Labor Day Weekend is here and Austin is celebrating the end of summer in genuinely spectacular fashion. Bat Fest returns to the Congress Avenue Bridge on Saturday September 5 for the biggest bat colony celebration of the entire year, right as the colony reaches its annual peak numbers before the fall migration south. The Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of the Americas runs Friday through Sunday with the FIA World Endurance Championship’s only North American race. The UT Longhorns open their SEC home schedule at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. The Empanada Fest packs Leander on Sunday. The Railcar Revival music festival takes over the Buda Amphitheater and City Park on Saturday. And Lake Travis is delivering one of the last truly great summer afternoons of the year before fall changes the rhythm of the city. Here is everything worth doing from Friday through Monday.
Quick Answer — Best Things to Do in Austin This Weekend September 5 to 7 2026
This Labor Day Weekend in Austin is headlined by Lake Travis Zipline Adventures for the best outdoor experience of the weekend, Bat Fest at the Congress Avenue Bridge on Saturday September 5, the Lone Star Le Mans FIA World Endurance Championship at Circuit of the Americas Friday through Sunday, UT Longhorns opening their SEC home schedule at DKR Stadium, the Railcar Revival music festival at Buda Amphitheater and City Park on Saturday, Empanada Fest in Leander on Sunday September 6, the Paramount Summer Classic Film Series final weekend at the State Theater, Barton Springs Pool for the last great summer swim of the year, Hill Country winery tours to Vista Brewing and William Chris Vineyards, and the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony at peak annual numbers every evening. Here is the complete breakdown.
#1 Best Thing to Do in Austin This Labor Day Weekend — Lake Travis Zipline Adventures
Before Bat Fest and the Lone Star Le Mans and the Longhorns opener. Book this first.
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the single best thing to do in Austin this Labor Day Weekend and the most genuinely memorable way to spend one of the last great summer afternoons on Lake Travis before fall takes over.
As someone who has guided zipline tours on Lake Travis, I can tell you that early September on Zip Island is genuinely special. The lake is still warm and clear from the full summer. The afternoon light begins carrying the first hints of fall gold. And the view from 22 stories above the water looking out across the Hill Country horizon on a clear September afternoon is one of the most beautiful versions of this experience the entire 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 Bat Fest in the evening.
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: Labor Day Weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the entire late summer season on Lake Travis. Afternoon slots fill up well in advance. Book your afternoon tour now at laketraviszipline.com before your preferred date sells out.
Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures for the best Labor Day Weekend activity in Austin.
Friday September 4 through Sunday September 6 — Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of the Americas
The Lone Star Le Mans at COTA is the only North American race on the FIA World Endurance Championship calendar and one of the most genuinely thrilling motorsport events Austin produces all year. LMP prototype and GT class cars run day and night sessions across three days in one of the most technically impressive racing formats in the world. The multi-class format means something is always happening on track simultaneously and the COTA layout delivers some of the most exciting wheel-to-wheel racing of any circuit on the WEC calendar.
For motorsport fans this is a genuinely extraordinary Labor Day Weekend option that is significantly easier to attend than the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in October. Tickets are more accessible, the crowds are smaller, and the racing is genuinely world-class.
The Details
- When: Friday September 4 through Sunday September 6, 2026
- Where: Circuit of the Americas, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd, Austin TX 78617
- Website: circuitoftheamericas.com
- Best For: Motorsport fans, families, anyone who wants a genuinely extraordinary racing experience at a fraction of the F1 crowd size
Saturday, September 5 — Bat Fest at the Congress Avenue Bridge
Bat Fest is the single most uniquely Austin event of the entire Labor Day Weekend calendar and one of my favorite nights of the entire year in this city. Having lived here 30 years, I still look forward to Bat Fest every September the way I look forward to almost nothing else on the calendar.
Here is why it matters this weekend specifically. The Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony reaches its absolute peak annual numbers in early September just before the fall migration south begins. Bat Fest falls right at this annual peak, which means the 1.5 million bats that emerge from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset on September 5 are at the most spectacular scale of the entire year. Live music from local Austin bands, food vendors from across the city, family-friendly activities along the bridge, and 1.5 million bats taking flight over Lady Bird Lake at sunset all happening simultaneously is genuinely as Keep Austin Weird as the city ever gets.
