WAYA presents Family Day at 1314 Exposition Blvd, on April 17 from 4 pm to 8 pm, its biggest fundraiser of the year, and sponsorship opportunities are still available. Chairs of the WAYA 2026 Family Day are Jannah Granger, Wesley Joseph, Jessica Pieratt, and Meredith Spears, and presenting sponsors are Dell Children’s Ascension and Tarrytown Pharmacy. For decades, the nonprofit WAYA has provided sports programs, preschool, camps, and classes for thousands of kids every year. See WAYA.org for info
Rise Fest is at Pease Park at 1100 Kingsbury St, on Sunday, March 29, from 2 pm to 5pm. The afternoon celebrates Austin’s Black freedom communities and is presented by Pease Park Conservancy, The Rise Project, and Outreach Productions. Entertainment includes Sweet Home Baptist Church choir, Ajah Monet DJ, Zell Mill call and response poetry, and favorite guests Ms. Vessie and Ms. Flo. Booths for kids’ activities, children’s author Deborah Orr, shopping, and interactive vendor booths. Info at peasepark.org
Preservation Austin presents the 2026 Homes Tour April 18 and 19, its marquee event and most important fundraiser. The citywide tour features 10 historic homes, five on Saturday and five on Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. A VIP Soiree kicks off the 2026 Homes Tour on April 7 from 7 pm to 9 pm at a Highland Park West residence at 4903 Crestway from the 1970s. VIP Soiree and Homes Tour tickets and memberships at preservationaustin.org
Ballet Austin presents Stephen Mills: A Tribute at the Paramount Theatre on April 23, a celebration honoring artistic director Stephen Mills for 25 years of leadership. Appearances and performances by Graham Reynolds, Ray Benson, Ballet Austin’s Company, and Ballet Austin TWO. Tickets at balletaustin.org.
Muny Cup at Lions Municipal Golf Course, 2901 Enfield Rd, is Friday, May 8, and registration is waitlisted: double shotgun, 4-person scramble, tickets and sponsorships now available. Sponsored by Save Muny, and tickets benefit The Muny Conservancy, a nonprofit aimed at preserving, restoring, and protecting iconic and historic Lions Municipal Golf course for future generations. Info at themunyconservancy.com
Blanton Museum announced its partnership with Justine’s Brasserie for Café Fleurs de Nuit, a new dining destination opening this fall at the Blanton at 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Café Fleurs de Nuit will serve French classics alongside a bakery counter during museum hours, plus weekend brunch and Saturday night dinner when the Blanton stays open late, with dining indoors or on the patio overlooking the museum grounds, Austin by Ellsworth Kelly, and the Capitol. Updates on Insta at @cafefleursdenuit and cafefleursdenuit.com
Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum at 605 Azie Morton Rd, adjacent to Zilker Park, celebrates its 35th anniversary this year with a Garden Party on April 16. In 1985 sculptor Charles Umlauf and his wife Angeline gave to the City of Austin their home, property, art studio, and 168 sculptures, and the Umlauf was opened to the public in 1991. Upcoming programs include Umlauf After Dark: Sounds of Spring on April 7, with harp, gong, and singing bowls; and Women Who Wander Exhibition Tour on April 10 at 11 am. Details about these and Family Days and Storytime at umlaufsculpture.org as is ticket information for the Umlauf Garden Party
Austin Public Library celebrates its 100th birthday this year with events harking back to the 1920s: builder labs, crafts, movies, branch histories, dance, painting, poetry. Yarborough Branch Library at 2200 Hancock Dr will have Crafty Adults on March 31 making 1920s inspired beaded necklaces and on April 7 joining in on a Country Swing Dance Workshop. Howson Branch at 2500 Exposition Blvd will have a 1920s Edition of Builder’s Lab on April 30, and Old Quarry Branch at 7051 Village Center Dr will help Tweenagers make 1920s headbands on May 7 and 6-10 year olds make giant paper poppies inspired by Georgia O’Keefe on May 8. See library.austintexas.gov for more events.
Austin Community College at 1218 West Ave will host a traveling exhibit of the American Revolution Experience from April 15 to April 25. The exhibit is a partnership between Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Battlefield Trust with display panels and digital kiosks that delve into journeys of patriots and loyalists, men and women, Black and Native populations, and international allies. Austin-area DAR chapters Andrew Carruthers, Austin Colony, Balcones, and Thankful Hubbard partnered with ACC’s Center for Government and Civic Service to host the exhibit, which will be on view in Bldg 3000 from 10 am till 4 pm during the week and on Saturday, April 25, which is Community Day. More info at DARdonna@proton.me
Balcones Songbird Festival is sponsored by Friends of Balcones Canyonlands on April 24-26, with tour tickets and registration at friendsofbalcones.org. April is the height of breeding season and the ones who know will be looking for Nashville and black and white warblers, painted buntings, canyon wrens, rufous crowned sparrows – you get the picture. Most tours meet at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters at 24518 RM 1431, Marble Falls 78654, but you really need to preregister to get the deets for this really big birding deal
