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So, I somehow missed that Austin hit one million people a couple of weeks ago! One million. Census data puts the official count at 1,002,632; which makes us the 12th most populous city in the United States and the fifth largest in Texas, behind Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Fort Worth. We were briefly in the top ten, but Jacksonville and Fort Worth have since passed us, which is very Austin I think, to almost crack a prestigious list and then nonchalantly shrug it off 😂 Mayor Watson marked the occasion by noting that the guy who surveyed the original site back in 1839 probably didn't see this coming! The city demographer, meanwhile, is already talking about what a seven-digit population means for tax revenue, infrastructure, and international economic visibility. One million people… the double comma is here. Buckle up!
If you've been following the Malin situation, the Pease Park Conservancy has announced a public memorial gathering for the evening of June 24th. Residents are already leaving handmade artwork and photos at the site, and you're invited to bring your own. The arson investigation is ongoing, with no answers yet.
The ground-floor storefront at Austin City Hall (formerly Austin Rocks, purveyor of Texas-shaped everything) has been reborn as Akiba Texas, a Tokyo-inspired collectibles shop from the team behind Toy Joy. It opened June 7th. The grand opening featured exclusive merchandise, special giveaways, and a percentage of sales are going to Austin Japanese punk band Peelander-Z (who were sadly in a pretty serious car accident recently). Only in Austin does your city government's gift shop become an anime blind-box emporium!
Texas baseball also had the nation tuning in. The NCAA super regional against Oregon generated some serious buzz as one of the more electric college baseball atmospheres of the year.
On the food front, Austin's barbecue reputation is getting two big moments on national television right now! Food Network's new series Top 10 features an Austin barbecue episode airing June 8, spotlighting what they're calling an "Egyptian cowboy" who "redefines pit mastery with a North African-spiced rack of lamb" (which is pretty obviously Kareem El-Ghayesh of KG BBQ) who has been quietly becoming one of the most talked-about pitmasters in the city by weaving Mediterranean flavors into Central Texas 'cue. Chefs Michael Voltaggio, Andrew Zimmern, and Aarón Sánchez will all be featured in the episode. If you haven't been to KG BBQ yet, consider this your nudge; and maybe watch the episode first so you know exactly what to order. A second Food Network show, BBQ Brawl, is also coming for Austin, with a "Capital City 'Cue" episode inspired by the live music scene airing June 15. Go have some BBQ for lunch to celebrate!
This week is downright mythic, fungal, and jubilantly queer: psychobilly werewolves, a mime seance, an esoteric "wizard," and a live Lord of the Rings symphony; all threaded with deep mushroom-ecology energy and a Pride spirit that takes over everything from karaoke to pro wrestling. Plus, the World Cup is kicking off and a couple of beloved venues throw themselves birthday parties 🎉
Tuesday, Jun 9
Poster Drop! First Look at 100+ Vintage Show Posters
6:00PM–7:00PM @ Antone's Record Shop, FREE!
Get first dibs on 100+ vintage Austin show posters before they hit the internet — pure music-history treasure-hunting. Free, all ages, with complimentary Rambler sparkling water, Drink Weird tea, and Saint Arnold's beer to fuel the hunt. A collector's dream evening.
Dive-In Movies: The Goonies
7:00PM–10:00PM @ Fairmont Austin
Watch the ultimate '80s treasure hunt poolside as the Fairmont's Dive-In Series kicks off summer with The Goonies at twilight. Float, snack on fresh popcorn and nostalgic candy, and soak up a perfect summer-night-out vibe. Hey, you guuuys.
Ticketed Class: Sip & Solder Emojis with Contracommon
6:00PM @ Meanwhile Brewing - $80 ($140 for two)
Learn real stained-glass came construction while choosing between the two most chaotic emoji patterns on offer: the eggplant or the peach. Grab a single ticket for $80 or split the cost with a friend at $140 for two — all tools, glass, and a cold beer-adjacent atmosphere included.
Mushroom Block Rescue: Sign-up to Volunteer
8:00AM @ North Austin (address sent after registration)
The Central Texas Mycological Society wants you to help rescue spent mushroom blocks and transform them into living soil: a delightfully fungal slice of Austin's grassroots ecology scene. Sign up to volunteer and start your day doing something genuinely strange and good.
Bombshell Burlesque with Ruby Joule
6:45PM–8:15PM @ Brass Ovaries Pole Dancing - $30
Learn the art and psychology of the classic tease — this session stars Glamorous Gloves, with Ruby Joule guiding you through over-the-elbow reveals and a short combination. Register for $30 at the body-positive Austin Academy of Burlesque; bring your own gloves or borrow a pair.
