Week of October 13th

October Figure Drawing Session @ 'The Mansion'

7pm - 10pm @ The Mansion (TFWC) - $15

Practice your art skills in the historic home of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs during this self-guided nude figure drawing workshop. Capture a mix of quick gestures and one long pose while surrounded by architectural history. Open to artists 18+ or 16+ with a parent; drawing boards and easels available but limited.

VIDEO JUKEBOX (OPEN MIC RIFFING)

7pm - 8:45pm @ Alamo Drafthouse Village - $5

Master Pancake's comedy crew kicks off the night riffing on music videos, then you grab the mic and take your shot at glory. The audience votes on the best riff, and the winner gets to wear the official XFL (jukeboX For Life) jersey and join the Pancake crew at the next show. Submit your video picks to John on social media for priority.

Arena at the VFW

6:30pm - 9:30pm @ VFW - First week free

Learn practical mixed weapons combat at this high-energy martial arts class that takes a no-nonsense approach to fighting with actual weapons. Arena Weapon Arts offers open classes where you can get fit while mastering the art of armed combat—first week is free to see if you've got what it takes.

Halloween Town Craft Night

6:30pm - 8pm @ Wheatsville Co-Op (South Lamar) - $20

Create your own queer version of Halloweentown while watching the beloved film at this LGBTQ+ crafting event. Each participant decorates two wooden houses (one with an incense chimney), plus gets three spooky characters, mini pumpkins, and other festive goodies to take home. Grab snacks from Wheatsville while you craft—donations appreciated as this is a 501C3 event, and financial assistance is available if needed.

Backyard Chickens 101: A Practical Guide to Raising Chickens in Austin

6:45pm - 7:45pm @ Austin Public Library Terrazas Branch, FREE!

Ready to start your backyard chicken empire? Join board-certified health coach and seasoned chicken mom Michelle Hernandez for this free intro to urban hen keeping. Learn about picking breeds, building predator-proof coops, navigating Austin's chicken laws, and caring for your feathered friends year-round. Perfect for anyone curious about clucking their way into sustainable living.

The Mariposa Twist: An Original Puppet Show

7pm @ a Hyde Park residence - $20 suggested donation

Experience an intimate puppet theater journey through transformation in this limited six-night run original production. Set in a historic Hyde Park home, this quirky show presents a series of imaginative vignettes exploring change through unusual characters and creative storytelling. Only showing October 13, 14, 19, 20, 26, and 27—catch this unique theatrical experience before it vanishes.

Ghost Story Open Mic

7pm - 11:55pm @ the Tiny Minotaur Tavern - $5

Gather 'round the campfire for spine-tingling tales under the stars—whether they're real or pure imagination, this spooky storytelling night wants them all. Keep your creepy stories to about 5 minutes and on the fun side of scary, or just kick back with a drink and let the chills wash over you. Free for Tavern Members; everyone else pays just $5 to join the atmospheric storytelling circle after sundown.

Conscious Intimacy Games

6pm - 9pm @ Casa De Luz - $33

Created by former MMA fighter turned intimacy coach Ricky Goodall, these aren't your typical cuddle parties—they're "martial arts for your relationships," using structured talk and touch-based games to forge genuine connections without awkwardness. Only 20 spots available for this powerful session that participants say beats years of therapy, helping leaders and professionals tackle loneliness through deeper human connection. Doors close at 6:30pm sharp, so arrive at 5:55pm to ensure entry.

Secondhand Strut - A Thrift Fashion Show Competition

6pm - 8pm @ IREP Resale Austin, FREE! for spectators

Grab your squad and transform thrift store treasures into runway-ready looks in this live fashion showdown where teams shop the racks, style outfits for themed categories, and compete for prizes while supporting ATX KIDS CLUB. Spectators can RSVP for free and snag a special gift at check-in, plus check out Edgewater Candles ATX next door hosting their Signature Scent Showdown Finals with $1,000 in cash and prizes. This is sustainable fashion meets competitive fun with a charitable twist.

Clown Night! with Marceline Amaris

8pm - 9pm @ Fallout Theater - $15 online

Drawing inspiration from LA's underground clown and improv scene, this monthly showcase blurs the line between genius and goofiness with zany physical comedy, bizarre character bits, and wild audience shenanigans. Each show features a fresh crew of talented clowns and daring improvisers ready to make you laugh, cringe, and cheer in ways you never expected—no two Clown Nights are alike, making it 100% unpredictably fun. Grab your tickets and enjoy the newly opened Fallout Theater bar (sorry, no BYOB).

