• March 2016
• >
• Happenings

Kristy’s Top 10: March 2016

March’s to-do list from 365 Things To Do In Austin, Texas.

1. Rodeo Austin

March 12 through 26
Travis County Expo Center, 9100 Decker Lane
rodeoaustin.com

Is there a better time of year for Texans than rodeo season? Slip on your boots, whet your devil-may-care appetite and head to Rodeo Austin to find out. The fairgrounds will be bustling day and night with carnival rides, games and vendors. This year’s star-studded concert lineup includes Willie Nelson, Gary Allan, Josh Turner, the Josh Abbott Band, the Eli Young Band and more. But what I’m most looking forward to is a new food competition event, BBQ Austin, taking place March 4 and 5, when teams from throughout Texas will compete for the title of BBQ Austin Grand Champion, and free barbecue samples will be handed out to festivalgoers. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for kids. Parking is $10 at the gate. Certain shows require additional admission.   

 

2. Explore UT

March 5, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
University of Texas, 2400 Inner Campus Drive
http://​exploreut.utexas.edu

Known as “the biggest open house in Texas,” Explore UT is a wonderful opportunity for prospective students and their parents to spend time getting to know the 40 Acres. Take part in a campus-wide scavenger hunt or one of the many hands-on engineering demonstrations, march with the Longhorn Band or go on a free self-guided tour of the Texas Memorial Museum, Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum, and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.
Admission is free. 

 

3. South by Southwest Film Festival

March 11 through 19
Multiple locations, downtown Austin
sxsw.com/film

This year’s South By Southwest Film Festival includes a jaw-dropping lineup of 137 feature films and 89 world premieres in 12 genres, with 52 of those films produced by first-time filmmakers. Noteworthy showings include Todd Bieber’s Thank You Del: The Story of the Del Close Marathon, Jeff Nichols’ Midnight Special and Jean-Marc Vallee’s Demolition. The first-time screening of the film Everybody Wants Some by Austinite Richard Linklater is sure to make this year’s SXSW opening night one to remember. 

 

4. Mighty Texas Dog Walk

March 5, 10 a.m. to noon
Austin American-Statesman parking lot, 305 S. Congress Ave.
http://​servicedogs.org/2016-mighty-texas-dog-walk 

Round up your pups and head to the Austin dog event of the season. The Mighty Texas Dog Walk is a 1-mile morning walk with your pooch, followed by shopping and snacking. This year’s theme is Texas pride. Think cowboy hats, guitars, bluebonnets and the Lone Star flag. Proceeds from the event benefit service dogs in the Austin area. Trophies will be awarded to the team that raises the most money, the team with the most dogs and the team with the best T-shirts.
Admission is $30 per dog when preregistering online and $40 per dog the day of the event. Humans walk for free. 

 

5. Wurstfest Craft Beer Festival

March 5, noon to 8 p.m.
120 Landa St., New Braunfels, Texas
http://​wurstfest.com/craftbeerfestival

A day spent drinking great craft beers and soaking up some lively camaraderie? You had me at day drinking. In addition to live-music performances by the Zack Walther Band, Walt Wilkins & The Mystiqueros, Tom Gillam & the Kosmic Messengers, and more, there will be more than 80 beers on tap for tasting. The Wurstfest Craft Beer Festival is located right alongside the Comal River, and I have it on good authority that food trucks will also be on the scene.
Admission is $35 in advance online or $50 at the gate. 

 

6. Illuminate Austin Walk

March 6, 5 to 8 p.m.
The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive
safeaustin.org/get-involved/events/illuminateatx

Join others from the Austin community in an evening stroll alongside a glowing, luminary-lit path at The Long Center. Event proceeds benefit SafePlace Austin, an organization that provides shelter and services to local individuals who have survived domestic and sexual abuse.
Admission is donation-based. 

 

7. Jazz Brunch at Geraldine’s

Sundays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hotel Van Zandt, 605 Davis St.
geraldinesaustin.com

I’ve been spending quite a bit of time at Hotel Van Zandt, and for good reason. Once I find something I like, I can’t get enough of it. The dimly lit dining room is perfect for a night out for drinks with the girls, which is how I discovered this little gem of a restaurant, but it’s also perfect come Sunday morning. Not only is it one of the most charming new hotels in the city, but the fourth-floor poolside restaurant, Geraldine’s, serves a killer brunch. Sundays, brunch is accompanied by a live jazz performance from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Not that you needed any more incentive to book a reservation. 

 

8. Free Sunset Yoga

Mondays and Wednesdays in March, 7 to 8 p.m.
Whole Foods Plaza, 525 N. Lamar Blvd.
http://​facebook.com/events/1547861322191395

A few of a true Austinite’s favorite things: yoga, sunsets and Whole Foods. Join Black Swan Yoga as it returns to Whole Foods Monday and Wednesday evenings to host free sunset yoga on the terrace. After a long workday, this is a surefire way to reward yourself with some deep breaths and restore your physical and mental balance. All you need to bring is a mat and a water bottle.
Tip: Make sure to arrive early to secure a spot. 

 

9. Zilker Kite Festival

March 6, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road
http://​abckitefestival.org 

Zilker Park, also known as Austin’s backyard, will be booming with activity and color for the Zilker Kite Festival. The annual event has taken place at the park since 1936, and is the longest continuously running kite festival in the U.S. While you can fly a kite just for fun, there are also various contests to enter, such as the 50-yard dash and the most unusual kite competition, if you’re feeling extra ambitious this year. This is one of Austin’s best-kept traditions and it’s a great way to kick off spring. Be wary of parking, as nearby lots tend to fill up quickly. Go by carpool, bike or catch a shuttle bus instead.
Admission is free. 

 

10. MotoAmerica Preseason Test

March 23 and 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Circuit of the Americas, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd.
facebook.com/events/996561517080979

If you haven’t made your way to the Circuit of the Americas racetrack yet, now’s your chance. Watch as professional motorcycle racers from throughout the country descend on COTA to test out the course in preparation for the 2016 Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, set for April 8 through 10. The paddock and garage areas will be open to fans from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, and will be filled with top teams and riders from the series, including 2015 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier. On test days, there will be a race-weekend giveaway to enter and you’ll also have the opportunity to meet with professional Grand Prix racers during an autograph and Q&A session in the COTA garage.
Admission is free. 

 

Kristy Owen is the event mastermind and blogger behind 365 Things To Do In Austin, Texas. To stay up to date on the best Austin has to offer, visit her blog, 365thingsaustin.com. 

 

1. Photo courtesy of Rodeo Austin. 2. Photo by Lauren Schneider. 4. Photo by Nicole Mlakar. 5. Photo by Jim Flynn. 6. Photo courtesy of SafePlace Austin. 7. Photo courtesy of Geraldine’s. 9. Photo courtesy of David King. 10. Photo by Keith Rizzo.

---