The Details
- When: Saturday September 5, 2026
- Where: Congress Avenue Bridge, downtown Austin
- Website: batfest.us
- Cost: Check batfest.us for 2026 ticket details
- Best For: Families, music lovers, first-time Austin visitors, anyone who wants the most uniquely Austin Labor Day evening
Pro Tip: Combine Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in the afternoon with Bat Fest in the evening for the most complete and most genuinely extraordinary Austin Saturday of the entire Labor Day Weekend. Book your afternoon zipline slot at laketraviszipline.com and be back in Austin by 7 PM for a good Bat Fest viewing spot.
Saturday, September 5 — UT Longhorns Home Opener at DKR Stadium
The Longhorns open their SEC home schedule this weekend and a Labor Day Saturday home opener at DKR is one of the most genuinely electric college football experiences available anywhere in Texas. For the first year ever the Longhorns compete in the Southeastern Conference, making every home game this season carry more weight than any previous season in recent memory. The tailgate culture on the UT campus before kickoff, the sea of burnt orange filling the stadium, and the roar of 100,000 fans make it an experience that defines what Austin in September actually feels like.
The Details
- When: Saturday September 5 or Sunday September 6, 2026, confirm at texassports.com
- Where: Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, UT Austin campus
- Tickets: texassports.com
- Best For: Football fans, UT alumni, anyone who wants the most authentically Austin Labor Day sports experience
Saturday, September 5 — Railcar Revival at Buda Amphitheater and City Park
The Railcar Revival music festival in Buda, just 20 minutes south of Austin, is the most intimate and most community-rooted music festival option of the entire Labor Day Weekend. The outdoor amphitheater and city park setting in Buda’s charming downtown gives it a completely different character from Austin’s larger festivals — more relaxed, more neighborhood-rooted, and with a lineup that rewards music fans who are willing to venture slightly outside the city for something genuinely different.
The Details
- When: Saturday September 5, 2026
- Where: Buda Amphitheater and City Park, Buda TX, about 20 minutes south of Austin
- Best For: Music lovers, anyone who wants a more intimate festival alternative to the larger Austin Labor Day events
Sunday, September 6 — Empanada Fest in Leander
Empanada Fest in Leander on Sunday September 6 is the most delicious and most community-rooted free afternoon event of the entire Labor Day Weekend. Local vendors, food makers, and community members gather for a celebration of one of the most universally beloved foods in Latin American cuisine. It is a perfect Sunday afternoon activity for families and food lovers before the final push of the long weekend.
The Details
- When: Sunday September 6, 2026
- Where: Leander TX, about 30 to 35 minutes from downtown Austin
- Best For: Food lovers, families, a genuinely fun and community-rooted Labor Day Sunday
All Weekend — Paramount Summer Classic Film Series Final Weekend
The Paramount Summer Classic Film Series closes its 2026 run this weekend on September 7. This is the final chance to catch a classic film on the big screen at the State Theater before the series wraps for the year. While the historic Paramount Theatre remains closed for renovations through Spring 2027, the State Theater right next door has delivered the same beloved movie palace atmosphere all summer. Check austintheatre.org for the final weekend film schedule and showtimes.
The Details
- When: Through Monday September 7, 2026
- Where: State Theater, 719 Congress Ave, Austin TX 78701
- Website: austintheatre.org
- Best For: Film lovers, couples, a cool and comfortable Labor Day afternoon activity
All Weekend — Hill Country Winery and Brewery Day Trips
Labor Day Weekend is one of the best times of the entire year for a Hill Country wine or brewery day trip from Austin. The summer crowds thin slightly, the weather begins its gradual improvement, and the Hill Country landscape at the very end of summer has a golden quality that makes winery grounds genuinely beautiful. Vista Brewing in Driftwood offers a wide selection of craft beers alongside live music in its large backyard. C.L. Butaud uses 100 percent Texas grapes for its tasting room wines. William Chris Vineyards near Hye has highly-awarded wines and gorgeous grounds to explore.
The Details
- Vista Brewing: 13551 TX-290, Driftwood TX 78619, about 30 minutes from Austin
- C.L. Butaud: Austin TX, check clbutaud.com for current tasting room hours
- William Chris Vineyards: 10352 US-290, Hye TX 78635, about 1 hour from Austin
- Best For: Wine and beer-loving couples and groups, a genuinely beautiful Labor Day day trip
All Weekend — The Austin Essentials
After 30 years in Austin, these are the experiences I still recommend at the end of every summer without hesitation.
Barton Springs Pool stays at 68 degrees year round. Labor Day Weekend makes a midday swim here the most essential and most celebratory Austin activity of the entire holiday. Free before 8 AM and under $10 the rest of the day. Go early and beat the crowd. This is genuinely one of the last great summer Barton Springs weekends of the year.
The Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony is at its absolute annual peak numbers right now. Every evening of Labor Day Weekend the emergence is extraordinary. Check batrefuge.org for nightly emergence times. Saturday evening at Bat Fest is the most spectacular single bat emergence of the entire year.
Sisters Sno Shack at 8012 Mesa Dr is the best snow cone stop in Austin for beating the September heat. Open Saturday noon to 8 PM and Sunday 1 to 6 PM. A post-lake shaved ice on Labor Day Weekend is the perfect way to close out the summer season in Austin.
The Perfect Austin Labor Day Weekend
Here is how to build the ideal Labor Day long weekend in Austin.
Friday: Lone Star Le Mans at COTA for the most accessible and most genuinely exciting motorsport event of the weekend. Barton Springs Pool for a midday swim. Hill Country winery tour in the late afternoon.
Saturday: Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in the afternoon. Book your afternoon slot now at laketraviszipline.com. Then Sisters Sno Shack post-lake. Then Bat Fest at the Congress Avenue Bridge in the evening for the most uniquely Austin Labor Day night of the year. UT Longhorns at DKR Stadium if the schedule aligns.
Sunday: Empanada Fest in Leander for a delicious and community-rooted afternoon. Lone Star Le Mans final day at COTA. Congress Avenue Bridge bats at sunset for a genuinely extraordinary free Labor Day Sunday evening.
Monday — Labor Day: Paramount Summer Classic Film Series final day at the State Theater. Barton Springs Pool for a final summer swim. Congress Avenue Bridge bats at sunset to close out summer 2026 in genuinely Austin fashion.
Frequently Asked Questions — Things to Do in Austin This Weekend
What is happening in Austin this Labor Day Weekend September 5 to 7 2026?
This Labor Day Weekend in Austin features Bat Fest at the Congress Avenue Bridge on September 5, the Lone Star Le Mans FIA World Endurance Championship at Circuit of the Americas September 4 to 6, the Railcar Revival music festival at Buda Amphitheater on September 5, and Empanada Fest in Leander on September 6. The UT Longhorns open their SEC home schedule at DKR Stadium, the Paramount Summer Classic Film Series runs its final weekend at the State Theater, Hill Country wineries including Vista Brewing and William Chris Vineyards are open for Labor Day Weekend tastings, and the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony is at its absolute annual peak numbers. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the best outdoor activity of the weekend.
What is the best thing to do in Austin this Labor Day Weekend?
The best thing to do in Austin this Labor Day 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 Bat Fest in Austin?
Bat Fest is an annual celebration of Austin’s Mexican free-tailed bat colony beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge, featuring local food stands, family-friendly activities, and live music. It runs September 5, 2026 and falls right at the colony’s absolute annual peak numbers just before the fall migration south begins. It is the most uniquely Austin Labor Day event in the entire city. Check batfest.us for 2026 ticket details.
What is the Lone Star Le Mans at COTA?
The Lone Star Le Mans is the FIA World Endurance Championship’s only North American race, featuring the world’s most extreme endurance cars racing at Circuit of the Americas September 4 to 6, 2026. LMP prototypes and GT class cars compete across multiple sessions over three days in a racing format that is genuinely exciting from start to finish. It is significantly easier to attend than the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in October with smaller crowds and more accessible tickets.
Is Lake Travis still warm for Labor Day Weekend?
Yes. Lake Travis stays warm and excellent for swimming through Labor Day Weekend and well into October. Early September on Lake Travis is genuinely one of the most enjoyable times of the entire year to be on the water and at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. Book your afternoon slot now at laketraviszipline.com.
End Summer Right in Austin
Labor Day Weekend is Austin’s send-off to summer and this city does send-offs well. Bat Fest is the most uniquely Austin event of the entire year. The Lone Star Le Mans at COTA is world-class racing without the October F1 crowds. The Longhorns open their most consequential season in decades. The Empanada Fest in Leander brings the whole community together on Sunday. And Lake Travis is still delivering the most beautiful outdoor afternoons of the year.
Start your Labor Day Weekend with the best outdoor experience the city offers. Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures now at laketraviszipline.com and lock in your afternoon slot before Labor Day Weekend sells out.
For more Austin inspiration check out our guides to the Best Things to Do in Austin for Labor Day Weekend 2026, Best Things to Do in Austin TX, and Best Things to Do on Lake Travis.