May arrives in Austin with a full calendar, perfect lake weather, and one of the most loaded concert weekends of the entire spring season. This weekend has something for everyone — a floating movie night on Lake Austin Thursday, a massive country music festival, one of Austin’s best singer-songwriter shows, live opera, a huge artisan market, a WNBA preseason game, and the outdoor adventures that make Austin the best city in Texas this time of year. Here is everything worth doing from Thursday through Sunday.
Quick Answer — Best Things to Do in Austin This Weekend May 1 to 3
This weekend in Austin is headlined by Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee on Thursday featuring Dazed and Confused on the water, the iHeartCountry Festival with Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Parker McCollum and more at Moody Center on Friday, Hayley Williams live at ACL Live at the Moody Theater on Saturday, Lake Travis Zipline Adventures on Saturday morning for the best outdoor experience of the weekend, Florence and the Machine at Moody Center on Sunday, The Front Market artisan showcase at Distribution Hall Saturday and Sunday, Los Lobos at the Paramount Theatre on Friday, and a WNBA preseason game at Moody Center on Sunday. Here is the complete breakdown.
Thursday, April 30 — Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee (Dazed and Confused)
Start the weekend early on Thursday evening with one of the most uniquely Austin experiences in the city. Movies on the Lake is a community movie night hosted on Lake Austin by Mozart’s Coffee Roasters and Lake Austin Calm every Thursday starting at 8:30 PM. This Thursday the film is Dazed and Confused — Richard Linklater’s 1993 Texas coming-of-age classic set right here in Austin. Watching it from a paddleboard on Lake Austin is as perfectly Austin as it gets.
Deck seating is free but guests are encouraged to RSVP in advance as free tickets often sell out. You can view the movie from the water by renting a paddleboard, tube, or donut boat. There are a limited number of rentals and they often sell out, so booking in advance is recommended.
The café and concession stands serve movie-style popcorn, giant pretzels, candy, and more. Each week also features limited-time specialty drinks and treats inspired by the evening’s film. A pop-up bar operated by Quince Lakehouse is also open, featuring a specialty frozen cocktail inspired by the film, along with beer, wine, and hard seltzers.
The Details
- When: Thursday April 30, live music before 8:30 PM, film at 8:30 PM
- Where: Mozart’s Coffee Roasters, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin TX 78703
- Film: Dazed and Confused
- Cost: Free deck seating with RSVP, paddleboard rentals $20, two-person lounge float $30, donut boat $150 for 2.5 hours
- Water Rentals: lakeaustincalm.com
Pro Tip: Watching a movie set in Austin from a paddleboard on Lake Austin is a genuinely perfect Thursday night. Book your water rental now at lakeaustincalm.com before they sell out. Deck RSVPs also fill up fast so grab yours ahead of time.
Friday, May 1 — iHeartCountry Festival at Moody Center
The iHeartCountry Festival features performances by Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Parker McCollum, and more, hosted by Bobby Bones. The event brings together some of the genre’s biggest names on one stage with a packed show filled with hit songs and high-energy performances from start to finish.
This is one of the biggest country music events Austin hosts all year. Kane Brown is one of the most consistent live performers in the genre right now. Luke Bryan brings one of country music’s most crowd-tested live shows. Parker McCollum is an Austin native whose Texas country roots make this a homecoming show as much as a festival set. Riley Green and Shaboozey round out a lineup that covers the full spectrum of modern country.
The Details
- When: Friday May 1, 6:30 PM
- Where: Moody Center ATX, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr, Austin TX 78712
- Tickets: Available at iheart.com and all major ticketing platforms
- Best For: Country music fans, large groups, anyone who wants the biggest show of the weekend
Friday, May 1 — Los Lobos at the Paramount Theatre
For a Friday evening experience that feels genuinely special, Los Lobos performs at the Paramount Theatre on Friday May 1 at 7:30 PM. The concert comes just months before the Paramount temporarily closes in June 2026 for the Shine On restoration project, a nine-month effort to preserve and revitalize the 111-year-old theatre for the next century of Austin audiences. Proceeds from the evening help support the Shine On campaign.
