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City Cast Austin

Find the best of everything that Austin has to offer. 

Kelsey Bradshaw

Father’s Day is this Sunday and if you’re still trying to figure out how to celebrate the father in your life, we’ve got you covered! Here’s your guide to Father’s Day in Austin this year:

Pitmasters from Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma will compete in a barbecue contest at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, 8212 Barton Club Dr., on Saturday. The competition starts at 5:30 p.m. and includes tastings, drinks, live music, and fireworks. 

, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr., are still available. Bargatze is the perfect comedian for a Father's Day activity — he does plenty of bits about being a dad. Tickets start at just $25 for his 3 p.m. show and $50 for the 7 p.m. show.

 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in its parking lot at 1512 Holly St. The event is free to attend and includes a vendor market and a special sundae made with mango, sticky rice, coconut milk ice cream, and coconut sauce. Yum!

Head over to Little Darlin’ in South Austin, 6507 Circle S Road, on Father’s Day for a showing of pre-1988 hot rod, classic, and custom cars. 

 and includes live music, a vendor market, and is dog-friendly. The fun starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m.

The Little Longhorn Saloon, 5434 Burnet Road, hosts chicken shit bingo every Sunday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Where To Celebrate Father’s Day 2026 in Austin

Austin’s Best

Austin's Best

Juneteenth is right around the corner, y’all! The holiday 

 in 1865 when remaining enslaved people in Galveston were notified that they were free, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

Celebrations for this year’s Juneteenth, which is next Friday, kick off this weekend in the Austin area.

Here’s what you should add to your calendar:

Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park is hosting a 

 that includes a vendor market, DJ sets, food, and more. The fun starts at 5 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m.

Celebrate at the Library’s 100-Year Juneteenth Community Cookout

Austin Public Library is celebrating Juneteenth and the library’s 100th anniversary at the Carver Branch in East Austin on June 14. Head over between noon and 3 p.m. for food, music, dancing, games, crafts and a Dominoes tournament. 

Get Your Steps In at the Annual Juneteenth FunRun

The city’s African American Cultural and Heritage Facility is hosting a fun run at 8:30 a.m. on Juneteenth. The run follows the same route as the parade later that day 

Walk in a Parade and Then Head to a Festival

 starts at 10 a.m. on June 19 at the intersection of East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Leona Street. The route goes south on Chicon Street and ends at Rosewood and Boggy Creek parks. 

 starts in the parks at noon and goes until 9:30 p.m.

The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural, and Genealogy Center is hosting its Juneteenth event 

 The kickback is free to attend and includes barbecue, music, hands-on activations, shopping, and more.

Reflect at the Neill-Cochran House Museum

The Neill-Cochran House Museum is hosting a day of reflection and celebration on June 21 from noon to 4 p.m. 

 and includes barbecue, live music, and tours.

Where To Celebrate Juneteenth 2026 in Austin

It is a thrilling time to be a San Antonio Spurs fan. For the first time since 2014, the team is in the NBA Finals facing the New York Knicks and Austinites are 

a couple games at Austin’s Moody Center

 for the last four seasons, so it feels like we’re part of this, too, OK? Besides, watching 

Right now, the Spurs are down 1-2 against the Knicks and 

In Austin, you’ve got lots of ways to watch the remaining games:

The NBA has been hosting official watch parties throughout the playoffs and so far in the finals. Updated 

 as the finals continue. Tonight, a watch party at Armadillo Den starts at 6 p.m. and includes giveaways and a free photo booth.

All Austin locations of Pluckers Wing Bar have been designated 

. Fans who show up wearing Spurs merch can get five free wings with the purchase of an adult entree.

Bouldin Acres is offering food and drink specials 

, which are held at all three of the restaurant’s locations. Attendees get free Jell-O shots when the Spurs win.

The Lucky Duck in South Austin Has Lots of Room

The Lucky Duck on Lynnbrook Drive off Menchaca Road has a big screen for watching the Spurs from the bar’s 

 that is covered in turf. You can bring your own fold-up lawn chair, too. The bar’s watch party for tonight 

Chalmers has been packed with Spurs fans since the playoffs and the bar even had 

 for the finals. That means you need to show up early if you want to get a good spot to watch the game!

The San Antonio Spurs are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.

Where To Watch the 2026 NBA Finals in Austin

A recent Friday evening inside Austin’s Paramount Theatre downtown felt like being in the Panthers locker room in Dillon, Texas.