Super Smash Bros Tournie
7:00PM @ L’il Woodrows Burnet
Battle it out in a single-elimination Switch showdown where first place takes home an epic prize sponsored by 3rd Level Brewing. Whether you're a frame-perfect pro or just here to button-mash for fun, come show off your skills. Beer, bracket, bragging rights.
More interesting events on Tuesday @ WhatsGoodATX!
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Wednesday, Jun 10
Austin Poetry Slam Pride Open Mic and Haiku Deathmatch
7pm–10pm @ Barrel O’ Fun - $13.54
Fierce verses, rapid-fire haiku duels, and a whole lot of Pride energy collide in this poetic cage match. Bring your sharpest seventeen syllables and throw down here — the deathmatch shows no mercy.
Nekromantix and Voodoo Glow Skulls
6pm @ The Far Out Lounge & Stage, $30
Kim Nekroman's coffin-shaped upright bass leads a night of horror-punk psychobilly, with ska-punk legends Voodoo Glow Skulls bringing the brass. Details and tickets are here — werewolves, vampires, and b-horror muses all welcome.
Coffee Happy Hour by Local Queer
6:30pm @ RSVP To See Location
An alcohol-free, THC-friendly happy hour for local queers who'd rather connect over coffee than cocktails — no structure, just cards, games, and good company. RSVP here to get the secret location and look for the Local Queer Flag.
Stars at Night: The Butts, City Mouse, and more
6pm doors @ Kick Butt Coffee Music & Booze - $10
A stacked all-ages punk bill — The Butts, LA's City Mouse on a rare Austin pass-through, The Capitalist Kids, Girl Dinner, and Danny Despicable. Details here; coffee, booze, and a midweek banger under one roof.
The Spazmatics
8pm–12am @ Speakeasy - $5
The ultimate '80s and '90s tribute band turns Speakeasy into a neon-soaked time machine of synth and shoulder pads. At just five bucks a head, it's the cheapest flashback in town.
More interesting events on Wednesday @ WhatsGoodATX!
Thursday, Jun 11
World Cup Kick Off Day 1 — Mexico vs South Africa Watch Party
1pm @ Hotel Vegas & The Volstead Lounge, FREE!
The greatest tournament on Earth kicks off today, and Hotel Vegas is throwing the kind of party that would make a telenovela jealous. Grab a free taco courtesy of Primos on the Patio, catch Mexico vs South Africa on the Jumbotron with full sound at 2pm, then stick around for a post-match dance party, free flash tattoos, giveaways, and a second match (South Korea vs Czechia at 9pm) — all no cover on the Hotel Vegas patio.
Insomnia Cafe
7:30pm @ The Stage – Sterling Events Center (through Sunday), $25
What happens when TV stops being escapism and becomes identity? Dirty Gold Theatre's Insomnia Cafe follows two obsessive superfans who kidnap a man they've decided is the perfect Chandler Bing — part psychological hostage story, part pop-culture fever dream that slides from uncomfortable laughs into something genuinely unnerving.
Psych Night: Haight Ashbury Medical Clinic, The Harms, Caravan Strange, DJ Yance Man
7pm – 1am @ Sahara Lounge, $10
An evening of live art and full psych immersion: DJ Yance Man opens with a live drawing by Amitai Plasse, Caravan Strange and The Harms (celebrating their animated video release) take the middle slots, and Haight Ashbury Medical Clinic closes it out at 11pm. Ten pairs of 2-for-1 tickets are available, so rope in a friend.
Soft and Hard
10pm – 2am @ Kingdom Austin, $22+ / 18+
Kingdom Nightclub presents a rare no-phones dance event framed as a live art exhibition — Sofia Igari's installation unfolds on the dance floor while Saint Anthony, Luv2Luv, Petrolera, and Wne2uu provide the soundtrack. The premise is tension between what you see and what you feel, and the door policy is: take your pleasure seriously.
Movies on the Lake: Jaws
8pm @ Mozart's Coffee Roasters, FREE with RSVP
Wait — last week's Ferris Bueller listing showed the film as Jaws per the Facebook event, which is the more accurate version of tonight's screening. Either way, Mozart's lakefront transforms into an outdoor cinema every Thursday, with deck seating free and the option to watch from a paddleboard, float tube, or donut boat on Lake Austin. Sunset views, themed concessions, and specialty drinks before the feature. Book water rentals in advance — they sell out.