Los Lobos is one of the most influential bands in American music. Their live show blends rock, blues, country, folk, R&B, and traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex music in a way that no other band alive replicates. Seeing them at the Paramount, one of the most beautiful live performance venues in Austin, before the theatre closes for restoration makes this a genuinely historic evening.
The Details
- When: Friday May 1, 7:30 PM
- Where: Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave, Austin TX 78701
- Tickets: austintheatre.org
- Best For: Music lovers, anyone who wants an intimate and historic concert experience
Friday, May 1 — La Bohème at the Long Center
For a more elevated Friday evening, La Bohème runs at Dell Hall at the Long Center for the Performing Arts on Friday May 1 at 7:30 PM. Puccini’s most beloved opera performed at one of Austin’s most architecturally stunning venues is the kind of evening that elevates a May weekend from great to genuinely memorable.
The Details
- When: Friday May 1, 7:30 PM
- Where: Dell Hall, Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W Riverside Dr, Austin TX 78704
- Tickets: thelongcenter.org
- Best For: Opera fans, couples, anyone who wants a world-class performing arts experience in Austin
Friday, May 1 — Dear Evan Hansen at Zach Theatre
Dear Evan Hansen, the six-time Tony Award-winning musical, runs at Zach Theatre through May 17. Follow high schooler Evan as a small lie unexpectedly spreads online, launching him into viral fame and forcing him to face difficult choices about truth, identity, and belonging. Tickets start at $28 and the show runs through May 17, making it a strong option for any evening of the weekend.
The Details
- When: Through May 17, various showtimes
- Where: Zach Theatre, 202 S Lamar Blvd, Austin TX 78704
- Cost: From $28
- Tickets: zachtheatre.org
Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2 — KUT Festival at UT Austin (FREE)
The KUT Festival is a two-day celebration packed with inspiring talks, engaging panels, and live music at the University of Texas at Austin. It features a free community street fair with food trucks, family activities, and interactive experiences designed for all ages, hosted by KUT Public Media.
KUT 90.5 FM is Austin’s beloved public radio station and the festival is a genuine community celebration. Entry starts free and the outdoor street fair atmosphere is perfect for a relaxed Friday or Saturday morning before bigger evening events.
The Details
- When: Friday May 1 through Saturday May 2
- Where: University of Texas at Austin, 2515 Speedway, Austin TX 78712
- Cost: Starts free
- Best For: Families, music and media enthusiasts, anyone who wants a free community event
Saturday, May 2 — Lake Travis Zipline Adventures
Saturday afternoon is the perfect time to get out to Lake Travis before the evening Hayley Williams show. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the best outdoor experience in the Austin area and a May Saturday on Lake Travis is about as good as it gets in Texas.
Your group boards a boat that takes everyone across Lake Travis to Zip Island. This private island sits in the middle of the lake, accessible only by water, near Beachside Billy’s and The Oasis on the north shore. It is about 25 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin. Once on the island, 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 across over 2,800 feet of cable at speeds up to 65 mph from 22 stories above Lake Travis. In early May with the lake clear and the Hill Country fully green, the views from up there are genuinely stunning.
After the tour, your ticket includes full-day access to the private lakefront property on Zip Island. Everyone can jump off the boat dock into Lake Travis, relax in hammocks, and soak up the lake before heading back to Austin for an afternoon at The Front Market and an evening with Hayley Williams. It is the best possible Saturday in Austin.
