Weekend Event Guide

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

A family-friendly movie screening, an art exhibit opening, and the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards top this weekend’s list of the best things to do. Stay in or venture out responsibility with entertainment options for everyone.

Thursday, July 23

Screen a family-friendly movie from home
The Bullock Texas State History Museum continues its virtual summer film series with the 2015 Disney Pixar animated movie Inside Out. Viewers can watch the screening at 2 pm and participate in a family-friendly activity inspired by the movie. Past activities can be viewed on the Bullock Museum YouTube channel. This virtual screening is free and open to the public.

Celebrate the Tastemakers with CultureMap
The Tastemaker Awards, CultureMap's celebration of all things food and drink, goes virtual for the first time. Tune into the CultureMap Austin homepage at 7 pm to watch the awards show, where Austin and San Antonio's top culinary talent will be crowned. Ticket holders will get the full Tastemakers experience at home, complete with bites from featured nominees, complimentary premium cocktail kits and recipes, swag, and more. Tickets for Tasting Totes are sold out, but you can watch the show for free.

Saturday, July 25

The Georgetown Art Center presents "Ingrained" opening reception
Five visual artists with varying styles showcase their talent through a common medium. Using wood grain panels, artists Aimée M. Everett, Thomas Cook, Alicia Philley, Caroline Walker, and Linda Wandt explore different perspectives and subject matter for a unique exhibition. Guests will be directed through the exhibit along a one-way path and will be encouraged to socially distance. Masks are required to enter the building. RSVP in advance on the event website.

Austin Parks Foundation presents Backyard Ball with DJ Mel
Celebrate the summer season from the safety of your home with the Austin Parks Foundation's Backyard Ball, featuring music from DJ Mel. The party will be streamed live on Twitch, and guests are encouraged to RSVP on the event website for instructions on how to tune into the fun. Admission is free.

Sunday, July 26

Hill Country Galleria presents The Lone Star Farmers Market
Shop fresh produce, handmade goods, and organic products al fresco at The Lone Star Farmers Market. The market is open every Sunday at 10 am, rain or shine; admission is free, and social distancing measures and safety guidelines are in place.

Tune into the virtual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Thursday at 7 pm.

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Reexamining Don Draper

Jon Hamm, Henry Winkler, and more headed to Austin for TV festival

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Jon Hamm is coming to Austin to talk about Don Draper.

From May 29 to June 1, 2025, the ATX TV Festival will take over downtown Austin, and this year Jon Hamm will be joining the festival for the first time.

Hamm will be here for an event called A Mad Men Retrospective, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the show's finale. In this panel (the moderator of which is not yet announced), Hamm will reflect on his Emmy-winning performance as Mad Men's Don Draper, the uniqueness of the character in the TV canon, and the show's influence 10 years after it ended.

Jon Hamm may be best known as Draper, but he's also given celebrated performances in several movies and other shows like Fargo, Black Mirror, and — fun fact! — Gilmore Girls.

Celebrating TV is what the ATX TV Festival is all about. This annual summer event is put on by ATX TV and consists of screenings, Q&As, and panel conversations; plus all sorts of parties, live music, happy hours, and other events. It's known for reunions of classic series and cult hits, and according to the website, it's like "TV camp for grownups."

Jon Hamm isn't the only heavy-hitter in this year's lineup.

Programming also includes an acting class and Q&A with Henry Winkler himself, a live script reading of classic episodes from The Golden Girls and Designing Women (guest actors to be announced), a reunion of the creatives and cast of the HBO hit series The Leftovers, a live recording of the podcast Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast with Suits stars and co-hosts Sarah Rafferty and Patrick J. Adams, and much more.

Additionally, the festival's annual Pitch Competition is still accepting open pitch submissions through January 17. This gives creatives in Austin a chance to pitch their show idea in front of some of the industry's biggest showrunners and executives. Those in the top 10 will receive a year of support to make the next steps in their TV careers.

Festival badges and passes ($150-535) are on sale now.

celebrities tv festivals

Weekend Event Guide

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

Tune into the virtual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Thursday at 7 pm.

Reexamining Don Draper

Jon Hamm, Henry Winkler, and more headed to Austin for TV festival

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