Local Austin Events this May

May in Austin heats up with a dynamic lineup of festivals, food, and outdoor fun. Whether you’re jamming at the iHeartRadio Country Festival, savoring bites at the Pecan Street Spring Arts Festival, or punning it up at the O. Henry Pun-Off, there’s no shortage of excitement. Dive into the season with community celebrations, creative showcases, and plenty of sunshine—it’s the perfect time to experience all the energy Austin has to offer!

@loves Local Austin Events

5th annual Dachshund Dash and Kentucky Derby Watch Party
5/03/25
The Jackalope (South Shore)
Celebrate Derby Day with mint juleps, $1 coneys, and the adorable Dachshund Dash at Jackalope South Shore’s annual watch party and race event.
https://do512.com/events/2025/5/3/5th-annual-dachshund-dash-and-kentucky-derby-watch-party-tickets

The Front Market
5/3/25 – 5/4/25
Distribution Hall
Shop and snack your way through Front Market’s Spring showcase featuring 170+ Texas-based women and LGBTQ+ vendors, brunch bites, and a live DJ.
thefrontmarket.com

Pecan Street Spring Arts Festival 
5/3/25 – 5/4/25
Hill Country Galleria
The Pecan Street Festival is a free, family-friendly celebration featuring music, art, food, and crafts for all ages in a lively street fair atmosphere.
pecanstreetfestival.org

Austin Fashion Week
5/8/25 – 5/10/25
The Domain
Austin Fashion Week returns with runway shows and pop-ups spotlighting emerging, Black, and student designers in Texas’ largest fashion event.
austin.fashionweektexas.com

O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships
5/10/25
Brush Square Park
The O. Henry Museum Pun-Off World Championships brings pun lovers together for a hilarious day of wordplay competitions and crowd-voted winners.
punoff.com

Cine Las Americas International Film Festival
5/14/25 – 5/18/25
Various Locations
Cine Las Americas showcases powerful films by and about Latine and Indigenous communities across the Americas, Spain, and Portugal in a multicultural celebration of cinema.
cinelasamericas.org

Affordable Art Fair
5/15/2025 – 5/18/2025
Palmer Events Center
Explore thousands of original artworks from 55 galleries at this vibrant fair, featuring everything from a Friday night party to family fun on Saturday.
https://affordableartfair.com/fairs/austin/

Sketch Fest
5/22/25 – 5/25/25
ColdTowne Theater
Austin Sketch Fest brings together top comedic talent from Austin and beyond for a week of sharp, scripted sketch comedy curated by ColdTowne Theater.
atxsketchfest.com

Hot Luck Festival
5/22/25 – 5/25/25
Around Town
The Hot Luck festival celebrates the blend of open-pit cuisine and live music, offering a hands-on, vibrant picnic and party experience.
hotluckfest.com

CapTex Tri
5/26/25
Lady Bird Lake, Downtown Austin
The Life Time triathlon features a range of events from professional races to first-time triathlons, including the USA Paratriathlon National Championship and various relay distances.
captextri.com

ATX Television Festival
5/29/25 – 6/1/25
Downtown Austin
The ATX Television Festival celebrates TV’s past, present, and future with screenings, reunions, and panels, offering fans and industry professionals a unique opportunity to connect and explore the world of television.
atxfestival.com