Kiln Fest 2026 is Reed Park’s annual kickoff to summer, and it’s happening Saturday, May 2 from 3pm to 6pm. Honoring Reed Park’s historic Taylor Lime Kiln, the celebration of community includes live music, local vendors, family activities, and good times with neighbors. Head to 2614 Pecos Street, and all are welcome.
Black’s BBQ is fixing to find a new home at that old Trudy’s Tex-Mex just north of UT. It’s all in the planning stages for now, but deals are being done for the property that was a favorite UT hangout but has stood empty at 409 W. 30th Street for several years and has the graffiti to prove it. For now, Black’s BBQ continues at its 3110 Guadalupe location. Crossing my fingers for more info soon.
Friends Fair, year two of Austin’s boutique art fair, is May 7-9 at the Loren at Lady Bird Lake. An entire floor of the hotel will be transformed into an immersive exhibition, with each participating gallery curating its dedicated room to feature its artists. Galleries from Chicago, New York, Houston, Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles, Taos, Atlanta, and Austin will participate. Details at friendsfair.art and to RSVP
Trojan Cheer Kiddie Camp is July 27-30 and early bird registrations are available now, but the price goes up $50 on May 1. The 9am to 4pm camp with Anderson High School Trojan cheer teams and Trojan mascots includes cheer, dance, crafts, snacks, and lunch with a Final Showcase on Thursday afternoon. In the Anderson High Cafeteria, 8403 Mesa Dr, with info at trojancheer.org
The 19th Hole Party is May 8, and tickets are on sale now for this Muny Conservancy fundraiser for Lions Municipal Golf Course. Dinner, drinks, silent auction, lawn games, and live music at Lions Muny, 2901 Enfield Rd and info at themunyconservancy.com
Tiny Grocer in Hyde Park gave its restaurant a mini-makeover to Tiny Grocer Café. The neighborhood spot, at 4300 Speedway in Hyde Park’s old post office building, serves all day classics from breakfast to deli items and sandwiches, to steak frites and roast chicken, and is open seven days a week with a new kids’ play area, a walk-up wine window, and new inside booths
Howson Branch Library will host a Mayor’s Book Club discussion on May 9 of this year’s pick, Jason Mott’s People Like Us. The discussion caps several months of activities including a storytelling workshop at Howson, a grief writing workshop at University Hills Branch, and a conversation with the author at Austin Central. Howson’s discussion, from 10:30am to 12:30pm, is at 2500 Exposition Blvd. Mayor’s Book Club is sponsored by The Library Foundation
The KUT Festival kicks off on May 1 and 2 on the UT campus mostly near LBJ Library and Museum on Red River, with a special KUT for Kids on Saturday at the Texas Science and Natural History Museum at 2400 Trinity – a space for young listeners and their families with live music, children’s authors, and hands-on activities. Family package tickets are $99 and include museum admission
Centennial Library Card Art Contest celebrates Austin Public Library’s 100th birthday with artists of all ages who want to design a new library card. Three categories of competition, children to age 12, teens 13 to 17, and adults 18 and older. Submissions are due by 9am on June 1, and open to all Austin resident APL library card holders. See library.austintexas.gov for details
May is for Mom at Estilo on Thursday, May 7. Sip, shop, and celebrate Moms from 5:30pm till 7:30 pm before dinner at Estilo in Casis Shopping Center at 2727 Exposition Blvd. Light bites and drinks, bouquets, custom poetry, photo moments at Estilo’s 6th annual Mother’s Day party. First 20 guests take home curated gift bags plus a special raffle.