The Details
- 5-Line Zipline Tour: $138/person, includes full-day access to Zip Island lakefront property
- Double Barrel Single-Line Tour: $88/person
- Duration: 3 hours for the full tour plus full-day lakefront access after
- Location: Near Beachside Billy’s and The Oasis on Lake Travis, about 25 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin
- Best For: Groups, couples, families, all experience levels
- Reservations: Required at laketraviszipline.com
Pro Tip: Book the morning tour so you are back in Austin in time for The Front Market in the afternoon and Hayley Williams in the evening. Book now at laketraviszipline.com before Saturday slots sell out.
Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures before slots sell out.
Saturday, May 2 — Hayley Williams at ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Hayley Williams performs at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater on Saturday May 2 at 7 PM. The Paramore frontwoman and solo artist is one of the most dynamic and beloved performers of her generation. Her solo project Petals for Armor showed a different and deeply personal side to one of rock’s most iconic voices. ACL Live is an intimate venue that puts every seat close to the stage. This is the kind of Saturday night show that sells out fast and delivers fully.
The Details
- When: Saturday May 2, 7 PM
- Where: ACL Live at the Moody Theater, 310 W Willie Nelson Blvd, Austin TX 78701
- Tickets: Available at all major ticketing platforms
- Best For: Paramore fans, indie and alternative music lovers, anyone who wants an intimate concert at one of Austin’s best venues
Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3 — The Front Market at Distribution Hall (FREE)
The Front Market at Distribution Hall features a rotating lineup of 170-plus Texas-based women and LGBTQ-plus vendors at Front Market’s Spring showcase. While you shop, you can snack on treats from a brunch menu and listen to a local DJ. The event runs Saturday May 2 and Sunday May 3 from 11 AM to 5 PM and is completely free to enter.
This is one of the best Saturday afternoon activities in Austin this weekend. Over 170 independent creatives, designers, and small business owners from across Texas come together in one of East Austin’s most atmospheric venues. It is a perfect activity between a morning at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures and an evening with Hayley Williams.
The Details
- When: Saturday May 2 and Sunday May 3, 11 AM to 5 PM
- Where: Distribution Hall, 1500 E 4th St, Austin TX 78702
- Cost: Free entry
- Best For: Shoppers, art lovers, families, anyone who wants a free and vibrant Saturday afternoon activity
Sunday, May 3 — Florence and the Machine at Moody Center
Florence and the Machine performs at Moody Center ATX on Sunday May 3 at 6 PM. Florence Welch is one of the most captivating and theatrical live performers in music. A Florence and the Machine show is not simply a concert — it is a full emotional event. The Moody Center’s scale gives the show room to breathe in a way that smaller venues cannot. This is the concert of the weekend for anyone who appreciates genuinely transcendent live music.
The Details
- When: Sunday May 3, 6 PM
- Where: Moody Center ATX, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr, Austin TX 78712
- Tickets: Available at all major ticketing platforms
- Best For: Florence and the Machine fans, anyone who wants the most emotionally powerful concert of the weekend
Sunday, May 3 — WNBA Preseason: Dallas Wings vs Las Vegas Aces at Moody Center
The Dallas Wings are coming to Moody Center on Sunday May 3 for a special preseason game against the Las Vegas Aces. It is a strong way to spend a Sunday afternoon before the Florence and the Machine show in the evening. The Las Vegas Aces are one of the most talented rosters in the WNBA and a preseason matchup at Moody Center is a rare opportunity to see elite basketball at an accessible price.
The Details
- When: Sunday May 3, afternoon
- Where: Moody Center ATX, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr, Austin TX 78712
- Tickets: Available at all major ticketing platforms
- Best For: Basketball fans, families, sports lovers who want an affordable and exciting Sunday activity
All Weekend — The Austin Essentials
No Austin weekend is complete without at least one of these.
Barton Springs Pool inside Zilker Park stays at 68 degrees year round. May weather makes a midday swim here feel like the most Austin thing you can do between events. Entry is under $10 and free before 8 AM.
The Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony emerges at sunset every evening from March through October. After a full day of concerts and outdoor adventures, watching 1.5 million bats fly over Lady Bird Lake at dusk is completely free and consistently one of the best Austin experiences of any weekend.
