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Last week I attended a panel called "The People and Places Keeping Austin Weird” by Future Forum. (Obviously, I had to be there.) The room at the stately LBJ Library was packed with people who've spent decades building the stuff the rest of us take for granted as the cosmic weird background noise of Austin. Listening to them talk about how and why they do what they do was heartwarming and illuminating.
Les was the standout, who's been running Eeyore's Birthday since 1979. He started volunteering at 22 and is turning 70 this year. Eeyore's has been the same size since 1983: no sponsors, no music festival ambitions, 1,400 volunteers, and still free! He framed Eeyore’s as "political recess”; it’s a day where you use the public land you actually own, alongside lawyers and lawn-care workers laying on blankets next to each other. It was the best articulation of why public space matters I've heard in a long time. He highlighted that the events that actually build community here are the ones where nobody paid to get in and nobody's checking what neighborhood you came from, or what party you’re voting for. In addition, they got the city to cosponsor it last year, which means the net proceeds now go back to other small Austin nonprofits.
Another speaker, J (from the Mosaic Workshop: if you haven't seen the Mosaic Legacy portraits up on the 6th floor of the Central Library, go) talked about being a "creator, not a consumer." He was direct about what he sees as a major issue: people moving to Austin because it's a cool city, but then not participating enough in the culture by buying art at markets, paying covers and getting drinks at venues, or paying for organized events. He also talked about deliberately working in the public realm instead of galleries because he'd rather 100,000 people see his work on their commute than have it locked inside a museum.
At the end there were questions, and a young lady asked the elders: “what can we do to keep Austin weird?” The resounding answer is that we all have to get out there more often; purchasing and enjoying the city is great, but make a point of thinking, what can I do? How can I bring the weird? Austin’s weirdness is a thing real people make, in physical spaces, often for free, usually for years before anyone notices.
Les’ answer: “go out and volunteer for something. It's a better return on your time than working for a buck."
May the Fourth be with you! we’ve got some really fun Cinco de Mayo options (1000 FREE Tacos), PUNS! and Austin Psych Fest in its 18th year. It’s got an amazing lineup, including a 13th Floor Elevators reunion: the Austin band that basically invested psychedelic rock in 1965. Saturday also looks downright mythical, awash in Black Fae Day celebrations; and we’ve got several magical events on Sunday to take Mom to.
As is now the new format, don’t forget to click in to the web version of the email to see the full event list.
Monday, May 4th
Fashion is Art: Met Gala Livestream
5:00 – 9:00 PM @ RAIN on 4th
Texas Health Action's Bloom program hosts a community Met Gala viewing party that doubles as a designer showcase celebrating queer and POC artistry, sexual wellness, and fashion as resistance. Catty commentary, creative looks, and a cause worth supporting.
Lil' Easy 2nd Birthday Celebration
4:00 PM @ Lil' Easy Fine Cajun Food & Bar, FREE!
Lil' Easy turns two today and they're going full send: happy hour all day, jello shots flowing, a debut cocktail (Herbsaint Frappé), $1 off the Frozen Birthday Cake Espresso Martini, and a crawfish boil starting at 4pm. Come early, come hungry, celebrate a local spot that's earned it.
May the 4th Be With You: 6th Street's Gnarliest Taco Competition
7:00 PM @ 219 E 6th St, FREE!
Bars from across Austin battle each other in the city's most chaotic Star Wars Day tradition: a taco competition on 6th Street where the real force is hot sauce and competitive pride. No badge required, no spoilers necessary.
To Screen or Not to Screen: Kiss Me, Kate (1953)
Sundown @ Sekrit Theater — $5 / $10 per family
Austin's most unique outdoor cinema teams up with The Baron's Men, a Shakespeare rep company that just lost its longtime venue, for a screening of the 1953 musical adaptation of Taming of the Shrew, with cast members arriving in full Elizabethan costume to introduce the film. It's a teen-run film club (AFC founder Hudson Purma is 15) raising money for a good cause. All proceeds benefit the Baron's Men Relocation Fund.
May the Fourth Be Two Steppin'
6:00 – 10:00 PM @ Cherrywood Center, $5
Five dollars gets you a two-step lesson and live music from Sylvan River Band and Steve Clarke and the Sweethearts at Cherrywood Center. May the 4th has never been more boots-and-Jedi than this.