Soft Hour ATX Pop-Up
12pm – 3pm @ Stargazer, $12
A charm bar pop-up serving a very particular brand of self-care: vendors, tarot readings, tooth gems, and more, plus a one-drink minimum that practically pays for itself. Limited tickets; midday treat-yourself energy.
High-Vibes Happy Hour featuring Saul Ravencraft, Wizard
6:30pm – 7:30pm @ Nature's Treasures Event Center, FREE!
A new monthly series launching at Austin's beloved metaphysical supply store, featuring Saul Ravencraft — who goes by "Wizard" without irony — sharing esoteric wisdom and unique insights for the woo-curious and the committed practitioners alike. Come recalibrate before the night gets weird.
Find more fun stuff on Thursday @ WhatsGoodATX!
Friday, Jun 12
HELP ME!!!! An Interactive Mime Seance
11pm @ Fallout Theater, $15.85
A dead mime is trapped and needs your help: which is your problem now. This late-night interactive seance at Esther's Follies' home base is the most Austin sentence ever written, and at $16 after midnight it's the best bang for your weird buck on the calendar.
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in Concert
7:30pm @ Bass Concert Hall, $41+ 🔥(through Sunday)
Howard Shore's full Academy Award-winning score performed live to the film at Bass Concert Hall — an immersive experience that reframes the entire movie as a symphonic epic. One of the more genuinely transporting ways to spend a Friday night.
Central Texas Juneteenth Parade
10am–12pm @ East 12th St, FREE!
Future Front Texas opens its studio from 10am to noon to celebrate the parade as it winds down Chicon toward East 12th, Austin's African American Cultural Heritage District corridor. Water and Topo Chico provided, chairs to borrow, and no registration required — just show up.
World Cup Kick Off: USA vs Paraguay Watch Party
1:30pm and 8pm @ Hotel Vegas & The Volstead Lounge, FREE!
Two matches on the jumbotron with sound, a Pearl Jam cover band pre-game, a Bad Larry Burger Club pop-up, drink specials, giveaways, and a post-match dance party with Soularreal. Canada vs. Bosnia at 2pm, USA vs. Paraguay at 8pm — Hotel Patio, zero cover.
The Midsommar Market
7pm–11pm @ Buzz Mill, FREE!
A pop-up market owned and operated by artists, curated for vendors with mystical aesthetics and a mandate to bring more whimsy into the world. Every fee goes back into the event itself. Summer solstice season, Buzz Mill patio, local art — this is the one.
The Whole Deck: 52-Year Hole-iversary
Doors 8pm @ Hole in the Wall, FREE!
Hole in the Wall turns 52 and throws itself a proper birthday party: three bands (The Stayres, The Stacks, Quinn Decker & the LLC), Horndogs Hotdogs pop-up, flash tattoos, Miller Lite draft samples, and 52 Rice Krispie Treats for the first 52 people through the door. Plus a raffle. One of Austin's most beloved rooms doing it right.
More amazingness on Friday @ WhatsGoodATX !
Saturday, Jun 13
Just My Luck
1pm - 5pm @ All Good Things Studio, $35
Part day party, part gallery, Vivid Parlor's fourth installment takes over All Good Things Studio for an afternoon of art, dancing, and good vibes. Inside: espresso martinis, Lucky Charms cereal, lounge sofas, and interactive art activities; outside: DJs Joey Lou and Kody Sun, art prints to buy, and a Sweet Grind food truck mini bus.
Full Albums, Really Loud: Paramore
6pm–9pm @ Hole in the Wall, $10
Riot, Brand New Eyes, Paramore, and After Laughter played in full at volume, because Hayley Williams intended it that way — 100% of ticket sales go to Austin Mutual Aid, ATX Artists for Social Impact, and The Other Ones Foundation. Grab a $10 ticket here and come prepared to scream.
Austin Yoga Festival
6am – 1pm @ The Long Center, $15+
Austin's first annual yoga festival takes over the Long Center with a full day of flows, sound baths, live harp and handpan music, a bubble dance party, hammock garden, tarot readings, and more — all for less than a single studio drop-in. Grab your ticket before they're gone; kids under 5 get in free, and a portion of proceeds benefits Save Our Springs.
Austin Monthly's Burger Bash 2026
12:30pm–4pm @ Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park, $55+
Twenty-five Austin burgers — from smashed and smoked to wood-fired — at Waterloo Park, with live music, game zones, photo booths, and french fries to pace yourself. VIP tickets ($55+) get you in an hour early at 11:30am with zero lines and a complimentary Modelo; grab your tickets and come hungry, because the full Banger's-to-Mighty-Fine gauntlet is not for the faint of stomach.
