How can you not love October in Austin?! We get the first chill in the air, the stores & church lots fill with pumpkins, and the fabulous Austin City Limit’s festival takes over our town, with awesome music. It always seems to me that events pick up this month, fall themes, Halloween festivities, the chance to use “rocktober” in your promo materials. It’s contagious! It’s also Breast Cancer Awareness month – so keep an eye out for all the opportunites to support. I LOVE October….so then here we go:
Friday October 1st
Live From the Plaza with The Bluebonnets at Austin City Hall – 5:30 to 7:30
Kathy Valentine’s rock n roll girl band play for FREE outside on the City Hall plaza – the weather just got perfect for this! http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/music/calendar.htm
Saturday October 2nd
Livestrong Day – raise awareness, raise funds, find an event to participate in, there are tons all over town all day supporting LIVESTRONG – check out the list of events HERE
Vegan Gathering of the Tribes – a HUGE Vegan potluck at Pease Park – all of Austin’s cool vegan groups will be present, anyone is welcome! I dare you to go, and try some amazing vegan food if you aren’t already vegan. Here is the VEGANS ROCK AUSTIN page with details
Saturday & Sunday October 2nd/3rd
2010 AIA Austin Homes Tour – all over Austin! noon to 6:00 pm each day. The American Institute of Architects annual tour, 12 amazing homes, self guided tour – Check out the website for the details 2010 AIA Tour
Mediterranean Festival – they had me at “baklava” Opa! only $5 times/tickets/ect – HERE
Day out with Thomas!! Got a train fanatic in your house? A Thomas junkie? This supercute event returns, great fun for kids and wonderful photo opps. Put on by awesome the Austin Steam Train Association
Sunday October 2nd
Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-art School – 5 to 8pm at the Art Department 503 Neches – um this event is kind of too cool for me to even attempt to explain?! BYOB, BYO art supplies…, there will be music, Day of the Dead pin up model, Awards! Ok, just read about it HERE – Austin is lucky to have this kinda stuff.
Tuesday October 5th
National Night Out in Austin! – in a neighborhood near you. There is a kick off celebration at The Grove in Southpark Meadows at 5pm, read about NNO HERE
Thursday October 7th
Yogasm – that name will get you! If you love yoga, lululemon, and music, you will adore this event. held at Republic Square Park starting at 4pm, huge community yoga, DJ, food, hula hooping – really an amazing show of our wonderful Austin Yoga community here is the facebook invite YOGASM 2010
Saturday October 9th
Marathon Kids Kick Off 2010-1011 – AISD at 9am sharp, all other districts at 11. Start off the Marathon Kids 26.2 miles in a celebratory first mile! Marathon Kids Rule! For info on parking ect check HERE
Fight for It – Women’s self defence & Fitnes Seminar benefiting Susan B Komen foundation for Breast cancer reasearch. Held at the Krav Maga center on South Congress, $19.99 – FIGHT FOR IT
Ditch the Fest at Cheer up Charlies – not into the masses & mayhem of ACL Fest? check out this fun in East Austin, rediculously good band line up, vegan food, and FREE! DITCH THE FEST
Sunday October 10th – 10/10/10!
World Hoop Day – started as a grass roots non profit to bring dance, excercise & hoops to underprivileged children. Hula-hooping is beyond fun, it is easy, it’s super good excercise and it truly brings joy, you can’t not smile. If you don’t believe me try it!! In Austin there will be an Electric Hoop Jam atVortex Theater – 2307 Manor Road at 6pm. There will be performances from super hoopers like Laura Scarborough of Hoop Circle, LED hoops, hoops to borrow, food, beer, wine. family friendly. The event is free. Read about the World Hoop Day mission HERE
Thursday October 14th
La Dolce Vita Food & Wine festival- at Laguna Gloria Austin Museum of Art. Glorious setting for this elegent opportunity to eat some of the best food in town Tickets & info HERE
Friday/Saturday/Sunday October 15-17
Austin Record Convention – come on music nerds (said with great affection) bring your vinyl, get more vinyl, go home and play it, be happy. Held at the North Austin Event Center – deets HERE
Saturday October 16th
Cherrywood Plant & Book Swap – 9am. This is one of the sweetest cutest events. It really is about the community of Cherrywood, bring a plant and/or book, and leave with a new one. Drink coffee, learn planting tips – here is the Facebook invite – CHERRYWOOD PLANT SWAP
Saturday & Sunday October 16-17
Texas Book Festival – State Capitol Building. Probably one of my fave yearly events. Panels, authors, signings, kids stuff, free. Love it. Get all the authors, schedules and events HERE
Sunday October 17th
Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop 2nd Birthday Party – 2-5pm – 1905 S. 1st Street
cupcakes, grown up drinks from Titos, Nada Moo Ice Cream, face painting, donate to Austin Pets Alive, too much fun! Party Details HERE
Groundwork Music Project: Fall Family Fest – 4 to 7 pm at the Nutty Brown Cafe
The Groundwork Music Orchestra plus perfomrances by Ben Kweller, Guy Forsyth, Sarah Sharp, Wammo and more. Plus face painting, raffle, bouncy castle, kids’ games ect.. All proceeds go to providing free music classes in preschools that have limited means. Families of 3 or more $20, Adults $10, Kids 5 & up $5.
Saturday October 23rd
Viva La Vida Fest – Mexic-Arte Museum’s annual Dia de Los Muertos parade & celebration. The party is from 2pm till 10pm at Mexic-Arte on 5th Street between Congress & Brazos. The Grand Procession starts at Saltillo Plaza in East Austin at 6pm and makes it’s way to the 5th street party. Bands playing, a huge Altar, people dressed in costume, this event is so cool, definitely a family fave yearly. Please look at the Mexic-Arte website for more details about participating, volunteering and the low-down
Freak Show Festival –3pm at 400 E. 7th St
Not for the faint of heart, and not for kids. Freaks, Clowns, Rock & Roll. Host Jim Rose of the Jim Rose Circus, performance by Reverand Horton Heat, and yeah, freaks. Check it out FREAK SHOW FESTIVAL
Sunday October 24th
Downtown Living Tour – have you always wanted to know what it would be like to live in some of Downtown Austin condos? Now’s your chance to see them all! All day, tour the condo & apartments, finish with a happy hour at Threshold Furniture & Design (modern cool stuff) – ticket info HERE
Halloween Children’s Concert – this precious tradtion put on by the Austin Symphony is held this year at the Long Center. Kids are invited to wear their costumes! For tickets check out the AUSTIN SYMPHONY website
October 21 thru 28th
Austin Film Festival – conference, films & parties – here is the SCOOP
Sunday October 31 HALLOWEEN!
Drink Pink Scaraoke at Opal Divine’s Freehouse – costume contest, Burlesque show from The JiggleWatts, Karaoke, pink drinks, benefitting the Breast Cancer Resource Center. Art bra calendar models will be signing the new 2011 BCRC Art Bra Calendars and helping to provide info on the organization.
Saturday & Sunday October 30th & 31st
Voodoo on the Bayou Halloween Party – 8pm both nights. That’s right, it’s a TWO NIGHT PARTY! Zombie movies, tarot card reader, bonfire, food – and yes it’s a house party. Prizes for best costume! This is a private party You’ll just have to go with me 🙂