More interesting events on Monday @ WhatsGoodATX!
Tuesday, May 5th
Cinco de Mayo Extravaganza at Hotel Vegas
3:00PM–2:00AM @ Hotel Vegas, FREE!
Eleven hours of free Cinco de Mayo madness across three stages: El Tule plays live on the hotel patio, Latin Dukes take Hotel Vegas, and Primos on the Patio DJs (ulovei, Prissy P, Pelon, Vintage Jay) keep the party moving from afternoon into the night. There's also a mariachi band, paletas, a piñata, happy hour 3–5PM, and crucially, free tacos with a featured drink purchase. East 6th's most reliable all-day party.
Shrinking with Friends: AITA Live
7:00PM–9:00PM @ Fast Friends Beer Co, FREE!
"Am I The Asshole?" goes live and therapeutic: real licensed therapists field real audience dilemmas, debate them in real time, and render verdicts in front of a crowd. It's the unholy love child of Reddit, group therapy, and a roast, and it sounds absolutely unhinged in the best way. Check the Facebook event for ticket details and bring your most unresolvable personal conflicts.
1,000 FREE Suadero Tacos at Blue Owl Brewing
3:00PM @ Blue Owl Brewing, FREE!
Super Chilango is launching their Blue Owl residency with a thousand-taco drop: suadero on fresh Nixtamal corn tortillas with house-made salsas, paired with Blue Owl's $3 ¡Limetastico! sour Mexican lager (salt & lime, obviously) and a one-day-only return of their Austin Hard Seltzer Mexican Martini. Once those thousand tacos are gone, they're gone — arrive early and arrive hungry.
May One Page Salon
7:30PM – 9:30PM @ Radio Coffee & Beer, FREE!
The Writers' League of Texas's monthly reading series, once called "the best literary evening in town" by the Austin American-Statesman, takes over Radio Coffee's outdoor patio for another night of short-form literary readings. Reverie Books will be on-site selling the readers' latest titles, and there are food trucks for grazing. RSVP or learn more through the Writers' League; this one's free and genuinely delightful.
Bartender Karaoke at Firehouse Lounge
9:00PM–12:00AM @ Firehouse Lounge, ½ off a featured cocktail
Firehouse is reviving their beloved bartender karaoke format, this time hosted by Gideon Swords from Saturn Cocktail Club next door. Bartenders are "highly encouraged" to attend, everyone else is welcome, and they're sweetening the deal with half off a featured cocktail all night. It's chaotic, it's fun, it's Tuesday; just show up at 9.
More interesting events on Tuesday @ WhatsGoodATX!
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Wednesday, May 6th
Friends Fair Austin: Launch Party
6:00–9:00 PM @ The Contemporary Austin (Jones Center), FREE!
The second annual Friends Fair, an art fair happening at The Loren Hotel May 8–9 kicks off with an intimate launch reception at The Contemporary Austin, curated by Jane Hervey in partnership with Future Front Texas. RSVP through Future Front; a good way to get a head start on the weekend's art scene.
Thought Experiments on Patios #2
6:30pm - 8pm @ Cosmic Pickle, FREE!
Skip the small talk and dive into something deeper at this philosophy-meets-patio meetup hosted by Nicole. Groups rotate through three rounds of discussion sparked by short philosophical scenarios: no expertise required, just curiosity. Stick around after for open-ended conversation with your new friends at Cosmic Pickle.
Belles & Chimes Austin
7:00 PM @ Bender Bar & Grill, $3 Entry fee
Austin's pinball league for women and non-binary players holds group matchplay league night: all skill levels welcome, from first-time flipper to competitive regular. The combination of dive bar energy and actual competitive pinball brackets is deeply Austin. Check the Facebook event for entry details.
Buzzkill at The Buzz Mill
9:00 PM @ The Buzz Mill, FREE!
Since 2013, this weekly stand-up comedy show at the 24-hour Buzz Mill has been one of Austin's most reliable free laughs. Rotating comics, coffee or whiskey at your preference, and the particular energy of a crowd that showed up on purpose on a Wednesday. The Facebook event confirms this week's lineup.
