After living in this city for 12 years, the ATX summer staples never seem to disappoint, while new activities are added to my bucket list each and every year, leaving me with an endless number of ways to spend a hot Texas summer day.
The people complaining about the heat? Yeah, they’re either spending their time in the wrong places or wearing far too many clothes – That’s another thing about summer in Austin: There is no dress code, so where whatever the heck makes you feel good while you’re knocking out this ATX Summer Bucket List: 1. Attend Blues On The Green Imagine every Austin local heading over to Zilker Park on the same summer night, blanket and boos in tow. A local band is playing ahead of the downtown skyline, and you’re bumping into friends and coworkers left and right as everyone finds their spot while cotton candy takes over the sky. That is what you can expect from the iconic Blues On The Green, followed shortly by a long late night walk to find your way home, alongside the hundreds (maybe thousands?) of Austintines pouring out of the neighborhood at the exact same time. But the chaos is worth it.
When I moved to Austin in 2013, Blues On The Green was a weekly event at Zilker Park all summer long. I’m not sure when or why the frequency changed, but these days you’ve got to schedule your summer around the two days per year this event is held, saved from being cancelled completely by HEB’s sponsorship in 2024. Have I mentioned how much I love my HEB? 2. Enjoy A Zilker Park Picnic Blues is not the only night of the year to enjoy a picnic at the park – In fact, my friends and I find ourselves snacking in the grass just about every weekend in the summertime. While not on a stage per say, you will often find local musicians playing instruments in the grass, groups of people blasting music from their speakers, and local creatives showing off their talents of balancing on one hand or painting the ATX skyline… Warning, there’s about as many dogs as there are humans! So don’t be surprised when you find a few furry friends making their way to your blanket, and of course, your snacks.
At Barton Springs, you’ll find a big grassy hill with young people soaking in the sun, doing yoga, or reading a book. You will NOT find anyone drinking, snacking, or getting rowdy in any way. Unlike Zilker Park, the rules at Barton Springs (no food, no alcohol) are taken seriously, so if you’re wanting a little treat before a day of swimming – Set up a picnic outside of the gate or at Zilker in the grass before heading inside.
Pro Tip – Bring some cash for entry, if possible. While there’s ticket machines at the entrance for credit card payments, they are old, slow, and typically have very long lines. However, you can use cash at the entrance!
The location that immediately comes to mind is W Hotel, but this is far from the only location to find this type of event in Austin. Stay tuned for a list of 2025 Summer Pool Parties once calendars start to be released! 5. Date Night At Peter Pan Mini Golf Ok, ok.. You can actually just head over here with your friends. But doesn’t a BYOB mini golf course sound like a great second date?
Peter Pan Mini Golf has been around for over 75 years!! And stepping into the course really feels like you’re getting a taste of true Austin culture. Surrounded by Austin staples like Terry Blacks, Butler Park, and Audi Shores, this is the best place to close out a day exploring the city. 6. Watch A Show At Zilker Hillside Theater While the majority of this list is aimed towards young adults, this activity is also great for families! Zilker Hillside Theater hosts free shows throughout the summer (I believe they are nightly or at least a few times per week), that are always family-friendly and a great source of entertainment after a long day of activities or work.
This is another update you will have to look out for as we approach summer, as the 2025 production and show dates have yet to be announced!
You will find paddleboard parties all around the lake during the summer time, and by that I mean – A hundred or so paddleboards tied together with music blasting from someone’s speaker and communities intertwining.
Alternatively, you can enjoy a little physical activity by trekking down the lake on a paddleboard or kayak, and enjoying the Austin views.
Whichever approach you take, don’t jump in the water – It’s gross. 🙂 8. Rent A Boat And Cruise Lake Travis If you live in Austin long enough, you’re bound to be invited to a boat party, particularly if you’re here for university. But once you make it to your late 20’s and beyond, you’ll likely need to take it upon yourself to grab some friends and pitch in for a day cruising down Lake Travis. And it will be a blast every time!
Want to extend the adventure? I’ve seen boat Airbnb’s in the city, where you can even spend the night on the lake. 10. Catch A Movie At Doc’s Drive-In Theatre Family owned and operated, Doc’s is such a unique place to watch an old movie. This isn’t just a theatre, they’ve added a restaurant, a speakeasy, tiny homes to stay the night, and even a watering hole to cool down during the summertime!
