‘Tis the season. September marks the beginning of Austin’s social season, when good fun is had for a good cause. Mark your calendar and save the date, then don your best duds and join the glitterati to support your favorite organizations, causes, and charities.
We’ve got the scoop on the top fall shindigs in Austin. Get your tickets early, as many of these events will sell out quickly.
September 8: The Big Give
Benefiting: I Live Here I Give Here
Where: Hotel Van Zandt
When: 6:30-10:30 pm
Details: Honoring Patsy Woods Martin and Brittany Morrison of Hospice Austin. Local food, music, and silent auction. I Live Here I Give Here supports over 700 local charity organizations which serve Austin.
September 14: 10thAnnual Words of Hope Dinner
Benefiting: Caritas of Austin
Where: JW Marriott Austin
When: 7 pm
Details: Featured speaker is Ron Hall, author of New York Times bestseller Same Kind of Different as Me. A film adaptation of the book premieres October 20. The evening also honors Tomi and Pete Winstead with the 26th annual Harvey Pennick Award for excellence in the game of life.
September 22: A Star Cross’d Fete/Fete*Ish
Benefiting: Ballet Austin
Where: JW Marriott Austin
When: 6-9 pm
Details: The fete includes a three-course gourmet dinner curated by the JW Marriott's culinary team, a live auction, and VIP tickets to the fete*ish. The fete*ish features live music and a raffle, plus several interesting surprises. Both parties benefit Ballet Austin’s arts education programs.
September 22: Imaginarium 2017 to the Moon and Back
Benefiting: Thinkery
Where: JW Marriott
When: 6:30-11 pm
Details: Exclusive evening of fun and imagination complete with cocktails, gourmet dinner, raffles, live auction, after party, and dancing. Music is courtesy of cosmic funk collective Goldie Dawn Arkestra.
September 23: TribFeast
Benefiting: Texas Tribune
Where: Etter-Harbin Alumni Center
When: 7:30 pm
Details: Featuring MSNBC’s Katy Tur in conversation with Tribune founder Evan Smith. Her front-row account of the Trump campaign, Unbelievable, will be published soon. Guests go home with complimentary copies of the book.
September 23-24: Women’s Symphony League Luncheon and Fashion Show and Jewel Ball
Benefiting: Austin Symphony Orchestra
Where: JW Marriott and Palmer Events Center
Details: The fashion show is at the JW Marriott, with the theme of "Texas Women Past, Present, and Future." Brandon Maxwell, designer and stylist to Lady Gaga, is the featured speaker. The Jewel Ball is at Palmer Events Center, with a "Stairway to Heaven" theme. The Royal Court presentation serves as Austin’s debutante gala.
September 26: Food for Thought
Benefiting: Communities in Schools
Where: ACL Live at theMoody Theater
When: 6-9 pm
Details: Gourmet tasting event featuring 20 of Austin’s hottest restaurants, including Uchi, El Alma Café, Barlata, Boiler Nine, Fixe, Moonshine, Olive and June, Sway, Trace, and many more. Also includes live music and a live auction. Proceeds support the Communities in Schools dropout prevention services. Eat well, do good.
October 5: Beauty of Life brunch
Benefiting: Hospice Austin
Where: JW Marriott
When: 9:30 am
Details: Featured speaker is James T. Farmer III, author of several bestselling garden books, including his latest, A Time to Celebrate. In addition to a fabulous brunch, the event includes a shopping showcase and silent auction.
October 6: Celebration Luncheon
Benefiting: Safeplace
Where: JW Marriott
When: VIP reception 11 pm, luncheon 12 pm
Details: Guardian honorees James C. Armstrong and Larry Connelly. The luncheon features a keynote speaker, who is a survivor of domestic violence and abuse, and it helps raise awareness and funds to support the critical needs of the Safeplace campus.
October 18: Game Changers Luncheon
Benefiting: Girlstart
Where: JW Marriott
When: 11 am-1 pm
Details: Keynote speaker is Martha Rook, the head of gene editing and novel modalities business of MilliporeSigma, an inspiring biochemist, neuroscientist, and researcher. The event’s goal is to support STEM education for girls. This year’s event will also honor founder Rachel Muir.
October 18: Swan Songs Serenade featuring Ruthie Foster
Benefiting:Swan Songs
Where: Riverbend Centre for the Arts
When: 6-10 pm
Details: Featuring Ruthie Foster in concert, the event also includes dinner, silent and live auctions, and cocktails. Founded by Austin musician Christine Albert, Swan Songs arranges for musicians to perform for people facing end of life. The organization acts as a liaison between the healthcare community and the music community.
