekend
The museum’s exhibitions consistently engage with Indigenous culture, history, and artistic traditions across the borderlands region. Furthermore, the upcoming Viva La Vida Dia de los Muertos programming connects deeply with Indigenous traditions around honoring ancestors and the relationship between the living and the dead.
Best of all, Mexic-Arte is free on Sundays. As a result, a Sunday visit is one of the most culturally resonant free museum experiences available in Austin this weekend.
The Details
- Address: 419 Congress Ave, Austin TX 78701
- Cost: $5 general admission, free on Sundays
- Website: mexic-artemuseum.org
- Best For: Art lovers, cultural history enthusiasts, families, free Sunday museum experience
All Weekend — Austin History Center
The Austin History Center at the Austin Public Library holds the most important archive for Austin and Travis County history.
What you will find
The collection includes maps, photographs, documents, and research materials that trace the full history of Austin. In particular, it covers the Indigenous peoples who lived on this land before and during the founding of the city. Staff librarians can help visitors navigate materials about the Tonkawa, Comanche, and other Central Texas tribes. Because access is completely free, this is one of the most accessible Indigenous history resources in Austin.
The Details
- Address: 810 Guadalupe St, Austin TX 78701
- Cost: Free
- Website: library.austintexas.gov
- Best For: Researchers, history enthusiasts, anyone who wants to go deeper into Austin’s Indigenous history
All Weekend — Native American Literature at BookPeople
One of the most meaningful ways to honor Indigenous Peoples Day is to read Native American authors.
Where to start
BookPeople on North Lamar is the best independent bookstore in Austin and has a strong Native American literature section. First, consider Tommy Orange. His novel There There is one of the most important works of Indigenous American fiction in recent memory. Additionally, Sherman Alexie’s poetry and fiction, Louise Erdrich’s novels, and Joy Harjo, the first Native American US Poet Laureate, are all genuinely excellent starting points.
Because these authors write from lived Indigenous experience, their work deepens your understanding in a way that no museum exhibit alone can match.
The Details
- BookPeople: 603 N Lamar Blvd, Austin TX 78703
- Best For: Readers, families, anyone who wants to engage with Indigenous Peoples Day through literature
All Weekend — Support Indigenous Artists and Creators
One of the most direct ways to honor Indigenous Peoples Day is to spend money with Indigenous artists, makers, and businesses.
How to find Indigenous creators in Austin
Austin’s creative community includes Indigenous artists working across visual art, jewelry, pottery, and textile traditions. Look for Indigenous-made goods at local markets and galleries this weekend. For example, the South Congress Avenue boutiques and the East Austin gallery scene both offer access to artists from diverse backgrounds including Indigenous traditions.
Because buying directly from Indigenous creators has a lasting economic impact, it is one of the most concrete ways to show genuine support.
How to Honor Indigenous Peoples Day Meaningfully
Here are a few simple ways to make the long weekend genuinely meaningful.
Learn whose land you are on
Austin sits on land that was home to the Tonkawa, Comanche, and Lipan Apache peoples. The Native Land Digital map at native-land.ca is a free resource that shows Indigenous territories overlapping any location in North America. Because the tool is free and simple to use, it takes only a few minutes to learn something genuinely new about this place.
Spend time outdoors on this land
Lake Travis, Barton Springs, the Barton Creek Greenbelt, and the Colorado River all carry an Indigenous history that predates Austin by thousands of years. Furthermore, time spent on the land with genuine attention and genuine appreciation is a meaningful act of acknowledgment in itself.
Show up to community events
Finally, the UT Austin celebration and the Bastrop County Museum event are both free, family-friendly, and welcoming to the broader Austin community. Because they are designed to be inclusive, there is no barrier to attending either one.
The Perfect Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend in Austin
Here is how to put the three-day weekend together.
Saturday October 10: Start at the Bastrop County Museum Indigenous Peoples Day event from 11 AM to 2 PM. Then head to Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in the afternoon for the most beautiful fall afternoon on the Hill Country landscape. Book your slot now at laketraviszipline.com. Finally, catch ACL Fest Weekend Two at Zilker Park in the evening.
Sunday October 11: Begin at Mexic-Arte Museum for free Sunday admission. Then visit the Bullock Museum for the Becoming Texas Indigenous history exhibit. After that, stop at BookPeople for Native American literature. Close the day with an afternoon swim at Barton Springs Pool.
Monday October 12: Attend the UT Austin Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration on campus. Then visit the Austin History Center for deeper research into the Indigenous history of this place. Finally, walk the Barton Creek Greenbelt to close out the weekend on the land itself.
Frequently Asked Questions — Indigenous Peoples Day 2026 Austin
When is Indigenous Peoples Day 2026?
Indigenous Peoples Day 2026 falls on Monday October 12. It is observed on the second Monday in October each year. Because Austin officially observes it, the day is recognized city-wide following the Austin City Council’s 2017 vote to rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.
What is happening in Austin for Indigenous Peoples Day 2026?
Several events are happening this weekend. On Monday October 12, the UT Austin Native American and Indigenous Studies program hosts its annual Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration. On Saturday October 10, the Bastrop County Museum hosts a free family event from 11 AM to 2 PM honoring the Tonkawa. Throughout the weekend, the Bullock Museum’s permanent Indigenous history exhibits are open. Additionally, Mexic-Arte Museum is free on Sunday.
Does Austin officially recognize Indigenous Peoples Day?
Yes. In 2017, Austin City Council voted to officially rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day. However, Texas as a state does not officially observe it as a paid holiday.
What Indigenous peoples originally lived on the land that is now Austin?
The Tonkawa, Comanche, and Lipan Apache were among the primary Indigenous peoples who inhabited Central Texas. Because their history is so central to understanding this place, the Bullock Museum’s Becoming Texas exhibit is the best resource in Austin for learning more.
What is the best way to honor Indigenous Peoples Day in Austin?
First, learn whose land you are on using native-land.ca. Then attend the UT Austin Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration or the Bastrop County Museum event. Additionally, visit the Bullock Museum’s Indigenous history exhibits, read Native American authors at BookPeople, and support Indigenous artists and makers directly. Finally, spend time outdoors on the Hill Country landscape that Indigenous peoples called home for thousands of years.
Honor the Land This Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend
Indigenous Peoples Day is an opportunity to engage honestly with the full history of the land we live on.
Fortunately, Austin has extraordinary resources for that engagement. The Bullock Museum, the Austin History Center, Mexic-Arte, the UT Austin NAIS program, and the Bastrop County Museum are all genuinely excellent and genuinely welcoming. Because these events and institutions are mostly free or low-cost, there is no barrier to participating fully.
Above all, this weekend is an opportunity to spend time on the land itself. The Hill Country landscape, Lake Travis, and the Barton Creek Greenbelt all carry an Indigenous history that predates Austin by thousands of years.
Start the weekend outdoors. Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures now at laketraviszipline.com and spend an afternoon on the Hill Country landscape that has always been one of the most beautiful places in Central Texas.
For more Austin inspiration check out our guides to the Best Things to Do in Austin TX, Best Things to Do in Austin in the Fall, and Best Things to Do on Lake Travis.
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.