August Annual Events In Austin
Annual events, runs and festivals in Austin, Texas in the month of August.
Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival began in 1990 as a small contest with a few spectators and has grown over the years into the world's largest hot sauce festival and judging contest. The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival attracts as many as 15,000 spectators and more than 350 entries every year and is a major fundraiser for the Capital Area Food Bank based in Austin, Texas. The 2011 Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival raised over $17,000 and almost 19,000 lbs. of food. The 2012 Hot Sauce Festival took take place at Fiesta Gardens on the East side of Austin at 2100 Jesse E. Segovia Street instead of the usual location at Waterloo Park due to renovations being undertaken at Waterloo Park. Entry to the festival is free with a donation of three healthy, nonperishable food items or a cash donation to the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas. Besides free hot sauce samples and food vendors, the Festival also features music from local Austin musicians. The date for the 2013 Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival is to be announced.
Austin Fashion Week
Austin Fashion Week is a series of events in late August hosted primarily at retail and salon locations throughout Austin showcasing the work of fashion designers in clothing, accessories and jewelry from throughout Texas. Austin Fashion Week was founded in 2009 by Launch787, an event production company in Austin. Austin Fashion Week features both established designers, new designers and those launching their first lines as well as photographers, hair stylists, makeup artists and models working in creative teams. Over a hundred events take place during Austin Fashion week including runway shows, designer meet-and-greets, themed parties and benefits for Austin non-profits. Austin Fashion Week culminates with the Austin Fashion Awards recognizing the Austin fashion scene with both People’s Choice Awards voted online by the general public and Industry Choice Awards voted on by those working in the Austin fashion industry. The tentative dates for the 2013 Austin Fashion Week are Friday 9 August to Saturday 17 August, 2013.
Austin Ice Cream Festival
The Austin Ice Cream Festival raises money for local charities such as the Austin Children's Shelter and the Young Womens Alliance. This dog friendly and kid friendly event features games, activities, contests and live entertainment and free ice cream samples. Prizes are awarded in the homemade ice cream making contest, ice cream eating contest and popsicle stick sculpture contest. The date for the 2012 Austin Ice Cream Festival was Saturday, August 4, 2012. The tentative date for the 2013 and seventh annual Austin Ice Cream Festival is Saturday, August 3, 2013.
Austin Pet Expo
Austin Pet Expo is a free one-day indoor family event event geared towards pet lovers. The Austin Pet Expo is organized by Amazing Pet Expos, which currently produces more than 27 free to the public pet expos around the country. The Austin Pet Expo showcases more than 125 local and national exhibitors and vendors including veterinarians, groomers, trainers, retailers and pet adoption and rescue organizations. Hundreds of pets will be available for adoption or application for adoption. Events include dog agility course demonstrations, pet talent contest, pet costume contest, and pet adoption from local Austin animal rescue services. Pets are welcome to also attend the Austin Pet Expo, but must on a fixed lead with proof of vaccinations or immunizations can be updated at the event. Low-cost vaccinations and microchipping will be available at the Austin Pet Expo. The 2013 Austin Pet Expo features a special appearance by Animal Planet's "Pit Boss," Shorty Rossi and his pitbull Hercules. The date for the 2013 Austin Pet Expo is Saturday, August 3, 2013.
Bat Fest
Taking place on the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, Batfest and Night of the Bat celebrates Austin's famous bat population. An estimated 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats live under the Congress Avenue Bridge. Featuring arts and crafts, music, food, bat watching, children's activities and education display. the Batfest is ponsored by the City of Austin and admission is free. The 2012 Batfest includes live music from ten bands on two stages, more than 75 arts and crafts vendors and a bat costume contest. The live bats generally emerge from under the bridge at around dusk between 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM and the emerging flight can last for up to 30 minutes. The date for the 2012 Batfest and Night of the Bat was Saturday, August 25, 2012. The date for the 2013 Batfest and Night of the Bat is to be announced.
