June is when Austin stops pretending summer is coming and finally admits that summer has arrived.

The temperatures are climbing, the sun stays out late, Barton Springs is packed, lake weekends are becoming a regular part of people’s schedules, and every bar with an outdoor space is trying to figure out how to keep its customers cool.

But June 2023 has another reason to get outside.

It’s time for Austin’s annual summer tradition of finding somewhere with water, shade, cold drinks and good music—and staying there as long as possible.

After a spring packed with SXSW, Eeyore’s Birthday, Kite Fest and countless other events, June feels less like a festival month and more like a giant citywide patio party.

The best part?

You don’t have to travel far.

Austin has everything you need for a summer weekend right here.

Start with Barton Springs Pool.

There may be no more iconic way to spend a hot Austin afternoon.

The water is cold.

Really cold.

But when the temperature outside is climbing toward triple digits, that becomes a feature rather than a problem.

Barton Springs is fed by natural springs and stays around 68 degrees year-round.

That means you can jump into the water in June and immediately forget that it is 95 degrees outside.

The pool is also one of the easiest places to spend several hours without needing to create an elaborate itinerary.

Swim.

Lay in the grass.

Read a book.

People-watch.

Talk with friends.

Go back into the water.

Repeat.

That’s an Austin summer day.

But Barton Springs isn’t the only place to cool off.

Deep Eddy Pool remains another excellent choice for people who want a more traditional swimming-pool experience.

It is smaller and more neighborhood-oriented, but that’s part of its charm.

If Barton Springs feels like a destination, Deep Eddy feels like a local hangout.

And June is when both become especially important because Austin’s outdoor culture starts revolving around escaping the heat.

Another obvious option is getting out onto Lady Bird Lake.

Kayaking and paddleboarding are perfect June activities because you can spend the afternoon outside while actually being in the water.

And unlike a traditional pool day, getting onto the lake can turn into a full adventure.

Rent a kayak.

Bring friends.

Paddle around.

Stop somewhere afterward for food.

Then find a patio.

That’s a much better Saturday than spending the entire day inside watching television.

The same goes for Lake Travis.

By June, the lake becomes one of the major summer playgrounds for Austin.

Boats are everywhere.

People are renting pontoons.

Groups are planning lake houses.

Restaurants near the water get busy.

And the weekends become noticeably more energetic.

If you have friends with a boat, June is when you suddenly become very interested in being their friend.

If you don’t have a boat, don’t worry.

There are plenty of rental options and lake-related activities that don’t require boat ownership.

The important thing is getting out there.

Because June is also when Austin’s pool-party culture begins.

Hotels and rooftop venues start promoting summer pool events, and weekends become a steady rotation of DJs, frozen cocktails and people trying to stay cool.

The key to surviving a pool party in Austin is simple:

Hydrate.

It sounds boring.

It isn’t.

Sun plus alcohol is a terrible combination if you don’t drink water.

Bring sunscreen.

Drink water.

Take breaks from the sun.

And know when you’ve had enough.

You want to remember the party.

You don’t want to spend Sunday recovering from heat exhaustion.

The other major June trend is the return of the frozen drink.

Austin loves frozen cocktails in the summer.

Frosé.

Frozen margaritas.

Frozen daiquiris.

Frozen everything.

This is the time of year when bartenders start turning drinks into slushies.

And honestly, there is no better time for it.

One of the city’s most famous frozen drinks is the Frozen Irish Coffee at Nickel City.

The East Austin bar’s version has become a summer tradition and is exactly the kind of drink that makes sense when it’s 100 degrees outside.

You can also find frozen margaritas throughout the city, especially at Tex-Mex restaurants and neighborhood bars.

If you’re planning a summer bar crawl, make sure frozen drinks are part of the itinerary.

Just don’t make every drink a frozen cocktail.

Your brain will thank you.

June is also an excellent month for Austin’s food-truck scene.

The heat makes outdoor dining more complicated, but food-truck parks often have covered seating, fans and plenty of cold drinks.

And the variety is unbeatable.

You can get tacos.

Pizza.

Burgers.

Asian food.

Barbecue.

Desserts.

Breakfast.

Vegan options.

And probably something you didn’t even know existed.

This is a good month to stop going to the same restaurant every weekend.

