Kristy’s Top 10
March’s To-Do List From 365 Things To Do In Austin, Texas.
1. Rodeo Austin
March 14 – 28
Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane
If South By Southwest is not your scene, perhaps Rodeo Austin is. This year, there’s a great concert lineup that includes Willie Nelson, Eli Young Band, Panic! At The Disco, the Beach Boys and many more. Enjoy the rodeo with or without going to the concerts, as the fairgrounds will be alive all day with Texas-style fun. The grounds are packed with barbecue cookouts, pony rides, puppet shows, carnival rides and games. If you decide to stay for the concerts, the venue isn’t huge, so all the seats offer good viewing. It’s fun to watch some of the rodeo events before the show. We are Texans, after all, so I’m sure we can all appreciate a little bull riding or a good calf scramble.
2. Zilker Kite Festival
March 1, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road
The Zilker Kite Festival is the nation’s oldest kite festival. This is one of the best events in Austin every year. It’s a great family-friendly festival but is really fun for all ages. While you can fly a kite just for kicks, there are different contests to enter if you’re feeling extra competitive this year. It truly is such a fun day at Zilker. On top of more kites than you can imagine, there are also plenty of vendors selling your favorite Austin treats. Warning: Parking is a major challenge! This festival always draws a crowd, so plan to ride your bike or take one of the shuttles.
3. Texas Independence Day Celebration at the Capitol
March 2, noon
Capitol Rotunda, 1100 Congress Ave.
If you live in the capital city and didn’t know March 2 is Texas Independence Day, then shame on you! The capitol will hold a celebration at noon on Texas Independence Day. If you can’t make the noon celebration, use this day as an excuse to go stroll the capitol grounds at some point this month. It’s absolutely beautiful, and you can book a tour or take a self-guided tour. Either way, it’s worth the visit. Pro tip: You can walk the grounds and take a peek inside the building at night.
4. St. Patrick’s Day Outdoor Party at Fado Irish Pub
March 17
Fado Irish Pub, 214 W. Fourth St.
Fado plays host to Austin’s largest St. Patrick’s Day outdoor festival. They close down Fourth Street and set up a large tent area and beer garden that gets absolutely packed. The day is filled with live music, giveaways, beer, beer and more beer. It is an all-around good time!
5. INFINITY + INFINITY
March 5 – 8 [Editor’s note: Infinity + Infinity has been rescheduled to April 30 and May 1 due to weather.]
Austin’s Museum of Human Achievement
It’s always fun to see a past Austin Woman cover woman out and about. Elizabeth McQueen, October 2014 cover woman, is throwing a big show/installation/party all in one. Her band will be playing new songs that are centered on the highs and lows of commitment. While the band is playing, the audience will control the interactive structures (built by designer/visual artist Jerome Morrison) using their bodies. It will be a one-of- a-kind visual experience, and kids are welcome. The location will be emailed to you once tickets are purchased. Tickets are $10 in advance and kids get free admission.
6. Artists and Artisans Festival
March 21 and 22, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave.
Wildflowers are hard to predict, as blooming depends on the weather patterns for the year, but once they are in full bloom, a trip to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower center is necessary. In a typical year, April is when we see the wildflowers in full bloom. The center will kick off its annual Wildflower Days with the 2015 Artists & Artisans Festival. This festival showcases more than 30 artists in beads, watercolors, metal, glass and other media. There will be all kinds of nature-themed pieces available for purchase. Whether you’re looking to buy some wildflower-themed pieces or just get out and enjoy the beauty of springtime in Austin, this event is a must-do. Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $4 for children, free for ages 5 and younger.
7. South by Southwest
Interactive: March 13 – 17
Film: March 13 – 21
Music: March 17 – 22
March is one of the wildest times of the year, with South By Southwest coming to town. The city turns into an international playground for people to pitch their latest ideas at the interactive portion or try to catch a glimpse of a hot new film or musician. There’s no substitute for being downtown during this time. the city is more alive than ever with parties, shows, events and more. I have never gotten a badge for south By southwest, as they are expensive, but that never stops me from roaming the streets of downtown Austin and going wherever the day takes me. While several parties are for people with badges only, there is still plenty of fun to be had for those that aren’t sporting a badge.
8. Women’s History Month/International Women’s Day
March 27, 6 to 9 p.m.
Ten Thousand Villages, 4803 Burnet Road
Each year, Ten Thousand Villages celebrates International Women’s Day by recognizing outstanding women with awards for humanitarianism, environmentalism, animal welfare and emerging changemaker. After winners have been selected, there will be an awards ceremony at the store on March 27. This is a great opportunity to celebrate cool women doing cool things throughout town. Know someone who deserves to be recognized? Nominations are open through March.
9. Zilker Garden Festival
March 28 and 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Road
Springtime in the capital city means Zilker Botanical Garden is having its annual garden festival to help ring in the season. It’s a one-stop shop to help you plant the perfect spring garden full of flowers, fruits or vegetables. There will be everything you can possibly want at a garden festival, including a flower show, gardening talks, arts and crafts, and, of course, live music. There will also be plenty of food from local vendors. Admission: $8 for adults, $4 for children, free for ages 4 and younger, $5 for parking.
10. Chi’lantro Brick-and-Mortar
Location 1509, South Lamar Blvd.
I’ve died and gone to food heaven. I’ve always been a fan of Chi’lantro but recently made it out to the brick-and-mortar location, which officially opened in January, and was blown away. There is not a bad thing on the menu. But for the sake of conversation, here is the rundown of my favorites. Start with the chips and esquites (a magical mix of corn, cotija cheese, Korean pepper and magic sauce). The K-Pops are also amazing, so much so that after sampling them all, I couldn’t pick a favorite. The kimchi fries are legendary, so you pretty much have to try them when you visit.
2. Photo by David King. 4. Photo by Jim Turner. 5. Photo courtesy of Juice Consulting. 9. Photo courtesy of Zilker Botanical Garden.
Kristy’s Top 10
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