Weekend Event Guide

Here are the top 5 things to do in Austin this Labor Day weekend

Ease into the holiday weekend with summer sendoffs, live music, and even a dinosaur sighting. Check out the top five things to do in Austin this Labor Day weekend.

Thursday, September 2

Beyond Van Gogh
Experience what it’s like to be inside the masterpieces of artist Vincent Van Gogh during the final days of Beyond Van Gogh in Austin. The show uses projection technology to transform spaces into a journey through Van Gogh’s work, with glimpses into his dreams, thoughts, and words. Step into Van Gogh’s world at Circuit of the Americas through September 5.

Shoal Creek Conservancy presents Shoal Creek Social
Celebrate Shoal Creek with two weeks of events at Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park and Duncan Neighborhood Park. Traverse the creek’s oldest hike-and-bike trail, embark on self-guided scavenger hunts, and kick back at Creekside Hangouts. For a full schedule of events and activities, visit the Shoal Creek Social website. All activities will be outdoors and are pet- and family-friendly. Admission is free.

Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy presents Music in the Garden
The sounds of nature and live classical music are in perfect harmony at Zilker Botanical Garden. This installment of the garden’s summer series will feature a solo by a local harpist for a restorative and calming concert all ages can enjoy. This event is outdoors, and limited capacity will be enforced. Face masks are encouraged.

Friday, September 3

Jurassic Quest
Encounter enormous dinosaurs at the Austin Convention Center this weekend. Highlights of the popular touring experience include more than 80 life-size, animatronic dinosaurs; children’s activities; fossil digs; face painting; and more. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Jurassic Quest website. Jurassic Quest is open through September 6.

Sunday, September 5

Carpenter Hotel Barbecue & Pool Party
Toast to the holiday weekend and say goodbye to summer at the Carpenter Hotel pool. Locals and guests alike can feast on barbecue, groove to live music, cool off with boozy snow cones, and take two-step lessons in the pool. Be sure to purchase your tickets on the event website before the party gets started.

Enjoy Music in the Garden at Zilker Botanical Garden.

Music in the Garden: Andrea and Sarah Jane

Photo courtesy of Zilker Botanical Garden

Enjoy Music in the Garden at Zilker Botanical Garden.

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Hearing Voices

Austin's Ray Benson revives San Antonio series with Willie Nelson podcaster

Ray Benson Asleep at the Wheel Briscoe Western Art Museum The Alamo Voices of the West

Courtesy Briscoe Western Art Museum

Ray Benson, seen here with his Austin band Asleep at the Wheel, will help reboot a collaborative series between The Alamo and Briscoe Western Art Museum.

The Briscoe Western Art Museum in downtown San Antonio is partnering with the Alamo to bring back a past series of activities meant to reflect the cultural diversity and pioneering spirit that built the American West.

Voices of the West: Living Legends will kick off September 11 with country music singer, songwriter, actor, and nine-time Grammy Award-winner Ray Benson, who is known for his Austin-based band, Asleep at the Wheel.

Asleep at the Wheel has been part of the American roots music landscape for more than 50 years. The band is inspired by Western swing and honky-tonk country, and while the lineup has changed throughout the years, Benson has been a constant. (So has their omnipresence at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.)

Benson also played a key role in helping to create the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame. He also sits on the board for the Texas Dance Hall Preservation, and voices the Alamo’s “Victory or Death” audio tour.

John Spong, host of the One by Willie podcast — where in each episode he speaks at length with a notable Willie Nelson fan — will moderate the first Voices of the West conversation with Benson. That first event will include a VIP experience with an open bar, light appetizers, as well as a meet-and-greet with Benson before the show. General admission will be $25; VIP admission will be $100. There will be discounts for Friends of the Alamo members, Briscoe members, military, first responders and seniors.

Voices of the West first ran at the Briscoe from 2014 through 2017, and featured icons such as country music singer Robert Earl Keen, civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, and artist Billy Schenck.

The new series will be have events presented biannually through 2026, starring acclaimed storytellers from Texas Monthly, covering famed singers, scholars, and more to share tales that form the fabric of Texas and the American West. Proceeds from each event will benefit both the Alamo and the Briscoe.

Liz Jackson, president and CEO of the Briscoe Museum, said in a release that the story of Texas is very much a core part of the evolution of the American West.

“Partnering with the Alamo to share this series and give modern voice to the spirit that’s rooted in the history of Texas is an honor,” said Jackson.

Tickets to the reboot event with Ray Benson are available at thealamo.org.

briscoe western art museum the alamo ray benson music history country music voices of the west