Make & Take: Asian Dumplings at Central Market
6:00–9:00 PM @ Central Market Cooking School, $89.63
Hands-on dumpling class where you actually make and take home what you cook! Central Market's cooking school is a proper kitchen classroom, not a demonstration. Worth noting that a lunch demo version of an Asian meal is also running at noon for $38 if you'd rather watch first.
Quiet Reading Night at the Tiny Minotaur Tavern
7:00 PM @ The Tiny Minotaur Tavern , $5
A medieval-themed tavern where you bring a book and they try not to disturb you. Bookwyrms Reading Guild applications accepted at the door, costumes purely optional, free library on-site if you forgot yours. One of Austin's more charming recurring concepts.
Mortal Kombat Tournament
7:00 PM @ Pinballz Kingdom, Free RSVP
Timed perfectly to Mortal Kombat II hitting theaters May 8th, Pinballz Kingdom is running a full bracket-style MK tournament with rounds progressing through MK2, Ultimate MK3, and MK4 — before the final round goes back to a classic arcade cabinet. Costumes encouraged, prizes awarded, RSVP free at Pinballz to secure your spot. FINISH THEM.
Aces for Adventure Charity Poker Tournament
6:00 PM @ The Austin Club, $199
All-inclusive charity poker night benefiting Explore Austin, a free six-year outdoor mentorship program for youth at the poverty line: celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The $199 ticket covers unlimited drinks, food, and your tournament buy-in, plus networking with Austin's real estate and tech crowd.
More interesting events on Wednesday @ WhatsGoodATX!
Thursday, May 7th
Much Ado About Nothing: Opening Night
8:00PM @ Zilker Hillside Theater, FREE!
Austin Shakespeare opens its run of Much Ado About Nothing tonight, re-imagined in 1950s Fellini-esque Italy, complete with live music, piazzas, and the eternal spectacle of Beatrice and Benedick loudly insisting they do not want to fall in love. Free outdoor Shakespeare under the stars; bring a blanket, pack a picnic, watch two people be spectacularly wrong about their own feelings for two hours.
ACOTAR Bedazzle Happy Hour
5:00PM – 7:00PM @ 2907 E 12th St - $29
The Young Ladies Book Club hosts a bedazzling night built around A Court of Thorns and Roses; wine, pizza, crafting, and a bonus Switzerland trip info session woven in for anyone whose fantasy involves both fae courts and Alpine scenery. It's chaotic and specific and completely sincere, which is the Austin trifecta.
Austin Psych Fest Kickoff: Frankie & the Witch Fingers, Farmer's Wife, Monsterwatch
6:00PM (doors) @ Mohawk
It's APF eve, and the festival opens its arms with the L.A. psych veterans Frankie and the Witch Fingers, whose live shows are described as "bacchanal proportions" powered by "flowery-poppy horror." Grab your ticket through Levitation and arrive early enough to catch local openers Farmer's Wife and Monsterwatch — this is essentially the unofficial start of Austin's biggest psychedelic weekend of the year.
ORO NOIR Cabaret Night
7:30PM – 9:30PM @ Richesart
An Afro-Latin cabaret blending burlesque, mesmerizing movement, and a room full of people who came dressed for a ceremony. Tickets are $39 on Eventbrite for what promises to be one of the more seductive and culturally rich evenings on 6th Street tonight — bold and electric in a sea of Thursday night sameness.
OUT OF INK 2026: Astronomical
8:00PM – 10:00PM @ 511 W 43rd St, $15+ (through Saturday)
ScriptWorks' annual night of brand-new short plays — written, rehearsed, and performed all in the same day — orbits this year around forgotten dreams, historical faces, and the mysteries of the cosmos. It's the purest form of theatrical spontaneity Austin does, and this year's "Astronomical" theme makes for a wild framework for whatever the writers conjure under the gun.
Bozal Mezcal Spirit Society at Seven Grand Austin
4:00PM – 6:00PM @ Seven Grand Austin, 405 E 7th St - $20
An educational tasting of the Bozal Mezcal lineup hosted by the brand owner of Maguey Spirits — the person who actually makes the stuff, not a rep reading off a card: A two-hour deep dive that'll ruin well mezcal for you in the best possible way.