Kyle Chandler, who played Eric Taylor on “Friday Night Lights,” brought the room to a quiet halt as he spoke about his experience on the show, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

“It’s hard to describe this show. It was so magical. It really truly was and not just for what the audience sees, but for the actors,” Chandler said. “Going onto a show like this is like going to a masterclass in acting. It’s not Shakespeare and classical, it’s freedom.”

Chandler was with a majority of the show’s cast for a panel at ATX TV Festival. It was a fitting addition to the event’s lineup, said Emily Gibson, a co-founder of the festival. The TV show, which ran 2006-2011, helped launch ATX TV Festival in 2012 with an appearance from Chandler and Connie Britton, his on-screen wife Tami Taylor.


Before Chandler had the floor during this year’s panel, the crowd and the cast on stage had been rowdy. It was a fun and funny discussion. Britton recorded Jesse Plemons from backstage as he revived his character Landry’s high school band Crucifictorious with two songs ahead of the talk. Roars from the audience broke out when Gaius Charles, who played Smash Williams, was introduced on stage. A whole bit about Chandler replacing Billy Bob Thornton, who originally played coach in the movie version of the show, kept everyone laughing throughout the night. Chants of “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” filled the theater more than once.

But when Chandler had the mic, the whoops faded and it felt like we were getting a real life pep talk from Coach Taylor. Even 20 years later, Chandler has a way with the cast and the fans who love them.

“We were lucky because we were doing our thing in Austin, Texas,” Chandler regaled, clad in a pair of cowboy boots.

The show filmed in Texas long before the 

state legislature passed a huge, $1.5 billion incentives

 package for filmmakers to make their movies in Texas. Pflugerville High School served as the show's fictional Panthers Stadium, a Dairy Queen on Manor Road was turned into “Alamo Freeze,” and 

Landry’s band played at The Broken Spoke

While the cast of “Friday Night Lights” only includes a couple of real Texans, the show still holds importance throughout the state. This writer’s dad said, “Oh! You’re seeing Coach?!” when I told him I was headed to the panel. At the afterparty, dozens of attendees made homecoming mums in Panther blue and yellow and donned team baseball caps. 

At one point, Chandler asked the Paramount crowd if anyone was out at the stadiums as extras while the show was being filmed. Hands shot up all over.

“Ya! Thank you,” Chandler yelled back.

20 Years On, ‘Friday Night Lights’ Cast Is Still a Team at ATX TV Festival

 from Fourth Street to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, opens on June 6. The trail includes thousands of new trees and plants, and a way to traverse part of downtown without waiting at traffic stops. The grand opening party is free to attend and starts at 

10 a.m. at 74 Trinity St. at Grandpa’s Lakeview Terrace

Paramount Theatre is hosting a goodbye party as the theater temporarily closes for renovations. On June 15, stop by between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. for a happy hour and a look at the theater’s 1915 hand-painted fire curtain. The party is free to attend, 

! The theater will be closed for 11 months for a 

Hoover’s Cooking ended its table service on May 31 and will officially say goodbye with a retirement party for Chef Hoover Alexander on June 15. Hoova’ Palooza is from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., is free to attend, and includes food and music. Can’t make it? 

The Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees will vote on a final budget plan on June 18. The district is facing a 

 due to low enrollment numbers and a state recapture plan that’s taking money away from the district. A budget plan is 

 as officials have not said what cuts will be made.

Juneteenth celebrates the day in 1865 when remaining enslaved people in Galveston were notified that they were free following the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation two years earlier. This year’s Juneteenth falls on Friday, so you can celebrate all weekend long. The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural, and Genealogy Center is 

Temperatures Are Expected To Stay Near Normal

June 1 marks the start of meteorological summer and 

 the Austin area will stay around normal this month. That means high temperatures in the 90s and lows in the 70s with roughly 3.7 inches of rainfall. Last June was drier than normal, with 

Your Guide to June 2026 in Austin

June is Pride Month across the U.S., and while Austin 

has its own monthlong celebration in August

, we’ve still got plenty to do to celebrate over the next few weeks!

LezFest at Hotel Vegas and Volstead Lounge

Start off Pride Month with a party at Hotel Vegas and Volstead Lounge on June 4. The party is hosted by Scissor Sisters ATX and includes dancing, karaoke, tattoo artists, tooth gems, burlesque, and a dating game show. 

The fun runs 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. and entry starts at $10

Bask in the glory of drag queens Shea Couleé, Diamond Dior Davenport, and The Legendary Mother Lepore at this year’s Majestic Ball at Paramount Theatre on June 6. The show starts at 8 p.m. and includes performance and runway walk competitions, among others. 

Pride Kick-Off Party at Gibson Street Bar

Gibson Street Bar is serving up Pride-themed cocktails, a drag show, and more 

. Stop in between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. for a fun drink, a DJ set, and a performance by local queen Eileen Dover. The party is free to attend.

