Planning a wedding in Austin, Texas offers a world of possibilities—from stunning venues to vibrant local culture. However, Austin’s packed events calendar can either elevate your wedding weekend or complicate it significantly. With a wide array of events like music concerts, food festivals, sports competitions, museum exhibits, and family-friendly activities happening year-round, it’s essential to consider what’s going on in the city when picking your wedding date.
Massive annual festivals such as SXSW, the ACL Music Festival, and the Austin Film Festival can dramatically impact hotel availability, airfare prices, and even traffic logistics. Knowing when these events are scheduled can help you avoid unnecessary stress, ensure your guests have an enjoyable experience, and perhaps even inspire unique wedding weekend activities for your out-of-town attendees.
Colorful wedding downtown at South Congress Hotel | Images by Paige Vaughn
Be Mindful of Spring Events in Austin Before You Book Your Venue
February 16 | Austin Marathon | Downtown Austin
Expect significant road closures and increased pricing for downtown hotels. It’s not uncommon for roads to be blocked off the night before the Austin Marathon.
February 19 – 23 | OUTsider Festival | Downtown Austin
As one of Austin’s most progressive festivals, OUTsider brings together Austin’s LGBTQ community for three days of creation and inspiration. This multidisciplinary art festival showcases film, performance art, music, visual art, and more.
February 22 | Carnaval Brasileiro | Downtown Austin
Carnaval in Austin is one of the biggest Brazilian Carnaval celebrations outside Brazil. Brasileiro-style samba, costumes and wild abandon can all be experienced Downtown Austin.
February 22 – March 2 ATX Open | Westwood Country Club
The ATX Open is the only professional tour-level tennis tournament held annually in Austin. The ATX Open is one of 50-plus events and four Grand Slams. Be careful if planning a wedding in the area of Laguna Gloria.
February 28 – March 2 NASCAR | Circuit of the Americas
NASCAR returns to Austin for the second time. Expect increased airfare and hotel prices.
March 7 – 15 SXSW Festival | Convention Center + Downtown Austin
Every spring, crowds descend on downtown Austin to experience the world-renowned SXSW Conference & Festivals. Consisting of three main components, Interactive, Music and Film, each track brings top creatives and global professionals together to collaborate during this exciting 10-day event.
March 9 Daylight Saving Time
When planning a wedding, Daylight Saving Time is important to consider, especially if you’re having an outdoor ceremony, as it significantly impacts the amount of natural light available during your event.
March 14 – 29 Rodeo Austin | Travis County Expo Center
Rodeo Austin is one of Austin’s premier events, featuring Pro rodeo events, daily concerts, livestock show and more.
(Photos) Colorful Spring Wedding at Four Seasons Hotel Austin | Photos by Julie Wilhite
March 26 – 29 Texas Relays | UT Campus and I-35
This premier track & field event brings together the best high school, college and professional athletes from Texas, the U.S. and the world. If you’re planning a wedding this weekend, you must avoid I-35 at all costs!
March 28 -30 MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix | Circuit of the Americas
Three days of motoX racing can have an impact on your ability to get an affordable hotel block. Check on hotel rates before booking your wedding this weekend.
April 4 Statesman Cap 10k | Palmer Events Center & Downtown
Thousands of runners (and their families) blaze through downtown for this much-beloved Austin Event. For wedding couples, it’s important to check out road closures before planning your wedding weekend transportation.
April 6 ABC Kite Festival | Zilker Park
This is a really fun family-friendly event at Zilker Park. It’s a great time, but causes significant traffic jams on Mopac!
April 16 – 19 Moontower Comedy Festival | Paramount Theatre + Downtown Clubs
Downtown will be more crowded at night, but not too many issues with road closures or hotel pricing.
April 18 – 20 Austin Reggae Festival | Auditorium Shores
Auditorium Shores is an urban park located in downtown Austin, Texas, within the larger Town Lake Park. Be mindful of travel times downtown.
May 3 – 4 Pecan Street Festival | Downtown & 6th Street Area
This adorable festival comes with major road blockages. Full closures are set for Sixth Street (old Pecan Street) between I-35 and Brazos, and all of the following are closed between Fifth and Seventh Streets: San Jacinto Boulevard. Trinity Street. Neches Street.
May 26 Memorial Day | CapTex Triathlon Downtown
Expect bikers, swimmers, and runners to gather in downtown Austin. There will be plenty of road closures and detours in and around downtown from 4 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Events in Austin Simmer Down Over Summer Months
June 20 to June 22 Austin Food & Wine Festival
Located at Auditorium Shores Downtown, this festival creates some traffic congestion in central downtown.
July 4 HEB Austin Symphony Concert & Fireworks
If you’re planning a wedding on the Fourth of July weekend, consider treating your guests to this family-friendly fireworks show!
July 25 -27 Classic Game Fest | Palmer Events Center
Classic Game Fest takes place at the Palmer Events Center, where classic game enthusiasts can find classic video games and consoles, compete in tournaments, buy gaming merchandise, and more!
September 7 Bat Festival | 100 S. Congress Bridge
Traffic around the Congress Avenue Bridge is especially crowded when people gather to watch the bats fly out from under the bridge. Pay extra attention to this event if planning a wedding at The Line Hotel, or Four Seasons Hotel Austin.
If You’re Planning a Fall Wedding in Austin It’s Difficult to Avoid Big Festivals. Why? The Weather is Amazing!
A Beautiful Fall Wedding at The Greenhouse at Driftwood | Photos by Ruet Photo
October 3 – 12 ACL Music Festival | Zilker Park
ACL Music Festival needs no introduction. If you are planning to invite wedding guests from out of state, they need to book their hotel and airfare quickly. It’s impossible to arrange for a hotel block downtown.
October 20 – 22 Formula One Grand Prix | Circuit of the Americas
Coming off the tail of ACL Fest, we host Formula One, when hotel and airfare prices soar even higher. This can be a great weekend to host a wedding if your guests are all local and don’t need to fly or find hotel stays!
October 23 – 30 Austin Film Festival | Various Theaters and Hotels Downtown
The Austin Film Festival will take place at various venues in downtown Austin and the surrounding area, primarily clustered around The Long Center, Paramount Theatre, and Omni Austin Hotel Downtown. The AFF is an eight-day event that showcases over 180 films, including narrative and documentary features, shorts, and classic retrospectives.
In Conclusion
Austin is consistently ranked on the “Fastest Growing Cities” lists. I believe a major catalyst for growth is the fact that we host so many amazing festivals and events occur over the few months in the spring and fall when the weather is lovely. These people flock to our city, fall in love, and then complain about the hot summer weather as they congest our highways!
If I had to pick a favorite month in Austin, it would be November.
November is my favorite wedding season because the weather is still fantastic, and we have a break from the festivals! In my opinion, the first couple of weekends before Thanksgiving are THE BEST wedding weekends. The weather is mild and the leaves don’t start falling until late November, after Thanksgiving.
A Beautiful Fall Wedding at The Greenhouse at Driftwood | Photos by Ruet Photo