This is not just any weekend. This is Memorial Day Weekend 2026 — the unofficial start of summer in Austin and one of the most packed long weekends the city produces all year. Four days of outdoor adventures, live music, free art, indie classical music, immersive installations, Shakespeare under the stars, a Texas rodeo, a triathlon on Lady Bird Lake, and the best lake weather Austin has seen all spring. Here is everything worth doing from Thursday through Monday.
Quick Answer — Best Things to Do in Austin This Weekend May 22 to 25
This weekend in Austin is headlined by Lake Travis Zipline Adventures for the best outdoor experience of the Memorial Day Weekend, the Hot Luck Live Food and Music Festival all four days, Here Be Monsters indie classical music festival at RADIO/EAST on Saturday and Sunday, the Touch the Art Experience grand opening at ART Gallery at Canopy on Friday, Much Ado About Nothing free outdoor Shakespeare at Zilker Hillside Theater, the Blue Genie Art Bazaar May Market all weekend (free), Barton Fest at Omni Barton Creek Resort on Sunday, the Dripping Springs Rodeo Friday through Sunday, Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee on Thursday, the CapTex Triathlon on Monday, and the Paramount Summer Classic Film Series opening weekend. Here is the complete breakdown.
#1 Best Thing to Do in Austin This Memorial Day Weekend — Lake Travis Zipline Adventures
Before anything else on this list. Before the food festivals and the free concerts and the Shakespeare under the stars. Book this first.
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the single best thing to do in Austin for Memorial Day Weekend. It is the most unique outdoor experience on Lake Travis and the most memorable shared adventure in the entire city. Memorial Day Weekend is the busiest weekend of the entire year at Lake Travis and slots sell out every single year without exception. Book now at laketraviszipline.com before it is too late.
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, 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 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. Crack open a cold drink and sit on the private dock looking out over the full expanse of Lake Travis stretching across the Hill Country in every direction. This view belongs only to the people who took the tour. No walk-ins. No exceptions. It is the most exclusive and most earned outdoor experience in Austin and there is nowhere better to spend a Memorial Day afternoon in Texas.
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: 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: Memorial Day Weekend is the single most popular weekend of the entire year at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. Slots sell out weeks in advance every year. Do not wait. Book right now at laketraviszipline.com.
Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures for Memorial Day Weekend right now.
Thursday, May 21 — Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee
Kick off the long weekend early Thursday evening. 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 at 8:30 PM. The concession stand serves movie-style popcorn, pretzels, candy, and specialty drinks inspired by the evening’s film. A pop-up bar from Quince Lakehouse runs throughout the evening.
The Details
- When: Thursday May 21, 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 single week before the film starts. Book now at lakeaustincalm.com. Free deck RSVPs also fill up fast.
Friday through Monday — Hot Luck Live Food and Music Festival
Hot Luck Live Food and Music Festival returns on Memorial Day Weekend to honor the soul, sweat, and DIY culture of the food and music world. The festival is an eat-with-your-fingers picnic and party experience that highlights open-pit feats of culinary know-how and music as thoughtfully created as the food on your plate. Visit Austin
Created by James Beard Award-winning pitmaster Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, Hot Luck takes over multiple iconic Austin venues for all four days of Memorial Day Weekend. Chef-driven food events, live music across multiple genres, and the kind of communal energy that feels completely authentic to Austin make it the best festival happening in the city this weekend. Check hotluckfest.com for the 2026 lineup and ticket options.
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 before Memorial Day Weekend arrives. Buy it now at hotluckfest.com.
Friday, May 22 — Touch the Art Experience Grand Opening at ART Gallery at Canopy
Almost Real Things’ 4th annual Touch the Art Experience transforms the gallery into a fully immersive all-senses installation featuring work from 83 artists, including collaborating students from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The Grand Opening on Friday kicks things off with live music, themed drinks, and interactive sound sculptures. Texas Outside
Come back any day of the run to explore tactile installations, discover artwork for sale, and experience what it feels like when art truly includes everyone. This is one of the most genuinely unique art experiences in Austin right now. An immersive installation where touching everything is not just allowed but the entire point — it is a refreshing antidote to the standard hands-off gallery experience and one of the most worthwhile Friday evening openings of the month. Texas Outside
The Details
- When: Grand Opening Friday May 22. Runs through July 5, 2026
- Where: ART Gallery at Canopy, 916 Springdale Rd, Bldg 2 #101, Austin TX 78702
- Cost: From $20
- Best For: Art lovers, families, anyone who wants something genuinely different on a Friday evening
Friday through Sunday — Much Ado About Nothing at Zilker Hillside Theater (FREE)
Enjoy a charming outdoor performance of Much Ado About Nothing at Zilker Hillside Theater as part of Shakespeare in the Park under the Texas night sky. Texas Outside
Austin Shakespeare will transport Much Ado About Nothing to 1950s Italy, drawing on the cinematic world of Fellini with sun-drenched piazzas, effortless style, and lively music woven throughout. Watch as sharp-tongued Beatrice and sworn bachelor Benedick spar their way through love denial while the romance around them lurches toward chaos. Bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and settle in for a night of wit and warmth. Texas Outside
It is completely free and runs through May 24. This is one of the most purely Austin outdoor experiences available on any weekend of the year — Shakespeare under the stars at Zilker Park on a warm May evening with a picnic and a blanket.