The Little Gay Shop’s Pride Party at Distribution Hall

Shop your heart out at the Little Gay Shop’s two-day Pride event at Distribution Hall. On June 20 and 21, 

 queer artists, businesses, organizations. The event is free to attend and runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

‘Embodied: Celebrating 55 Years of ATX Pride’ at KMFA

Did you know it has been 55 years since Austin’s first Pride march? Celebrate that 

 with an art gallery, live dance performances, and an original short film premiere starting at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $44.52 and include finger foods and refreshments.

🌈 Need more Pride? The newsletter will include new Pride events every week of June, so keep your eyes peeled!

Where To Celebrate National Pride Month 2026 in Austin

Eric Webb

It’s scientifically impossible for a movie lover to be bored in Austin. There’s always something to see at one of the city’s many film havens, and plenty of cinema history to dig into.

Look no further than the Paramount Theatre’s 

. Established in 1975 as a cost-effective way to save the historic downtown venue from closing, the series still puts butts in seats to enjoy expertly curated movies. The 52nd series opens today with “Casablanca,” an annual tradition.

a once-in-a-generation renovation process next month

, and as a result, almost all films in the latter half of the series will screen at the adjacent (and smaller) State Theatre, with a few special shows lighting up the IMAX screen at the Bullock Texas State History Museum.

Regular admission costs $15; one ticket gets you into both halves of the double features. Find the full series lineup and ticket information 

You probably can’t see all of the films—there are almost 100 on this year’s lineup, including anniversary screenings, theme weeks, and special live events—so perhaps a few critic’s picks will help. (Or see all of them! Sounds fun.)

Here’s what you should see this summer:

June 7: “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978) and “Eraserhead” (1977) 

— An eerie double feature to make you think about the dangers of conformity. And keep you up at night. (

June 8: “The Virgin Suicides” (1999) in 35mm — 

Kirsten Dunst and Sofia Coppola. That’s it, that’s the blurb. (

 — We’re gonna need a bigger screen. Actually, no. This one’s big enough. (

June 17: “Romeo + Juliet” (1996) — 

Baz Luhrmann’s Shakespeare-as-music video adaptation feels like living in a kaleidoscope. “Hamnet” could never. (

June 28: “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” (1985)

 — Silly, endlessly quotable, and lowkey a Texas state treasure. Pee Wee’s bicycle is now 

July 5: “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” (2000)

 — Pregame for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” with the Coen Brothers’ Great Depression-set comedy reinvention. (

 — Peaches Christ brings her “Midnight Mass” cult film showcase to town for a screening of this seminal slasher — plus a drag performance, a Q&A with star Felissa Rose, and an ’80s Camp Costume Contest. (

— Fun fact: For decades, this Alfred Hitchcock thriller/romance held the record for 

. When you’ve got Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman on the call sheet? Understandable. (

July 29: “Strangers on a Train” (1951)

 — Another nail-biting Hitchcock classic, this one about the dangers of plotting murders with a dude you just met. This year marks the film’s 75th anniversary. (

 — When four friends plan a robbery, things get out of control for Tupac Shakur and Omar Epps in their first major film roles. (

— It’s the 25th anniversary of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated fantasy masterpiece. One for the whole family. (

— That soundtrack! Those neon colors! That scorpion jacket Ryan Gosling wears! (

Aug. 28: “Letty Lynton” (1932) and “Phantom Lady” (1944) 

— A double feature of dames wrapped up in deadly games. The former, starring Texas icon Joan Crawford, had been almost impossible to see for 90 years until a recent restoration. The latter is a film noir classic from trailblazing producer Joan Harrison, a protege of Hitchcock. (

Catching classics at a grand movie palace isn’t your cup of tea? There’s a weird and wonderful local movie night for every taste this summer.

The Paramount’s partnered with Hyperreal Film Club and American Cinematheque for Bleak Week, a run of particularly depressing movies. For a more intimate show, I’d check out

 (1997) on June 5 at Hyperreal’s East Austin microcinema.

Hyperreal’s regular summer calendar is stacked, too. Check out a weeklong celebration of the 

 franchise (June 22-25), Pride Month events (including a Gotham Villains’ Ball paired with a screening of Joel Schumacher’s 1997 homoerotic romp 

), and an August program of clubhouse favorites, in honor of Hyperreal’s 10th anniversary.

See the full Hyperreal calendar and buy tickets 

Don’t stop there. You’ll also find intimate movie nights at North Loop indie video rental shop 

(100 E. North Loop Blvd.), arthouse rarities at 

(259 Middle Fiskville Road), and left-field cuts at the 

 nights at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (1120 S. Lamar Blvd.).

