Weekend Event Guide

Here are the top 7 things to do in Austin this weekend

There’s no shortage of entertainment in the city, and this roundup of must-attend activities is proof. Check out the final weekend of Austin City Limits Music Festival, or get your thrills at Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park. Check out the top seven things to do in Austin this weekend. For a complete list of events, go to our calendar.

Thursday, October 9

Paramount Theatre presents An Evening with Elizabeth Berkley: 30th Anniversary Screening of Showgirls
The glamorous blockbuster hit Showgirls is screened at the Paramount Theatre in celebration of the film’s 30th anniversary. Guests will enjoy an exclusive screening followed by a post-film conversation with the movie’s star Elizabeth Berkley. The VIP experience includes a special meet and greet opportunity with Berkley. A limited number of tickets are included.

Photo by Marie-Andrée Lemire

Cirque du Soleil presents production OVO at Moody Center.

Moody Center presents Cirque du Soleil: OVO
Cirque du Soleil presents its newest production, Ovo, inspired by the teeming ecosystem of insects at Moody Center. Audiences will be transported into a world filled with color, acrobatics, and nature’s beauty as displayed by Cirque du Soleil's cast of performers. Tickets are available now. Performances are scheduled through October 12. This show is suitable for all ages.

Friday, October 10

Austin City Limits Music Festival
The biggest names in music and rising stars from Texas and beyond come back to Zilker Park for the second weekend of Austin City Limits Music Festival. This year’s festival headliners include Hozier, The Killers, Luke Combs, Doechii, Sabrina Carpenter, and The Strokes. Select day tickets and weekend passes are still available.

Comedy Mothership presents Pauly Shore
Comedian and actor Pauly Shore brings his material to the stage at the Comedy Mothership. Shore is best known for his rise to fame in the 1990s with his MTV show Totally Pauly, plus appearances in movies like Jury Duty and A Goofy Movie. Shows are scheduled through October 12. Booth seating and general admission tickets are on sale now.

Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park
Explore a spooky experience that stretches beyond a haunted house at Scream Hollow. Highlights include a Halloween museum, haunted attractions, bonfire, food vendors, and a beer garden. Scream Hollow is open through November 2.

Saturday, October 11

GEA Live presents Twilight in Concert: 15th Anniversary Celebration
The iconic romance saga Twilight gets the film-to-concert treatment at Bass Concert Hall. This 15th anniversary production will feature the original movie accompanied by a 12-piece live band in a candlelit atmosphere. Tickets are available now.

Sunday, October 12

Texas Performing Arts presents iLuminate
The electrifying performance group iLuminate glows up at Bass Concert Hall. The company rose to fame during their time on America’s Got Talent in 2011, and they're known for their signature fusion of dynamic dance routines and custom LED costuming. This show is suitable for audiences of all ages.

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It's Trail Time

Austin's famous Trail of Lights opens soon for 2-week 2025 run

Austin Trail of Lights/Facebook

The Trail of Lights changes a little year-by-year, but stays the same at its core.

Austin's most famous holiday tradition is almost here. The Trail of Lights will start glowing at Zilker Park on December 10 and stay lit through December 23. This is the 61st year for the tradition, which shows off festive designs made with more than 2 million lights, 96 illuminated trees, and live programming.

This year, there are two new installations. One is the Neon Zoo created by the famous local studio Ion Art, which this November launched a new seven-day event at Willie Nelson's Luck Ranch. Like the ranch event or Ion Art's other famous installations, this one invites visitors to walk through an immersive space that "celebrates Austin's art scene." The other new addition will be the Texas Tunnel, which is inspired by a sunset and leads into a section that honors Texas.

The main draw is always the lights, but visitors can also look forward to live, local music every night. Folks who want to brush up their dance moves can do so with swing teacher Kari Kron and two step lessons by Dancin’ Austin.

This year, the following artists will perform:

Pedal Steel Noah
The Soul Supporters
Poet Hawkins
Nakia
Sherita Perez
Dave Madden
Wilson Marks
Jennifer Foster & The Audacity
BandAid School of Music
Los Coast
Ruby Dice
Midnight Snack
Nagavalli
Bluesqueezebox
Golden Hour
Oliver Steck
The Last Jimenez
Denis O'Donnell
Linda Gail Lewis
Libby & the Loveless
JaRon Marshall
LA 45 (La Quarenta y Cinco)
Jeska & The Vanity Project

The live music broadcasting series Texas Music Scene will record performances by Bo De Peña, Jeff Crosby, and Phil Hamilton for a broadcast December 18.

Some of the special events that lead up to official opening — including the preview party, fun run, tree-lighting ceremony, and private tours — have already happen. All that's left now is the grand opening with H-E-B and the Trail of Lights Foundation.

Many nights are free for everyone to attend, but some require tickets for adults. (Children under 12 always visit for free.) Guests can check the Trail of Lights' calendar to check which nights are free or paid. General admission, when it's required, costs up to $8.

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