80's Karaoke at Volstead Lounge - hosted by Fen

9pm - 1am @ Hotel Vegas & The Volstead Lounge, FREE!

Channel your inner Madonna or Cyndi Lauper at this totally rad 80's themed karaoke night featuring big hair vibes, boombox energy, and all the synth-pop your heart desires. FenKaraoke brings the party with free entry and the chance to rock out to the greatest decade in music history.

(SPF 1000) Vampire Sunscreen Live Podcast Taping

5pm - 8:30pm @ The Vortex - Free

Experience a live podcast taping with Laurie Gallardo at one of Austin's most eclectic theater spaces. This free event promises an unconventional evening of storytelling and conversation—though details are mysterious, The Vortex always delivers something memorably strange and wonderfully Austin.

Bellydance Class & Community Dinner

6:30pm - 9pm @ The Arabic Bazaar & Zein's School of Bellydance

Learn the art of bellydance with pro instructor Zein Al-Jundi from 6:30-7:30pm (ladies only), then enjoy exclusive shopping with 15% off before the main event: a BYOB community dinner at 8pm featuring off-menu Lebanese dishes from Beirut food truck. Tickets are $25 for class, $20 for dinner, or $40 for both—a perfect evening to connect with SWANA culture lovers. Yalla!

Luminosity: Black Light Yoga Experience

7:30pm - 9:30pm @ Art Hub ATX

Step into the glow with this immersive yoga experience featuring deep organic house music by Donavin Velez. Arrive early to get creative with neon body paint before flowing through a full hour of yoga under black lights with ambient beats. Stick around after class to connect, dance, and explore the unique artwork that makes this South Austin space so special.

Like A Virgin - First Time Pole & Aerial Performances

8pm @ Long Center for the Performing Arts - Rollins Studio Theatre

Watch brand-new pole and aerial performers make their sultry stage debuts with daring drops, spins, and just the right amount of cheeky charm at this provocative showcase. These bold performers are primed to steal the spotlight with electric energy and serious fire—because everyone talks about their first time. Get on the guest list for an unforgettable night of athletic artistry meets seductive entertainment.

Cold Cuts & Cannonballs: Turkey and The Wolf Pool Party

11am @ Hotel Van Zandt, $45

New Orleans' beloved sandwich shop Turkey and The Wolf takes over Hotel Van Zandt's pool for an F1 Weekend taste extravaganza. Join this poolside celebration combining NOLA's best sandwich game with Austin's party vibe—think gourmet cold cuts, craft cocktails, and cannonballs into the hotel pool while the racing action unfolds nearby.

Chrome Nights X Beardbrand Trunk or Treat

6pm-9pm @ Beardbrand, 1000 E 51st St

The 6th official lowrider & classics car meet gets a Halloween twist with FREE ENTRY Trunk or Treat featuring custom cars, candy, and community vibes. Check out immaculate lowriders with hydraulics, grab treats from creatively decorated trunks, and experience Austin's car culture meeting family-friendly Halloween fun—it's chrome, candy, and culture all in one spot.

Polyester in Odorama + Cecil B. Demented With John Waters LIVE

7pm @ Paramount Theatre

Experience cinema history with legendary filmmaker John Waters presenting not one but two cult classics in person. Polyester screens in full Odorama glory (yes, scratch-n-sniff cards included), followed by the 25th anniversary of Cecil B. Demented. Doors at 7pm, Polyester at 8pm, Cecil B. Demented at 10:30pm with a quick intermission between—grab a double feature ticket or just catch one film.

Tech Roast Show: Roast of Austin

7:30pm @ ZACH Theatre, $51.82

Renegade comedians brutally roast terrified Austin techies on stage in a live show that reminds you: you're not useless, just inefficient and very replaceable. In these days of powerful generative AI models, come find hope, purpose, and community in buying tickets to watch fellow humans get destroyed. Doors at 6:30pm, roasting begins at 7:30pm sharp.