Sketchy Thursdays
7:00PM – 10:00PM @ Something Cool Studios, FREE!
Weekly free art meetup led by Austin street artist Warclass, created specifically to give young artists a platform and a room. The Facebook event keeps it simple: show up, make something, belong somewhere. No gatekeeping, no cover, no pretension — just a working studio open to whoever needs it on a Thursday night.
Arkansauce & Texas String Assembly
7:00PM @ Radio/East, $18.49
Ozark Mountains newgrass meets Austin's own Texas String Assembly in what should be an excellent string-heavy night on the East Side. Arkansauce's improvisational banjo-mandolin-bass-guitar interplay is the kind of thing that converts skeptics, and Texas String Assembly has 200+ shows of momentum behind them heading into their second album.
Find more fun stuff on Thursday @ WhatsGoodATX!
Friday, May 8th
Siete Foods Backyard Asada at Distribution Hall
5:00PM–9:00PM @ Distribution Hall, $40
The Austin-born tortilla chip empire throws its annual community carne asada with a murderers' row of local talent: Curry Boys BBQ, Naco, and Teddy's Barbecue on the grill, plus live music from Bidi Bidi Banda and Mariachi Chicana, a DJ set by DJ Zetroc, and kids' crafts from Thinkery. Register at the Siete site. The full ticket price goes to El Buen Samaritano food access programs, so you're eating well and doing good at the same time.
Mom's Night Out Crochet Workshop at Slackers Brewing
5:30PM – 8:30PM @ Slackers Brewing Co., FREE!
A Mother's Day weekend send-off for moms who'd rather drink a beer and learn to crochet than do literally anything else tonight. No experience required, just good vibes, yarn, and a willingness to unwind. Literally. Free and open to all.
LOVE BALM: Queer Speed Dating Fundraiser for QueerBomb
6:00PM–9:00PM @ Cheer Up Charlies - $20
QueerBomb — Austin's scrappy, community-run alternative to Pride — is raising funds with a queer speed dating event at the beloved Cheer Up Charlies. It's $20, it's for a good cause, and you might just meet someone interesting. Follow @queerbombaustin on Instagram for tickets and details.
BreathHype
7:00PM – 9:00PM @ Flow Yoga Westgate - $25.09
Breathwork synchronized to killer beats — this session promises to build rhythm and flow from the inside out, whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned breathwork nerd. Friday night decompression with a pulse.
Noche de Salsa with Austin Latin All Stars: Mother's Day Edition
6:30PM @ Esquina Tango - $20 early bird online (until 5PM day-of)
The Austin Latin All Stars throw a special Mother's Day edition of their Friday salsa night at Esquina Tango: early bird tickets are $20 online before 5PM, so plan ahead. Live salsa in a real dance space is one of Austin's most underrated Friday options.
DJ Love Nite: All Vinyl Italo Disco
10:00PM @ Tweedy's Bar, FREE!
All vinyl. All Italo Disco. Free. Late. This is the one for people who know what Italo Disco actually is and have been waiting all week for exactly this. No further pitch needed.
More amazingness on Friday @ WhatsGoodATX !
Saturday, May 9th
49th Annual O. Henry Museum Pun-Off World Championships
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM @ Brush Square Park (O. Henry Museum), FREE!
For 49 years, punsters have gathered in Austin to do battle in the city's most delightfully unhinged spoken-word competition! This year's installment of the Pun-Off World Championships is the 49th. Two separate contests run throughout the day: Punniest of Show and the head-to-head Punslingers bracket, with live music by Kathleen Turner Overdrive woven in between. Free to attend, and maybe the best proof Austin has that "weird" is a civic tradition, not a marketing slogan.
Carry the Blues: Ruck N Roll!
9:00 AM – 11:45 AM @ Buzz Mill, FREE!
The SIMS Foundation, Buzz Mill, and Squatch Frontier Fitness are hosting Austin's first community music walk for mental health awareness, starting at Buzz Mill on E. Riverside and walking to the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue at Auditorium Shores. Ruck with weight or walk light. Austin Chronicle music writer Raoul Hernandez narrates the city's SRV history along the 2.1-mile route. Back at Buzz Mill afterward: breakfast tacos, vendor village, open jam session, and cold plunges from Squatch.
