If you’ve got some flexibility when you go to Austin for that next business meeting or if you’re wondering when to jet to that cool Texas city known for its music and weirdness, consider going during one of the city’s famous festivals. Austin, the capital and college town everyone wants to visit, live or do business, has annual festivals to suit all tastes. Here’s a look at some of the biggest ones.
Austin City Limits Music Festival
When: Over two weekends in October (Oct. 7-9 and 14-16, 2022)
Where: Zilker Park
Austin City Limits Music Festival features a diverse lineup of more than 100 performances on eight stages over its two-weekend run. Take a break from your business meeting or gift a client a ticket to a show. You won’t go hungry there. Sample local tacos, brews and other festival food at the ACL Eats Food Court. Most of the area’s favorite restaurants will have a booth there.
SXSW (South by Southwest)
When: 10 days of music, film and conferences in March
Where: Main venue is Austin Convention Center
Half a million professionals and fans from all over the world fly into Austin every March to attend SXSW, a festival-conference event that showcases music and comedy acts, film screenings, exhibits, professional development sessions and tons of opportunities to network.
FlyUSA can arrange a private charter jet to get you to the prestigious event that was started to give the global community of creative people to get together to trade cutting-edge ideas, discover new interests and network with other progressive artists. The Film and Music Festivals that accompany the conferences provide a unique opportunity to explore the worlds of tech, film, music and comedy.
Pecan Street Festival
When: Spring Pecan Fest in May; Fall Pecan Fest in September
Where: Sixth Street District
The Pecan Street Festival is a free two-day arts festival held twice a year, the first Saturday and Sunday in May and the last Saturday and Sunday in September. The juried festival, which attracts hundreds of local and national artisans, has original and handcrafted creations in clay, glass, leather, metal, wood fiber, stone and other repurposed materials.
If you want to enter the competition, FlyUSA can arrange a private charter jet to get you to the Pecan Street (Sixth Street’s original name) Festival. Or, if you are in Austin on business, perhaps you can plan a meeting near the festival and shop for art, listen to music or grab a bite to eat. If you can’t make it to the Pecan Street Festival, you should still check out the Sixth Street-Red River entertainment district that is packed with all sorts of restaurants and shops.
Rodeo Austin
When: Two weeks in March
Where: Travis County Expo Center
Rodeo Austin is a festival with a thrilling lineup of ProRodeo events, livestock shows, daily concerts and carnival attractions. Rodeo Austin, which started in 1938 as a stock show with 16 animals, is now one of Austin’s most famous events. Rodeo Austin’s mission is “to nurture the next generation while providing gritty fun and entertainment.”
If you’re looking for some rodeo fun, FlyUSA can arrange a private charter jet to Austin for the annual festival or any time because events go on throughout the year.
Austin Trail of Lights
When: The two weeks before Christmas
Where: Zilker Park
For more than 50 years, the Austin Trail of Lights has taken over Zilker Park for two weeks over the holidays. From 7-10 p.m. every night, the park lit is lit with more than two million lights on more than 65 displays. The magical atmosphere settles over the entire park which has dozens of food trucks, three stages of live music and many interactive experiences.
If you are in Austin over the holidays, you’ll get to see the latest attraction at the Trail of Lights, a dozen 7-foot lighted guitars that pay tribute to Austin’s musical roots. Sound too great to pass up? FlyUSA can arrange a private charter jet to get you to Austin in those weeks before Christmas.
Austin Symphony July 4th Concert and Fireworks
When: July 4
Where: Vic Mathias Auditorium Shores
Just about anytime you are in Austin, you can hear the renowned Austin Symphony Orchestra perform but nothing is like the performance it gives every 4th of July. More than 100,000 people come to hear the symphony and see the fireworks every year. If you can schedule your business trip or vacation in Austin around July 4, FlyUSA can arrange a private charter jet to get you to Austin’s largest 4th of July celebration. It’s breathtaking.
Vic Mathias Auditorium Shores, formerly known as Town Lake Metropolitan Park, has been a popular destination for residents and visitors alike for decades, thanks to the views of Lady Bird Lake and its central location in the heart of Austin.
Formula 1 Grand Prix
When: October
Where: Circuit of the Americas
The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix is not just a race, it’s called North America’s Premier Sports and Entertainment Festival. Austin is home to one of only two Formula 1 Grand Prix racing events. The other is in Miami. (Las Vegas will be added to the lineup in 2023.) More than 400,000 come to the Circuit of The Americas, a world-class motorsports and entertainment complex, for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.
If you want to be among the cheering race fans, FlyUSA can arrange a private charter jet to get you there in style.
And, if in Austin on business, perhaps you can grab some dinner nearby and take in a show with business associates at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater on the grounds of the Circuit of the Americas. The largest permanent outdoor amphitheater in Central Texas, and its 251-foot signature observation tower, has hosted some of the biggest names in music and entertainment.
Austin Reggae Festival
When: April
Where: Vic Mathias Auditorium Shores
The Austin Reggae Festival is held over three days in downtown Austin. There are many top names in reggae music, food and fun at the Reggae Festival. Proceeds benefit the Central Texas Food Bank in its mission to feed thousands of hungry families in Travis County and the surrounding area.
Moontower Just for Laughs Austin
When: Two weeks in April
Where: Scattered downtown
This comedy festival has so many shows that everyone who likes to laugh will find one of their favorites among the star-studded lineup of performers. Depending on how long you are in Austin, you can see one show or dozens. There are more than 100 shows in more than 10 walkable venues over 10 days. In addition to scheduled stars, there are surprise guests, podcasts and many parties in intimate settings for elite private charter jet travelers. If you like comedy, you can let FlyUSA arrange your business trip so you and your guests can see one of your favorites or find a new one.
In 2022, Moontower Comedy combined forces with world-renowned Just For Laughs and grew from four days to 12 days of nonstop comedy.
Austin Pride Celebration
When: August
Where: All over the city
After two Covid-cancelled years, the annual pride celebration is back in 2022 with even more than the usual crowd of 400,000 expected to attend. It’s a draw for the worldwide LGBTQ community. If business or pleasure brings you to Austin in August, FlyUSA can arrange a private charter jet into Austin so you don’t miss the famous parade and festival with many outstanding performances, rides and attractions. Join in or just watch the festivities.
Austin Film Festival
When: Weeklong event in October
Where: Various locations (shuttles available)
The annual Film Festival and Writers Conference that has been held since 1994 is the largest screenwriters’ conference in the world, featuring over 200 panelists and panels that, along with film and television, now also explore storytelling mediums such as plays, podcasts and digital series.
If business or pleasure brings you to Austin in October, it is a bucket-list event not to be missed. FlyUSA can arrange a private charter jet to make sure you don’t miss any events. However, the Austin Film Festival’s mission of furthering the art and craft of storytelling by inspiring and championing the work of writers, filmmakers and all storytellers isn’t limited to the festival. There is a slate of programs all year long.