The Coolest Austin Movie Nights This Summer

Memorial Day weekend is upon us and there’s so much fun to choose from!

Here’s a list of 10 great events happening this weekend:

El Raval in Zilker is hosting a birthday party on Thursday in honor of its three-year anniversary. 

, is open to everyone, and includes free tapas, including paella, and live music.

Cher turned 80 today and to celebrate, 29th Street Ballroom near the University of Texas at Austin campus is hosting a drag show. The show is on Friday at 7 p.m. and includes a performance by Brigitte Bandit. 

Fairmont Austin downtown is hosting a three-day pool party for Memorial Day weekend. DJs, activations, and special menus are available noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

a crawfish boil in its parking lot on Saturday

 at noon. The Bouldin Creek restaurant is offering crawfish plates served with Thai sauce, boudin balls, gumbo with a light roux, local potatoes, corn, and drinks. The boil goes until the restaurant sells out!

Volente Beach Resort and Waterpark on Lake Travis is hosting Floatopia on Saturday at 3 p.m. The event includes live music, floating, and more. 

Entry is free if you bring your own float

Celebrate ‘Spy Kids’ With Robert Rodriguez

Paramount Theatre is hosting a 25-year anniversary viewing of “Spy Kids” on Saturday at 3 p.m. After the movie, its director Robert Rodriguez will perform with his band. 

Splash Dance! with Erica Nix, an aerobics class, is scheduled for Sunday at 10 a.m. at Austin Motel on South Congress Avenue. The class takes place in the motel’s pool and 

Day Gayz at Coconut Club downtown is Memorial Day themed this weekend. On Sunday, the bar will host four DJs starting at 2 p.m. 

Head to Kinda Tropical in Govalle on Memorial Day for a party! 

 and is in collaboration with Tough Enuff, a group hosting classic car events in Austin.

Salty Sow, a southern comfort restaurant in East Austin, is doing a buy-one-get-one promotion on Memorial Day starting at 4 p.m. Buy one entree and the second one is on the house! 

10 Things To Do  During Memorial Day Weekend in Austin

The official start of summer is less than a week away, and I’m always keeping a running list of things to do for when I tire of swimming at Barton Springs Pool. Luckily, lots of new art, history, and science exhibits are open all summer long.

‘Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats’

 at Texas Science & Natural History Museum

I actually can’t wait for this one to open next week! This exhibit explores all things bats and premieres on May 24 at the Texas Science & Natural History Museum on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The exhibit has lifelike bat models and explains how Austin became a bat city.

See the LBJ Presidential Library’s Glow Up

a new exhibit, but the LBJ Presidential Library 

 of its permanent exhibit earlier this year that’s worth a visit to the museum at UT. The exhibit now includes more historical context and a better understanding of Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidency.

‘Rosas y Revelaciones: Homage to la Virgen de Guadalupe’

This exhibition is open now through Aug. 9 at Mexic-Arte Museum downtown, and it’s too colorful to miss. Garments inspired by la Virgen de Guadalupe are on display along with other textile works. The pieces are stunning!

We know Austin breeds festivals at a somewhat alarming rate, but did you know about the wonderfully weird events hosted around the state like 

? “Texas Festivals” at Bullock Texas State History Museum downtown showcases 27 festivals across the state and how they create community. The exhibit is open through Sept. 27.

Laguna Gloria has some new, funky sculptures to peruse. “HOST: Laura Lit” features plump, squiggly, and brightly colored sculptures located throughout the Tarrytown museum. The sculptures are on view through Jan. 17, 2027.

5 New Exhibits in Austin To See This Summer

Temperatures are starting to rise and if you’re not ready for our somewhat mild weather to leave just yet, bowling is the perfect solution.

Enjoy in the air conditioning at these bowling alleys around town:

Located at 2701 W. William Cannon Dr., Westgate Lanes is for the South Austin folks. The alley is open daily and 

 during the week. Prices go up a little on the weekend to $39 an hour for a lane after 5 p.m. Fridays through the weekend.

Highland Lanes is open daily in North Austin at 8909 Burnet Road. Prices start at $27 per lane per hour during the week before 5 p.m. Lane rates increase to $39 

starting 5 p.m. Friday until closing hours on Sunday

I love this one. The Union Underground bowling alley is located on the bottom level of the University of Texas at Austin’s Union building at 2308 Whitis Ave. The alley is open to the public and has great prices. Non-students can play games for $24 to $27 during the week. Make sure you check the 

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