The Details
- When: Friday May 22 through Sunday May 24, 2026
- Where: Zilker Hillside Theater, 2206 William Barton Dr, Austin TX 78746
- Cost: Free, donations welcome
- Website: austinshakespeare.org
- Best For: Families, date nights, couples, anyone who wants a magical free outdoor Austin evening
Pro Tip: Arrive early to claim a good spot on the hillside. Bring a blanket, a picnic basket, and a bottle of wine. It is one of those Austin evenings that feels impossibly perfect.
Friday through Sunday — Blue Genie Art Bazaar May Market (FREE)
The sixth annual May Market by Blue Genie Art Bazaar brings together nearly 200 regional artists and artisans under one roof in a free family-friendly event. Browse handcrafted gifts perfect for any occasion and enjoy hands-on fun with DIY card printing every Saturday. Texas Outside
The market runs every weekend in May including this entire Memorial Day Weekend run. It is one of the best free Austin shopping experiences of the whole month and a perfect Saturday morning activity before the afternoon lake adventure.
The Details
- When: Friday May 22 through Sunday May 24, 10 AM to 8 PM on Fridays through Sundays
- Where: Blue Genie Art Bazaar, 6100 Airport Blvd Ste C, Austin TX 78752
- Cost: Free
- Website: bluegenieartbazaar.com
- Best For: Shoppers, art lovers, families, a free and vibrant weekend morning activity
Saturday and Sunday, May 23 to 24 — Here Be Monsters Indie Classical Festival at RADIO/EAST
Returning for a 4th year, Here Be Monsters is a two-day exploration of Austin’s most celebrated indie-classical artists and creators — all on one lineup. Experience an engaging fast-moving program of 27 acts, 20 minutes each, and 10 world premieres over 2 nights at one of Austin’s most popular and comfortable live music venues, RADIO/EAST. Named one of KMFA’s Top 12 Events of 2023 and 2024, enjoy food, drinks, coffee, music, and friends. Lost with Lydia
Here Be Monsters is one of those Austin events that genuinely surprises people who have never heard of it. Twenty-seven acts, 20 minutes each, two nights, 10 world premieres. The format rewards wandering and discovery. You will hear music you have never heard before and leave with a completely different understanding of what Austin’s classical and indie classical scene is capable of.
The Details
- When: Saturday May 23 and Sunday May 24, 5 PM to 12:30 AM
- Where: RADIO/EAST, Austin TX
- Cost: Check hbmaustin.com for ticket information
- Best For: Music lovers, anyone who wants to discover Austin’s indie classical scene
Saturday, May 23 — Sketch Night at Meanwhile Brewing (FREE)
Bring your sketchbooks, charcoal, or digital tablets to a relaxed creative social hour hosted by local art collectives. Sip on a Rotating Draft beer or cold brew from the bar while sharing techniques and collaborating on quick-sketch prompts with fellow illustrators. Texas Outside
The Details
- When: Saturday May 23, 7 PM to 9 PM
- Where: Meanwhile Brewing Co., 3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin TX 78744
- Cost: Free
- Best For: Artists, creatives, anyone who wants a relaxed and social Saturday evening activity
Saturday, May 23 — Live Puppet Performance at Festival Beach Food Forest (FREE)
Gather outside at the Festival Beach food forest for an entertaining live puppet performance explicitly designed for youth ages 12 and under. Explore a wide variety of books available for all age groups while enjoying the open-air seating. Texas Outside
The Details
- When: Saturday May 23, 11 AM to 12:30 PM
- Where: Festival Beach Food Forest, Festival Beach, Austin TX
- Cost: Free
- Best For: Families with young children, a perfect free Saturday morning activity
Friday through Sunday — Dripping Springs Rodeo
Spend Memorial Day Weekend at the Dripping Springs Rodeo with three nights of barrel racing, bronc riding, and family-friendly fun. Grab dinner, cheer from the stands, and enjoy a classic Texas rodeo atmosphere under the lights. GetYourGuide
Dripping Springs is about 30 minutes west of Austin and the rodeo is one of the most genuinely Texan Memorial Day Weekend experiences within easy reach of the city. Barrel racing, bronc riding, bull riding, and the whole atmosphere of a classic Texas rodeo under the lights is an experience that visitors and locals alike consistently say surprised them with how much fun it was.