I haven’t been in years, but what struck me about my night here was the family-feel. After purchasing a ticket at the gate, no confirmation was given, and the kids working it simply said, “Oh, we know ya! No need for proof of payment. Enjoy!” And I was immediately endeared to what was going on here.
The films change often, so check out this calendar to plan your trip over to Buda! 11. Have A True Texas Night At Chicken Shit Bingo I’ve never been to this but I think it belongs on this list! It happens every Sunday from 4-8PM at The Little Longhorn Saloon! Anyone been??
Blanton Museum of Art
Bullock Texas State History Museum
The Contemporary
Mexic-Arte Museum
Museum of the Weird
While we’re talking art, there’s also a new bar & gallery called Papercut, which I have yet to experience, but offers cocktails inspired by the art on the walls of whatever exhibit is being shown. I’ll be heading here soon and will follow up with my experience, so stay tuned! 13. Float The San Marcos River Only 30 minutes outside of Austin is San Marcos River, where you can spend a day floating in a tube, sleeping, chatting, drinking… Whatever your heart desires! Just be sure to be safe, drink water, and mentally prepare for crowds of college kids and drunk Texans! While chaotic, it’s a great time. 14. Float To The Latino Moonlight Serenade This is a special event for me because my sister in law, Lesly Reynaga, performs for this each summer! The set up: A floating plank with a local latin musician performing for a crowd of kayakers and paddle boards in the middle of the lake while the sun sets over Austin!
Looks like you can already purchase your tickets for a show in Summer 2025, here. 15. Laugh At A Local Comedy Show Buzz Mill and Esther Follies are just a couple of the places you can catch a comedy show in Austin.
Esther Follies is a bit more of a planned event, as the tickets often sell out a few weeks prior. But Buzz Mill Comedy happens every Wednesday night for FREE! Donations are accepted and the comedians are superb. 16. Take A Day Trip To Schlitterbahn Although not in Austin, I am including Schlitterbahn on this list because it is the number one waterpark in the world and is skipped by Austinites far too often! The amount of rides, activities, and food here could fill up a 3-day weekend – Which is actually a great idea if you want to get the full experience, but not necessary.
At Schlitterbahn, you’ll find 3 parks connected by trams – And the best is the oldest. Start there and be prepared for long lines if you wanna make it on any of the top attractions. Oh, and don’t forget to try the french fries!
If you’re looking for a local show, I’d check out Do 512 for current events or head directly to some of the venue’s websites like those listed below:
Mohawk Austin
Stubb’s BBQ
Hotel Vegas
The Continental Club 18. Find Secret Beach If I’m being honest, I thought I’d been to Secret Beach years ago but as I was looking at photos for this post, I didn’t recognize the place that was shown…
What I do know is that Secret Beach is a big stretch of land located along the Colorado River, where families and friends hang out and swim. I also know that it’s location is clear as day on google maps, which makes it about the furthest thing from a secret, but I’m intrigued either way. 19. Hike And Swim On The Greenbelt This activity is very dependent on how much rain has come into Austin in recent weeks, so your best bet is to plan a day on the Greenbelt as we’re getting a good amount of rain for the sunny days ahead.
While there’s a few swimming holes to stumble upon as your hiking the greenbelt in just about any given direction, my favorite is about a mile into the Hill of Life, where you’ll find 1/2 mile or so of swimming spots. From there, just find a place that looks peaceful to you and jump in!
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Speaking of brunch, I chose not to include any of the amazing food you should try this summer because that is a year-round activity!! Plus, we’ve got an entire article devoted. 😉 Check out the Ultimate Austin Texas Foodie Bucket List for everything you need to eat. Or stroll over to the ATX Corner of DGL for even more Austin must-do’s!Wow! I would like for it to be summer now, haha. Maybe I’ll add this bucket list as a feature in the newsletter and share my adventures with you guys as I’m marking off all these spots in summer 2025?
Austinites! Did I miss anything? Drop your favorite summer spots in the comments, please and thank you!
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