Pick a food-truck park.

Bring friends.

Let everyone choose something different.

Then spend the rest of the evening nearby.

Austin’s restaurant scene is also moving heavily toward summer menus.

Expect more seafood.

More salads.

More fresh produce.

More margaritas.

More patio specials.

And more restaurants encouraging customers to spend the evening outside.

The city’s patios become a major part of the dining experience.

But there is one rule:

Choose your patio carefully.

A west-facing patio at 5 p.m. in June can feel like sitting on the surface of the sun.

A shaded patio with fans can be perfect.

Look for shade.

Look for fans.

Look for misters.

And if the patio doesn’t have any of those things, make sure you really like the people you’re sitting with.

Because you’re going to be sweating.

June also means the return of live music outside.

Austin’s music scene never stops, but warm weather creates more opportunities for outdoor performances.

Smaller venues continue booking local bands while bars and restaurants use music to bring people onto patios.

The Red River Cultural District remains one of the best areas for discovering live music.

If you’re looking for something to do on a Friday night, don’t automatically search for a giant concert.

Look at the smaller venues.

Pick a band you’ve never heard of.

Go see them.

Then find another place nearby.

That is still one of the best ways to experience Austin.

June is also when Austin starts looking toward the Fourth of July.

But before we get there, there is another important summer event to watch:

Austin FC.

The soccer club has quickly become part of Austin’s sports and nightlife culture, and match days at Q2 Stadium have created an entirely new type of pregame experience.

Even if you aren’t going into the stadium, the surrounding area can become busy with supporters before matches.

Bars fill up.

People wear green.

Music plays.

And Austin FC supporters turn game day into an all-day event.

For people looking for something different from the traditional bar scene, this is worth checking out.

Sports plus food plus drinks plus live music is basically the Austin summer formula.

And if you are going to an Austin FC match, don’t forget the obvious:

Eat before you go.

Or arrive early enough to explore the food options around the stadium.

Because once the match starts, you’re going to want to stay in the atmosphere.

Another June tradition worth exploring is Pride.

Austin’s LGBTQ+ community has a strong presence throughout the city’s nightlife and entertainment scene, and June’s Pride-related events bring parties, drag performances, music and community events to bars and venues throughout the city.

If you’re looking for nightlife beyond the traditional downtown districts, June is a good time to explore the city’s drag and LGBTQ+ bars.

You may discover a completely different side of Austin nightlife.

And that’s really what June should be about.

Exploring.

Getting outside.

Trying something new.

The spring festival season gets all the attention, but summer is when Austin’s everyday culture becomes more interesting.

A swimming hole.

A food truck.

A neighborhood bar.

A live band.

A lake.

A patio.

A frozen cocktail.

You don’t need a major event to have a great Austin weekend.

In fact, some of the best summer nights happen when there isn’t a plan at all.

You start at one restaurant.

Someone suggests another bar.

You walk somewhere.

You hear music.

You stop.

Then someone says there’s a pool party.

Suddenly it’s midnight.

That’s Austin.

Of course, the heat can be a problem.

June is the beginning of the long stretch where you have to think about the weather before planning an outdoor activity.

Check the forecast.

Carry water.

Wear sunscreen.

Don’t leave pets in hot cars.

And remember that pavement can get extremely hot.

If you’re bringing your dog to a patio, make sure there is shade and water.

The city may be fun in the summer, but Texas heat is serious.

The best strategy is to plan around it.

Do outdoor activities early.

Go swimming during the afternoon.

Take a break indoors during the hottest part of the day.

Then come back outside after sunset.

That is the Austin summer schedule.

Morning:

Breakfast tacos.

Afternoon:

Pool or lake.

Evening:

Dinner and patio.

Night:

Live music and drinks.

Repeat.

And June is just the beginning.

July will be hotter.

August will be hotter.

So enjoy June while you can.

The city is entering its longest stretch of summer, and Austin’s food, bar, music and outdoor scenes are ready.

The pools are packed.

The lakes are busy.

The patios are full.

The frozen drinks are flowing.

The bands are playing.

And everyone is looking for the same thing:

somewhere to stay cool.

So grab your swimsuit.

Find a shaded patio.

Order something frozen.

Put on some sunscreen.

And get outside.

Summer has officially arrived in Austin.