33rd Annual Show & Sale

11am - 5pm @ Blue Genie, FREE (through Sunday)

Celebrate 33 years of Art From the Streets with 1,000+ original artworks from Austin's homeless and at-risk artists, all available for purchase with 95% of sales going directly to the creators. Meet the artists, browse work across all genres and budgets, and enjoy free parking while supporting a program that empowers through creative expression. This weekend showcase runs Saturday, October 18th and Sunday, October 19th.

Goblintown! Summon Your Inner Goblin

12pm - 11pm @ The Tiny Minotaur Tavern, FREE!

Transform into your truest goblin self at this all-day celebration of goblin culture. The daytime Goblin Market (noon-5pm) welcomes all ages with goblin face-painting, ear-making workshops by Nimrod Wildfire DeVile, storytelling, and a Lil' Goblin costume contest. After dark (21+), enter the immersive Goblin Night Market where the Goblin Wizard helps you discover your secret goblin name at the Gobbelin Summoning Circle, complete with live music from Thee Hobo Gobbelins and tarot readings.

11th Annual Dog Beard & Moustache Competition

2pm @ The Little Darlin', FREE!

The Austin Facial Hair Club teams up with The Little Darlin' for the most gloriously absurd fundraiser of the fall. Watch dogs compete for the most magnificent beard and moustache (yes, really) while raising funds for local animal charities. Don't have a dog? Come for the spectacle anyway—this is peak Austin weird, and the party welcomes everyone who appreciates the finer things in canine facial hair.

Jurassic Parque

7pm - 10pm @ Sky Candy - $20+

Cirque du Soleil meets prehistoric chaos in this adults-only aerial spectacular that's equal parts dramatic, extravagant, and utterly confusing—in the best way possible. Watch as skilled performers bring a "soaring, out-of-this-world spin" to the '90s classic through jaw-dropping pole dancing, aerial acts, and theatrical mayhem. VIP tables include custom dessert boxes and exclusive gift bags, or snag standing room tickets and prepare for the unexpected.

Coven Academy: All-Femme Monster School

8pm @ Secret Beach

Enrollment is open at this all-femme gothic academia party where you'll meet your fellow students, power up for spooky season, and live your dark academic fantasies. Expect an immersive experience with radical femme joy, killer parties, epic dance battles with pros, and super fun activities to bond with your new classmates. Spots are limited and sell out fast, so don't sleep on getting your spooky semester started.

Austin Vampire Ball: Théâtre des Vampires

9:30pm - 2am @ Elysium, $28.52

Step into the darkness at this elegant vampyre ball where gothic glamour meets after-hours debauchery. Dust off your finest Victorian garb or sleekest vampire couture for a night of dancing, theater, and immortal intrigue. This isn't your average costume party—expect atmospheric performances, dark romance, and a crowd that takes their bloodsucker aesthetic very seriously.

Romantasy Trivia Train: A Vintage Train Ride of Romance and Whimsy

1pm - 5pm (doors 1pm) @ Austin Steam Train - $55, 21+

Board a vintage locomotive for 44 miles of romantasy trivia spanning five rounds on the scenic Bertram Flyer route. Your ticket includes a retro lounge car seat, complimentary snacks, free coffee and tea, and the chance to compete for prizes while crossing the stunning 300-foot South San Gabriel trestle bridge in classic 1930s-50s railcars.

The School-tastic Book Fair for Grown-Ups

2pm - 8pm @ Baker School, 3908 Avenue B, $12

Relive that elementary school book fair high with Austin's independent booksellers, prizes for star readers sponsored by The Austin Chronicle, raffles benefiting AISD, book-themed flash tattoos from Serenity Tattoo Studio, and nostalgic treats from food trucks. Browse while 80s & 90s jams from DJ Bert and DJ Dana Scully transport you back to Scholastic glory days.

Wag-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest

5pm @ 4323 South Congress Avenue, FREE!

Dress your dog in their most ridiculous Halloween getup for prizes, free Wag Bags for all pups, and a free duckpin bowling card for the humans who wrestled their furry kids into costumes. Top 3 dressed-up dogs win prizes at this South Congress spectacle that's equal parts adorable and chaotic.

Whose Slide Is It Anyway?

6pm - 7pm @ Fallout Theater - $12+

Comedy meets chaos when local comedians create hilariously absurd PowerPoint presentations on topics like alien dating tips or surviving bear attacks with optimism—then present someone else's slides with zero prep. Expect wild improvisations about the hidden history of spoons and other ridiculous "facts" from performers way more confident than they should be.