Legend of the Realms: Season 2
8pm–11pm @ Sky Candy, FREE!
Season 2 of Austin's most singular fantasy showcase — centering art and healing in ways that are genuinely hard to categorize and therefore absolutely worth your Saturday night. Snag a free ticket and let it surprise you.
QueerAokee
8pm @ Cheer up Charlie’s, FREE!
Interactive queer karaoke where the crowd controls the vibe — loud, chaotic, and camp as hell, all for free. Reserve your spot at the Red River spot and bring lungs.
Radio's 12th Birthday Party ft. Golden Dawn Arkestra & Club Coma
7pm @ Radio/East - All Ages
Radio Coffee & Beer celebrates twelve years (and Radio East's third) with Austin psych-soul luminaries Golden Dawn Arkestra and special guests Club Coma. Limited $12 advance tickets available here — a birthday party for one of Austin's most beloved spots, with one of its most beloved bands.
Anime Rave: Pride Edition
9pm–2am @ Kick Butt Coffee Music & Booze, $5
Anime rave meets Pride month at Kick Butt Coffee — cosplay contest, giveaways even for non-contestants, and dancing until 2am for five bucks. No advance tickets; show up in costume and collect your giveaway.
Other cool stuff happening on Saturday @ WhatsGoodATX !
Sunday, Jun 14
Jazz Swing Night ft. Rent Party & Vintage Ties
7:00 PM @ The Highball, $11
Two of Austin's finest jazz groups team up for a throwback swing night with a dance lesson before the show — bring your dancing shoes, your best vintage look, and someone to spin around the floor. Eleven bucks, South Lamar, pure joy.
LASR Terra (Day 2)
12pm @ River Forest Haven, Del Valle, $25+
The second day of this 2-day immersive overnight festival unfolds in a forested riverside setting just outside Austin — multiple electronic music stages, live art, tarot readings, face painting, swimming pool, Colorado River access, laser and lighting production, and camping on 30 acres. Early bird tickets are $25 from the underground community collectives that built it from scratch.
Afrobeats Block Party
5:00 PM–11:00 PM @ Riviere, FREE!
A free day party built around the infectious rhythms of Afrobeats, Amapiano, Dancehall, and Afro House — billed as a social reimagining of the party concept for young professionals who want to dance, network, and vibe in a euphoric environment. Grab your spot on Eventbrite and dress the part: trendy and fashionable.
AUSTIN: SporeCorps — Mycoremediation Workshop
10:00 AM–Noon @ East Austin (address after registration), $15
Learn how fungi can literally eat pollution: this community workshop covers the science of mycoremediation, plastic recycling challenges, and how organized volunteer networks are using mushrooms to clean contaminated soil. Register via the Facebook event to get the address — it's hands-on, science-forward, and genuinely weird in the best possible way.
Pride & Punishment — Live Pro Wrestling
Doors 4:00 PM, bell 5:00 PM @ RAIN on 4th, $27.44+
New Texas Pro Wrestling brings the body slams, drama, and spectacle to Austin's beloved queer venue for a Pride-themed card that promises all the theater of wrestling with none of the subtlety. Get your tickets now; this is the kind of collision between camp and carnage that Austin was born for.
Hartman Foundation Concerts in the Park — Austin Symphony
7:30 PM @ Hartman Concert Lawn at the Long Center, FREE!
The Austin Symphony plays a free outdoor concert on the Long Center lawn — bring a picnic, a blanket, and everyone you know. RSVP on Facebook and claim your patch of grass before the after-church crowd does.
More interesting events on Sunday @ WhatsGoodATX!
A huge shoutout to our amazing WhatsWeirdATX supporters: Edgar Barguiarena, hymngnosis, weLuckyFew, Gary, Jess, Dr. Smithersteen von Dubstep, Alesa, Gary, Lily, Olboi, Darien, Anonymouse, Alyssa, Christina J, Nick, Doug Neary, Walker, Lyndsay, Scott B, Jess Rose Clark, Kevin, Crescent Gray, JB, Anthony, Anthony Stokes, Rebekah, Laurie, agnikai, Nick W, Just Jason, Santos, Kat, Britt, Stephanie, LoganJ, Yvette, Connor, Leslie, Praveer, Christina, Emily, tags-09, and /u/runthistownatx!
