Your guide to Austin's big fall weekend: Fests for food, books, films, music, art
Well, fire up the cloning pods and call Dolly the sheep. You're going to need to be in more place than once this weekend in Austin.
October and November are crowded months on the city's entertainment calendar. The weather's better than it's been for a long time, and the holiday season is officially in swing. But every year, there's one weekend that's a real logjam of events, and this weekend is it.
Here's a guide to the many, many, many ways you could spend your leisure time the next few days.
— Eric Webb, Austin360 editor
Sound Unseen Music + Film Festival
When: Nov. 3-6
Where: AFS Cinema (6259 Middle Fiskville Road) and Frances Modern Inn (1123 E. 11th St.)
What: The 23rd annual film and music festival happens over two weekends, one in Austin and one in Minneapolis. (You're welcome to fly to Minnesota next weekend, if you want.)Featured films at AFS Cinema in the Live Music Capital are "Finding Her Beat," about women in Taiko drumming; "Friday I'm In Love," about a legendary gay nightclub in Houston; and "Meet Me in the Bathroom," chronicling the 2000s New York City music scene. On Sunday morning, there's a free-with-RSVP music showcase at Frances Modern Inn featuring Emily Wolfe, Mama Duke and Harvest Thieves.
Tickets: Free-$15
More info: soundunseen.com
— E.W.
Austin Jewish Film Festival
When: Nov. 3-13
Where: Dell Jewish Community Campus (7300 Hart Lane) and online
What: Movie premieres of documentaries, comedies and animated films are all part of Austin Jewish Film Festival. The festival is held both in person and online and features Jewish films from all over the world. Things kick off Thursday with the U.S. premiere of the docudrama "Exodus 91."
Tickets: Entry for individual showings start at $13, and an all-access festival pass is $150.
More info: austinjff.org
— Kelsey Bradshaw
Austin Food & Wine Festival
When: Nov. 4-6
Where: Vic Mathias Auditorium Shores (900 W. Riverside Drive)
What: Only "All-In" tickets remain for the annual food and beverage throwdown. Those passes get you the Friday night kickoff, Wurst Weekend, which will fill you with sausages and suds; access to the tastings, demos and signings Saturday and Sunday; and the festival's centerpiece Rock Your Taco event, where world-class chefs come together to taco battle. The list of Texas chef talent is vast and includes Tiffany Derry from Roots Southern Table in Dallas, Kevin Fink from Emmer & Rye, Jorge Luis Hernandez from Hotel Emma in San Antonio, Sonya Cote from Storehouse in Bastrop, Ling Wu from Qi and dozens more. For those who don't want to throw down for the entire weekend, there are also dinners at Este, Maie Day and Canje that are individually ticketed, starting at $115.
Update, Nov. 3: Austin Food and Wine Festival canceled the opening night event due to a rainy forecast.
Tickets: $625
More info: austinfoodandwinefestival.com
— Matthew Odam
2022 Dining Guide:The best restaurants in Austin
Wurstfest
When: Nov. 4-13
Where: 120 Landa St. in New Braunfels
What: Wurstfest celebrates German culture, and it’s jam-packed with fun activities. Drinking beer, eating blooming onions, dancing and shopping are all part of the annual fest. We suggest getting a big group of friends to go with.
Tickets: $18-$20; children 12 and younger get in free. From 5 to 10 p.m. on Nov. 7-10 and 3 to 10 p.m. on Nov. 13, admission is free for all.
More info: wurstfest.com
— K.B.
Dia de los Muertos Festival
When: Nov. 5
Where: Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (600 River St.)
What: Austin's celebration of Dia de los Muertos, a beloved Mexican tradition that honors the passing of family members and other loved ones, will be capped off with a big party at the MACC. The center's 15th annual Dia de los Muertos Festival will feature an interactive shadow puppet show by the Austin Public Library, sugar skull decorating, various art exhibits and, for the first time, the MexAmeriCon Comic Convention. Free shuttle bus service will be available for guests from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Sanchez Elementary, located at 73 San Marcos St.
Tickets: Tickets are free and can be reserved at Eventbrite
More info: dayofthedeadatx.net
— Earl Hopkins
It’s My Park Day
When: Nov. 5
Where: At parks all over Austin
What: This is a volunteer event held by Austin Parks Foundation. You can register for a number of projects at Austin parks, trails or green spaces. Available projects can be found on the foundation’s website, austinparks.org. Mulching, planting flowers, picking up litter: There's something for everyone.
More info: austinparks.org
— K.B.
More:Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, Blue Genie Art Bazaar return in December
Austin Fall Asian Festival
When: Nov. 5
Where: Buda Amphitheater & City Park (204 San Antonio St. in Buda)
What: The Buda Amphitheater & City Park will be booming with 45 music and dance performances and 25 craft and food vendors for this year's Austin Asian Fall Festival. The fun will begin at 2 p.m. and continue through the night, with the daylong event scheduled to cap off at 10 p.m.
Tickets: This event is free and guests can RSVP on the festival's Facebook page.
More info: facebook.com
— E.H.
Texas Book Festival
When: Nov. 5-6
Where: In and around the Capitol
What: Oh, you know what it is. Texas Book Festival, co-founded in 1995 by Laura Bush, returns in person this weekend for a celebration of books, their authors and all things literary. This year's featured writers include country singer Margo Price, mystery maven Janet Evanovich and chef Jacque Pépin. Plus: There will be so many books to buy.
Tickets: All events are free to attend, though some headline sessions have priority seating and book signings available to ticket-holders.
More info: texasbookfestival.org
— E.W.
More:What to know about the Texas Book Fest 2022 in Austin
Texas Monthly BBQ Fest
When: Nov. 5-6
Where: City Park (504 City Park Road in Lockhart)
What: The magazine’s annual celebration of smoked meats has moved out of the state capital to the unofficial capital of Texas barbecue, but the festival looks to be as strong as ever. Forty-seven of Texas Monthly’s top 50 barbecue joints will serve a variety of classic and specialty cuts in the park. The gathering represents an amazing opportunity to hit dozens of the best barbecue operations in the Lone Star State without putting 500 miles on your F-150.
Tickets: $108
More info: texasmonthly.com
— M.O.
Austin Celtic Festival
When: Nov. 5-6
Where: Pioneer Farms (10621 Pioneer Farms Drive)
What: The largest celebration of Celtic culture in Central Texas is back for its 27th year. The annual festival will boast a lineup of regional and international Celtic music and dance performers, traditional Austin Highland Games, workshops and storytelling sessions and countless horses and dogs at North Austin's Pioneer Farms.
Tickets: Daily tickets are $25 for guests 17 and older, $12 for attendees 6-16 years old and free for children 5 and younger. Tickets can be purchased on the Austin Celtic Festival website.
More info: austincelticfestival.com
— E.H.
Austin Studio Tour
When: Nov. 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20
Where: Various locations around the city
What: Twenty years ago, Big Medium, a top-notch art advocacy group, launched an East Austin Studio Tour. Later, it added a West Austin edition, then combined the two. Now, the three-weekend fandango features 520 artists and collaboratives all over town. See the art where it is made. Find a map and a guide to participating studios online.
Tickets: Free
More info: bigmedium.org/austinstudiotour
— Michael Barnes
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Things to do in Austin this weekend, from Food and Wine and BBQ fests