The Lady Bird Lake Trail is free and one of the most scenic morning walks in any American city. A sunrise walk or paddle on the lake before the day’s events is the perfect way to start a May weekend in Austin.
The Perfect Austin Weekend — May 1 to 3
Here is how to put the full weekend together.
Thursday Evening: Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee. Dazed and Confused on the water at 8:30 PM. Rent a paddleboard or donut boat from Lake Austin Calm before they sell out. It is a Richard Linklater film set in Austin watched from Lake Austin. It does not get more perfectly Austin than that.
Friday Evening: iHeartCountry Festival at Moody Center for the biggest country music show of the weekend with Kane Brown and Luke Bryan. Alternatively, Los Lobos at the Paramount Theatre at 7:30 PM for a more intimate and genuinely historic concert experience before the Paramount closes for renovation.
Saturday Morning: Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. Book the morning tour and be back by early afternoon. Book now at laketraviszipline.com.
Saturday Afternoon: The Front Market at Distribution Hall from 11 AM to 5 PM. Free entry and 170-plus Texas independent vendors. Perfect between the ziplines and the evening show.
Saturday Evening: Hayley Williams at ACL Live at 7 PM at the Moody Theater.
Sunday Afternoon: WNBA preseason game at Moody Center. Dallas Wings vs Las Vegas Aces.
Sunday Evening: Florence and the Machine at Moody Center at 6 PM. The best and most powerful live music experience of the entire weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions — Things to Do in Austin This Weekend
What is happening in Austin this weekend May 1 to 3 2026?
This weekend in Austin features Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee on Thursday April 30 with Dazed and Confused at 8:30 PM, the iHeartCountry Festival with Kane Brown and Luke Bryan at Moody Center on Friday May 1, Los Lobos at the Paramount Theatre on Friday May 1 at 7:30 PM, Lake Travis Zipline Adventures on Saturday morning for the best outdoor experience of the weekend, Hayley Williams at ACL Live on Saturday May 2, The Front Market at Distribution Hall on Saturday and Sunday, a WNBA preseason game at Moody Center on Sunday May 3, and Florence and the Machine at Moody Center on Sunday May 3 at 6 PM.
What is Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee?
Movies on the Lake is a community movie night hosted on Lake Austin by Mozart’s Coffee Roasters and Lake Austin Calm every Thursday starting at 8:30 PM. This Thursday April 30 the film is Dazed and Confused. 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 at lakeaustincalm.com before they sell out.
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 on Saturday morning. 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 where you can jump off the boat dock into Lake Travis. Tickets start at $88 per person. Book now at laketraviszipline.com.
Is the iHeartCountry Festival this weekend in Austin?
Yes. The iHeartCountry Festival takes place Friday May 1 at Moody Center ATX. The lineup features Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, and Shaboozey, hosted by Bobby Bones. Tickets are available through all major ticketing platforms and at iheart.com.
Who is playing at the Paramount Theatre this weekend?
Los Lobos performs at the Paramount Theatre on Friday May 1 at 7:30 PM. This show is especially significant because the Paramount temporarily closes in June 2026 for a nine-month restoration project. Tickets are available at austintheatre.org.
Make the Most of Your Austin Weekend
Austin is firing on all cylinders this weekend. World-class live music every night, a floating movie night on Lake Austin Thursday, outdoor adventures on Lake Travis Saturday morning, free markets and community events Saturday and Sunday — this is Austin doing what Austin does best.
Start by locking in your outdoor adventure. Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures now at laketraviszipline.com before Saturday morning slots sell out. Then RSVP for Movies on the Lake at lakeaustincalm.com before Thursday’s Dazed and Confused screening fills up.
For more Austin inspiration check out our guides to the Best Things to Do in Austin TX, the Most Unique Things to Do in Austin TX, and Best Things to Do on Lake Travis.
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