Weekend Event Guide

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

There's a lot to celebrate this weekend in Austin. Bat Fest returns, Spider House turns 20, and a legendary lineup plays Austin360. Here are the best weekend events — for a full list of happenings, visit our events calendar.

Def Leppard in concert with REO Speedwagon and Tesla
Here's a lineup you won't forget. Legendary rock band Def Leppard comes to the Austin360 Amphitheater stage with R.E.O. Speedwagon and Tesla. This rock 'n' roll show takes place Friday night.

Sixth annual Quesoff
The cheesiest event of the year returns to Mohawk on Saturday. Around 30 vendors of all shapes and sizes will go head to head in four categories in the annual queso cookoff. Go early — this event is one of the most popular in town.

12th annual Bat Fest
Bat Fest returns for another year of nocturnal sightings and fun this Saturday. Celebrate some of the city’s most famous residents and their high-flying talents with live music, children’s activities, a bat costume contest, and more. Claim a spot on the Congress Avenue Bat Bridge and witness 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from below.

The Spider House 20th Anniversary Blowout Bash
Austin’s famed cafe, concert venue, and quintessential hangout Spider House celebrates its 20th anniversary with a birthday party on Saturday. The Spider House 20th Anniversary Blowout Bash will feature live entertainment by Foot Patrol, Ringo Deathstarr, Octopus Project, and more. Aside from the jams, attendees will enjoy a giant water slide, a Tito’s vodka dunk tank, Lone Star cornhole, and more.

The Writer’s Stage and Screen: A Conversation with John Patrick Shanley
Acclaimed screenwriter and playwright John Patrick Shanley comes to the Harry Ransom Center for an intimate evening of discussion and insight this Sunday. The award-winning writer of Moonstruck and Joe Versus the Volcano will chat about his work in both film and theater. End the weekend with this inspiring conversation.

Spider House turns 20 — it's hard to believe.

Photo courtesy of Spider House

Spider House turns 20 — it's hard to believe.

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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.

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