Woodland Faerie Trail Opening Ceremony
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM @ Zilker Botanical Garden, FREE!
A full morning of ribbon wand crafting, flower crown stations, faerie wish stones, scavenger hunts, live music, and a bubble zone marks the official opening of the Woodland Faerie Trail at Zilker. Dress in magical attire — there's a costume celebration built in. For an extra layer, arrive early to catch the Mushroom Walk: The Magic & Science of Fairy Rings led by the Central TX Mycological Society at 9:30 AM ($20 non-members, $15 members), which feeds directly into the opening ceremony.
IMOLE: A Black Fae Day Celebration
12:00 PM – 6:00 PM @ George Washington Carver Museum, FREE with RSVP
Founded by Jasmine La Fleur, Black Fae Day is a celebration of magic, fairy tales, and folklore across the Black diaspora — and IMOLE brings it to the Carver in full force. Expect a fairy parade, costume contest, craft stations, storytime, tea time, a photobooth, performances by Flow Sunshine Flow and others, and vendors selling everything from tooth gems to handmade armor. Come in costume. This is an Austin Arts Elevate Grant-supported event, which means it's got institutional credibility to go along with its faerie wings.
FRIGHT GALLERY 7: Seven Deadly Sins
5:00 PM – 10:00 PM @ The Historic Baker School, $20
One-night-only dark art pop-up galleries don't come around often — this is only the seventh Fright Gallery in Austin's history, and the theme this time is the Seven Deadly Sins. Over 30 local horror and macabre artists each unveil a brand new piece corresponding to one of the sins, a live art set runs for 30 minutes with all seven working simultaneously, and the whole evening is soundtracked by Black Magic Cyborg and Lost Cat Magnet. frightgalleryatx.com has tickets and details — it sells out.
Fae Fest
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM @ Ani's Day & Night, $14
The very first Fae Fest is an all-day immersive magical market with two stages, 35+ vendors, live performances, roaming "creatures," and general enchanted forest energy from open to close. Deep Breath Organizing's linktree has the full vendor and performer lineup. Costumes are strongly encouraged, and at $14 for a full day, this is one of the better deals on a weird Saturday.
Other cool stuff happening on Saturday @ WhatsGoodATX !
Sunday, May 10th
BE Community Garden Workshop: DIY Wildflower Micro Meadow
9am – 10am @ 1314 E Oltorf Street, FREE!
Get your hands in the dirt making a tiny wildflower meadow as a Mother's Day gift. This free East Side workshop is quick, community-rooted, and results in something you actually made! A rarer gift than the florist alternative.
Whose Slide Is It Anyway: Improvised Lectures. Zero Prep.
6pm–7pm @ 616 Lavaca St — $15.85
Comedians deliver expert-sounding lectures on topics they know absolutely nothing about, armed only with random slides. Catch this improv format that's part TED Talk, part disaster; and somehow always funnier than the real thing.
Chinese Tea Tasting
11am – 12pm @ Flow Yoga Westgate, $19.32
A Gong Fu Cha ceremony done right: slow pours, multiple steeps of premium leaves, and cozy vibes. Reserve your spot for a genuinely meditative ritual that's a world away from dropping a bag in hot water.
Alamo Arcade: Mortal Kombat
2pm – 5pm @ The Highball, $3.31
Three dollars to battle for the fate of Earthrealm. The Highball hosts a Mortal Kombat arcade tournament that is the lowest-stakes Mother's Day plan imaginable — and possibly the most honest.
Mother's Day Cocktail Class: Mother Knows Best
2pm – 4pm @ THE VORTEX, $59.75
Learn the history of women's cocktails while celebrating moms in properly tipsy fashion. This Manor Road class is a great gift alternative to brunch — actually interactive, genuinely educational, and far more fun than a flower arrangement.
Everything's Bigger Cabaret
7pm – 8pm @ The Jackalope South Shore, $12.51
"Depressed and hopeless? Turn off the news and come to Everything's Bigger Cabaret." The pitch writes itself. This variety show on the East Side is exactly the kind of scrappy, community-rooted entertainment that keeps Austin Austin — good people doing weird things for cheap.
More interesting events on Sunday @ WhatsGoodATX!
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