The Details
- When: Friday May 22 through Sunday May 24, 2026
- Where: Dripping Springs Ranch Park, 1042 Event Center Dr, Dripping Springs TX 78620
- Cost: From $13.54
- Best For: Families, Texas culture enthusiasts, anyone who wants the most authentically Texan Memorial Day experience near Austin
Sunday, May 24 — Barton Fest at Omni Barton Creek Resort (FREE)
Spend Memorial Day Weekend soaking up live music, local flavors, and Hill Country views at Barton Fest. Browse artisan vendors, grab bites from Omni Barton Creek’s restaurants, sip drinks from Texas breweries and wineries, and enjoy an evening filled with music and outdoor fun. GetYourGuide
The Details
- When: Sunday May 24, 5 PM to 8 PM
- Where: Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa, 8212 Barton Club Dr, Austin TX 78735
- Cost: Free admission. Food and beverage tasting tickets available for purchase
- Best For: Families, couples, anyone who wants a beautiful Hill Country outdoor evening experience
Paramount Summer Classic Film Series — Opening Weekend
The Paramount Summer Classic Film Series opens this weekend for its legendary annual run through September 7. The Paramount Theatre on Congress Avenue is one of the most beautiful historic theaters in Texas and seeing a classic film on the big screen in this 1915 venue is one of the most distinctly Austin summer experiences available. Check austintheatre.org for the opening weekend film lineup and ticket information.
The Details
- When: Opens this weekend, runs through September 7, 2026
- Where: Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave, Austin TX 78701
- Website: austintheatre.org
- Best For: Film lovers, couples, anyone who wants a classic indoor Austin summer experience
Monday, May 25 — CapTex Triathlon on Lady Bird Lake — Memorial Day
Dive into Memorial Day Weekend with a triathlon that takes you through some of Austin’s most iconic spots. Swim in Lady Bird Lake, bike through downtown with views of the Texas Capitol, and finish strong with a run through Butler Park before celebrating at the finish line party. GetYourGuide
Even if you are not racing, the course runs through public spaces and the finish line festival at Auditorium Shores is completely free for spectators. Watching elite triathletes race through downtown Austin on Memorial Day Monday morning is a genuinely exciting and completely free event.
The Details
- When: Monday May 25, 2026
- Where: Lady Bird Lake and Downtown Austin, finish line at Auditorium Shores
- Registration: by.supertri.com/austin-triathlon
- Best For: Competitors of all levels, free spectating, families who want a memorable Memorial Day morning activity
Monday, May 25 — Lago Vista Memorial Day Ceremony (FREE)
Gather with the Lago Vista community for a morning of remembrance and tribute honoring fallen service members. The ceremony includes a wreath presentation, a mayor’s proclamation, and a respectful US Flag Retirement Ceremony. GetYourGuide
The Details
- When: Monday May 25, 9 AM to 11 AM
- Where: Lago Vista Veterans Memorial Park, Dawn Dr, Lago Vista TX 78645
- Cost: Free
- Best For: Anyone who wants to honor the true meaning of Memorial Day with the Lake Travis community
All Weekend — The Austin Essentials
Hundreds of concert-goers flock to Zilker Park from May through August to partake in one of Austin’s most beloved traditions: Blues on the Green. It is a free concert series that pops up during the summer months. Food and drinks are available or you can pack your own. Bring a blanket or two and find a nice spot for the night. Check austintexas.gov for this weekend’s Blues on the Green schedule. Travel Tourister
Barton Springs Pool stays at 68 degrees year round. May weather makes a Memorial Day morning swim here feel like the most Austin thing possible. Entry is under $10 and free before 8 AM.
The Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony emerges at sunset every evening through October. After a full day on Lake Travis, watching 1.5 million bats fly over Lady Bird Lake at dusk is completely free and always spectacular.
The Perfect Austin Memorial Day Weekend Itinerary — May 22 to 25
Here is how to put the full long weekend together.
Thursday Evening: Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee. Book your paddleboard or donut boat at lakeaustincalm.com before they sell out.
Friday: Touch the Art Experience Grand Opening at ART Gallery at Canopy from $20. Hot Luck Festival opening night events. Much Ado About Nothing at Zilker Hillside Theater after dark — free.
Saturday Morning: Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. The most important booking of the weekend. Lock it in now at laketraviszipline.com. Be back by midday.
Saturday Afternoon: Blue Genie Art Bazaar May Market (free). Then Live Puppet Performance at Festival Beach Food Forest for families (free).
Saturday Evening: Here Be Monsters at RADIO/EAST from 5 PM. Then Hot Luck Festival evening food events.
Sunday: Barton Springs Pool morning swim. Afternoon at Barton Fest at Omni Barton Creek from 5 PM (free). Evening: Here Be Monsters night two at RADIO/EAST.
Monday — Memorial Day: CapTex Triathlon spectating along Lady Bird Lake in the morning. Lago Vista Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 AM for a meaningful start to the day. Hot Luck Festival final day events. Blues on the Green at Zilker Park to close out the best Memorial Day Weekend in Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions — Things to Do in Austin This Weekend
What is happening in Austin this weekend May 22 to 25 2026?
This Memorial Day Weekend in Austin includes Lake Travis Zipline Adventures for the best outdoor experience of the weekend, the Hot Luck Live Food and Music Festival all four days, Here Be Monsters indie classical festival at RADIO/EAST on Saturday and Sunday, the Touch the Art Experience grand opening on Friday, Much Ado About Nothing free outdoor Shakespeare at Zilker Hillside Theater, the Blue Genie Art Bazaar May Market all weekend (free), Barton Fest at Omni Barton Creek on Sunday, the Dripping Springs Rodeo Friday through Sunday, Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee on Thursday, and the CapTex Triathlon on Monday.
What is the best thing to do in Austin this Memorial Day Weekend?
The best thing to do in Austin this Memorial Day Weekend is Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. Your group boards a boat to a private island on Lake Travis and spends 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 crack open a cold drink on the dock and enjoy the best lake view in Texas. Tickets start at $88 per person. Book now at laketraviszipline.com before Memorial Day Weekend sells out completely.
What is Hot Luck Festival in Austin?
Hot Luck is a live food and music festival that returns on Memorial Day Weekend to honor the soul, sweat, and DIY culture of the food and music world. It is an eat-with-your-fingers picnic and party experience that highlights open-pit feats of culinary know-how and music as thoughtfully created as the food on your plate. Created by James Beard Award-winning pitmaster Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, it takes over multiple iconic Austin venues all four days. Tickets at hotluckfest.com. Visit Austin
What is Here Be Monsters in Austin?
Here Be Monsters is a two-day exploration of Austin’s most celebrated indie-classical artists and creators returning for its 4th year. It features 27 acts, 20 minutes each, and 10 world premieres over 2 nights at RADIO/EAST, named one of KMFA’s Top 12 Events of 2023 and 2024. The festival runs Saturday May 23 and Sunday May 24 from 5 PM to 12:30 AM. Check hbmaustin.com for tickets. Lost with Lydia
Is Much Ado About Nothing still running this weekend?
Yes. Austin Shakespeare’s free outdoor production of Much Ado About Nothing runs Friday May 22 through Sunday May 24 at Zilker Hillside Theater. It is completely free with donations welcome. Bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and settle in for a night of wit and warmth under the stars. Texas Outside
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. Water rentals sell out every week so book now at lakeaustincalm.com.
Make the Most of Your Austin Memorial Day Weekend
Austin delivers on Memorial Day Weekend like no other city in Texas. The lake is perfect. The events are genuinely great. The free outdoor experiences are some of the best the city produces all year. And the single best experience of the entire long weekend is waiting for you on Lake Travis.
Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures right now at laketraviszipline.com before Memorial Day Weekend fills up completely. Then RSVP for Movies on the Lake at lakeaustincalm.com for Thursday night and get your Hot Luck pass at hotluckfest.com before it sells out.
For more Austin inspiration check out our guides to the Best Things to Do in Austin TX, Best Things to Do for Memorial Day Weekend in Austin, and Best Things to Do on Lake Travis.