Summer is coming to an end and that means only a few more weeks to get out and enjoy all the great events in Austin this August. There’s something for everyone to enjoy before it’s time to send the kids back to school. From Blues on the Green to Bat Fest to Austin Pride Festival and Parade, be sure to get out and enjoy all this fair city has to offer.

Events in Austin this August

5^thAnnual Austin Duck Derby
When: Now through August 5^th, 2018
Where: Congress Avenue Bridge
Austin, TX

The Austin Duck Derby is a rubber duck race benefiting the Austin Boys and Girls Club Foundation.

We also host a family friendly festival on the lawn just south of the Congress Avenue Bridge for friends to flock together to celebrate and watch the event live. In 2017, more than 17,000 ducks “raced” on Lady Bird Lake and the fastest ducks won fantastic prizes for their ducks’ adoptive parents. This year for our 5th annual event, we are going to have 20,000 ducks available for adoption — they sold out last year so be sure to buy yours quack-ly to not miss out!

Zilker Summer Musical 2018
When: Now through August 18^th, 2018
Where: Zilker Hillside Theatre
2201 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX

This summer, ZTP journeys back to the 1950’s — the era of the first Zilker Summer Musical — with the Elvis-inspired All Shook Up! 

And it wouldn’t be a true Elvis-style party without some blue suede shoes. See below how you can join in on the celebration at the Blue Suede Shoes Picnic & Preview Party on The Hillside!

About the show: All Shook Up, set in 1950’s Middle America, is a new twist on on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. The ZTP Team can’t wait to share this toe-tapping, hip-shaking musical comedy – featuring 24 Elvis hits – as well as lots of laughs, love songs and leather jackets.

Blues on the Green
When: August 8^th, 2018
Where: Zilker Metropolitan Park
2100 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX

Austin’s favorite summer tradition is back. 93.3 KGSR’s Blues on the Green invites music lovers out to Zilker Park to enjoy a family and pet friendly night of homegrown music in a relaxed atmosphere. Grab your family, friends, dogs, and blankets, and join us for Austin’s largest FREE concert series.

Austin Pride Festival and Parade
When: August 11^th, 2018
Where: Fiesta Gardens
2101 Jesse E Segovia Street
Austin, TX

The Austin PRIDE Festival and Parade will take over Austin on August 11th at Fiesta Gardens. With over 400,000 attending in 2017, this year will be even BIGGER! You have come to expect amazing entertainment from Austin PRIDE and this year will be no exception!

2018 Literary Libations Celebration
When: August 12^th– 15^th, 2018
Where: Various Austin Locations

It’s almost time for our annual Literary Libations celebration! This year we’re partnering with Austin Film Society, American Short Fiction, and Chicon Street Poets to bring Austin booklovers three art and culture events around the city the week of August 12 in support of Lit Crawl Austin. Lit Crawl Austin takes place during the Festival Weekend, on the evening of Saturday, October 27, bringing together readers and Festival authors for a night of drinks, games, music, art and of course, books! Join us for one or all three events in August to get a taste of what is coming for Lit Crawl Austin and get excited for the Festival Weekend!

Bat Fest
When: August 18^th, 2018
Where: Congress Avenue Bridge
100 S Congress Avenue
Austin, TX

What will you see at Bat Fest this year? 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerging from under the bridge at dusk, 2 stages with live music, more than 50 arts & crafts vendors, delicious food and drinks, fun children’s activities, a bat costume contest and other bat activities.

Quesoff
When: August 25^th, 2018
Where: The Mohawk
912 Red River
Austin, TX

Quesoff, a celebration of all things melted cheese, will take place at The Mohawk (912 Red River) on Saturday, August 25th. Around thirty vendors of all shapes and sizes – restaurants, top chefs, home-cooks, neighbors, brothers, sisters will all go head to head in four categories – Meaty, Spicy, Veggie and Wild Card. A Best in Show will also be awarded to the overall top queso dish as decided by the esteemed panel of judges. The event takes place from 1pm to 3:30pm

Judges will be announced later this summer and normally include food critics and local celebs in town. Over the years, the variety of queso on offer has been nothing short of extraordinary, from queso ice cream to tandoori queso to duck mezcal queso and we hope to see even more originals this year.

Right now, we’re opening up the call for entries. I’d love for you to spread the word to your audience. To truly make this queso magic happen, I’d love to cast this net far and wide and get all types of contestants. Anyone can enter and there is no fee. Folks can email queso@mohawkaustin.com to sign up and include which category they’d like to participate in. Entries in multiple categories are allowed as well.

Quesoff is honored to benefit the Central Texas Food Bank – entry will be free with a donation of two canned goods or a $2 donation per person. Learn more about their mission here.

Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
When: August 26^th, 2018
Where: Fiesta Gardens
2100 Jesse E Segovia Street
Austin, TX

What began as a small hot sauce contest in 1990 has grown into the largest competition of its kind and one of Austin’s largest and best-known annual food events, drawing as many as 10,000 spectators and over 350 entries each year.

Hundreds of gallons of hot sauce are consumed and beverages are on hand to cool off the overheated. In addition to the hot sauce competition, this truly Austin food event features tastings from local restaurants, sauces for sale, cookbooks, peppers and more, and of course live music! Past performers include Joe “King” Carrasco, A. Sinclair, Dale Watson, Money Chicha, Crooks, Shinyribs, Alesia Lani, Superfónicos, and more.

Serving as a major fundraiser for the Central Texas Food Bank, the Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival raised over 61,000 meals in 2017 alone and has raised 819,000 meals in its 27 year history.

Out of Bounds Comedy Festival
When: August 28^th– September 3^rd, 2018
Where: Various locations on Austin
Austin, TX

The Out of Bounds Comedy Festival is a 7-day, multi-venue festival of all things comedy. Our lineup features hundreds of the world’s best in improv, sketch, and stand-up acts over Labor Day Weekend [August 28-Sept 3, 2018] in sunny Austin, TX.

Capital City Black Film Festival
When: August 30^th– September 2^nd, 2018
Where: Austin Convention Center
Austin, TX

This intimate festival celebrates the beautiful storytelling and unique, and yet still universal, perspective of talented African Americans filmmakers.

CCBFF includes year-round events and opportunities to experience the brilliant works of black artists and filmmakers from across the globe.