October 22: Catrina Ball — Viva Frida!
Benefiting: Mexic-Arte Museum
Where: Four Seasons Hotel
Details: A night of art, fashion, dining, dancing, and philanthropy in celebration of the 110th anniversary of Frida Kahlo’s birth. The ball will also honor artist Rina Lazo with a lifetime achievement award and the memory of chef Miguel Ravago for preserving the best of Mexican culinary arts.
October 25: ACL Hall of Fame Induction and Celebration
Benefiting: KLRU and Austin City Limits
Where: ACL Live at the Moody Theater
When: VIP party 6 pm, show 7:30 pm
Details: Star-studded evening hosted by singer-songwriter Chris Isaak will induct rocker Roy Orbison, singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash, and New Orleans icons the Neville Brothers into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. The list of performers is remarkable, and the production will be taped to air on New Year's Eve 2017.
October 25: Film and Food Fundraising Party
Benefiting: Austin Film Festival
Where: Driskill Hotel
When: 7-10 pm
Details: Evening of cocktails and culinary treats kicks off the Austin Film Festival and raises funds for the young filmmakers’ program. Here’s your chance to rub shoulders with the film elite.
October 28: Costume Bash
Benefiting: Zach Scott Theatre
Where: Zach’s Bobbi Pavilion
When: 8 pm
Details: Costumes, entertainment, and dancing, as Zach celebrates 85 years of art on the stage. The tagline is: “Be who you are, be who you are not, be who you want to be.” Proceeds benefit Zach’s artistic programming.
October 30: 12th Annual Gala
Benefiting: Andy Roddick Foundation
Where: Moody Theater
Details: Featuring musical guest Jake Owen, this gala has one of the best live auctions in Austin and includes a gourmet meal and cocktail reception. Great people watching if you are into celebrity spotting, as Roddick’s film, sports, and musician friends are often in attendance.
November 4: A Night in Havana
Benefiting: Austin Children’s Shelter
Where: Hyatt Regency
When: 5:30-midnight
Details: An evening of dining, dancing, live auction, and a Mercedes raffle with entertainment by Lex Land benefits Austin children recovering from a lifetime of trauma and abuse. The 2017 Guardian award will be given to Ann Benolkenan, attorney and founding member of Women of Hope, a group that raises awareness and funds for abused and neglected children.
November 3: First Edition Literary Gala
Benefiting: Texas Book Festival
Where: Four Seasons
Details: The black-tie kick-off event of the annual Texas Book Festival is a memorable evening packed with literary luminaries and supporters. Proceeds help keep the book festival free to the public and also fund the Reading Rock Stars Literacy program, which provides author visits and book donations to children in low-income schools throughout the state.
November 8: Help Clifford Help Kids
Benefiting: American Youth Works
Where: ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Details: The event will feature Los Lobos and showcase some of the best local blues performers. It will include dinner and a lively silent auction.
December 2: Dancing with the Stars
Benefiting: Center for Child Protection
Where: JW Marriott
When: 6-10 pm
Details: A fun evening that features performances of dance pairs of professional dancers and prominent community members emceed by Lance Avery Morgan. It is the single largest fundraiser for the center, raising over $1.1 million in 2016.
December 15: Music and Memories presents Christmas on Congress
Benefiting: Alzheimer’s Texas and Austin Sunshine Camps
Where: Paramount Theatre
When: 6 pm
Details: Concert featuring Marc and Ted Broussard, Reed Turner, Jackie Venson, Eve Monsees and others. VIP tickets include a complimentary reception with renowned chef Matt Peters of Per Se and French Laundry.
December 9: Black Fret Black Ball
Benefiting: Black Fret
Where: Paramount Theatre
When: 6:30 pm
Details: Each year an exclusive group of music patrons awards grants to 20 deserving musicians and bands which help jumpstart their careers. This year’s grant nominees include Akina Adderly, Black Pistol Fire, Bright Light Social Hour, Carolyn Wonderland, Daniel Ramirez, Jackie Venson, Warren Hood, Whiskey Shivers, and more. This group empowers Austin musicians to create new music and hosts private member concerts throughout the year.
The Andy Roddick Foundation Gala is usually brimming with celebs.
