If March is the month when Austin gets completely taken over by SXSW, April is when the city finally gets back to being itself.

The crowds from SXSW have disappeared. The barricades are coming down. The temporary stages are gone. Downtown starts feeling a little more normal again, and Austinites can finally get back to the things they actually do all year long: finding new restaurants, checking out new bars, listening to live music, drinking on patios and figuring out what is happening around town that weekend.

And April might be one of the best months to do it.

The weather is warm enough to spend hours outside without the brutal heat that will arrive later in the summer. Restaurants are opening patios, breweries are filling their outdoor spaces, music venues are booking spring shows, and Austin’s festival calendar is getting crowded again.

For Baller ATX, this is the part of the year when the question isn’t really “What’s happening in Austin?”

It’s:

“How are we going to fit everything in?”

APRIL IS THE START OF PATIO SEASON

The biggest change you’ll notice around Austin in April isn’t necessarily one particular event.

It’s the patios.

After months of unpredictable winter weather, restaurants and bars start moving people outside whenever the temperature cooperates.

This is the time of year when a casual lunch can turn into an afternoon of drinks.

A happy hour can turn into dinner.

Dinner can turn into live music.

And suddenly it’s 11 p.m. and you’re wondering how a quick drink turned into an entire night.

That’s Austin in April.

The city is built for outdoor drinking and dining, and April is one of the months when you can actually enjoy it without immediately feeling like you’re sitting inside an oven.

East Austin is especially good for this.

The area around East Sixth and the surrounding neighborhoods has enough restaurants, cocktail bars, breweries and patios that you can spend an entire afternoon moving from one place to another without needing to drive across town.

EAST AUSTIN CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE CITY’S HOTTEST FOOD AREAS

If you haven’t spent much time exploring East Austin’s food scene lately, April is a good excuse to start.

The neighborhood continues to be one of the most interesting places in the city for restaurants, bars and food trucks.

And what’s particularly fun is the variety.

You can find tacos.

You can find barbecue.

You can find burgers.

You can find upscale dining.

You can find casual neighborhood spots.

And you can find places where the restaurant is barely distinguishable from the bar next door.

That combination is what makes East Austin so much fun for a Saturday afternoon.

Start with lunch.

Find a patio.

Get a drink.

Walk around.

Grab another drink.

Then figure out where you’re eating dinner.

No reservation required.

THE BAR SCENE IS MOVING OUTSIDE

April is also when Austin’s bar scene starts changing.

The rooftop bars become more attractive.

Outdoor cocktail patios fill up.

Breweries start hosting more events.

Bars begin booking more outdoor entertainment.

And people start treating drinking outside like a legitimate afternoon activity again.

Austin has always had a strong patio culture, but there’s something different about the first few weeks of spring when everyone realizes they can finally sit outside for hours.

You start seeing groups meeting for happy hour.

People bringing dogs to patios.

Friends gathering for Sunday afternoon drinks.

And people who normally never go out on weeknights suddenly deciding they need to meet for “just one.”

It rarely stays at one.

LIVE MUSIC DOESN’T STOP AFTER SXSW

One mistake people make is assuming that SXSW is the beginning and end of Austin’s music calendar.

It isn’t.

SXSW is simply the biggest concentrated burst of music.

Once it’s over, the city’s normal music scene takes over again.

April is packed with concerts at Austin’s established venues, smaller clubs, neighborhood bars and outdoor spaces.

The Red River district remains one of the easiest places to build a music night because you can move between venues without spending half the evening in traffic.

You can see one band at Mohawk, walk to another venue, grab food and then finish the night somewhere else.

That’s one of the reasons the Red River area remains important even as Austin’s nightlife continues expanding into other parts of the city.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE SMALL VENUES

If you only pay attention to the biggest concerts, you’re missing a huge part of Austin.

April is a great month to find smaller shows.

Check the schedules at local clubs.

Look at neighborhood bars.

Pay attention to bands playing early sets.

And if you don’t recognize the name, give them a chance.

That’s one of the best things about Austin’s music scene.

You don’t need to know the artist before you walk through the door.

Sometimes the best night is the one you didn’t plan.

THE FOOD TRUCK SCENE IS STILL AUSTIN’S SECRET WEAPON

Restaurants get a lot of attention, but April is also a great month for food trucks.

The weather is perfect for eating outside, and food trucks give you the freedom to build your own evening.

Grab tacos.

Get a burger.

Try something you’ve never had.

Find a food truck park.

Order a drink nearby.

And keep moving.

One of the best things about Austin’s food scene is that you don’t always have to commit to a traditional restaurant.

Some of the city’s most interesting food comes from small operators working out of trailers.

And because April is comfortable enough to eat outside, there’s no reason to stay indoors.

SPRING IS BRINGING NEW RESTAURANT EXCITEMENT

April is also a good time to start paying attention to restaurant openings.

Austin’s food scene doesn’t stay still for very long.

One restaurant closes.

Another opens.

A chef moves into a new space.

A food truck becomes a brick-and-mortar.

An established restaurant opens a second location.

And suddenly everybody is trying to figure out whether the newest place is actually worth the hype.

That’s part of the fun.

Don’t automatically assume the newest restaurant is the best restaurant.

Give it a chance.

But also keep an eye on places that have been quietly building a following.

Sometimes the restaurant that’s been open for six months is better than the place that opened yesterday.

BARBECUE SEASON NEVER REALLY ENDS IN AUSTIN

April is also a great month to revisit Austin barbecue.

The weather makes standing outside in line considerably more pleasant than it will be in July.

If you’ve been putting off trying a barbecue spot because you didn’t want to deal with the wait, spring is a much better time.

And don’t limit yourself to the famous names.

Austin’s barbecue scene stretches well beyond the restaurants tourists know.

Explore.

Try different places.

Compare brisket.

Argue about which one is better.

That’s basically an Austin tradition itself.

TACOS ARE STILL KING

And while we’re talking about food, April wouldn’t be April in Austin without tacos.

Breakfast tacos.

Street tacos.

Food-truck tacos.

Upscale tacos.

Late-night tacos.

There is no shortage.

The best way to approach Austin’s taco scene is to stop trying to find one definitive answer.

There isn’t one.

Everybody has a favorite.

And everybody thinks your favorite is wrong.

That’s how it works.

Instead, build your own list.

Try places in different parts of town.

Compare them.

Then argue about them with your friends.

KITE FEST IS BACK

One of the more recognizable April traditions is the ABC Kite Fest, which returns to Zilker Park.

It’s been an Austin tradition for generations and is a great excuse to spend a spring afternoon outside.

But it doesn’t have to consume your entire weekend.

Go see the kites.

Walk around.

Take some pictures.

Then leave Zilker and find lunch, drinks or live music.

That’s the Austin way to do it.

Make the event part of your day instead of making it your entire day.

EEYORE’S BIRTHDAY IS ANOTHER APRIL TRADITION

April also brings Eeyore’s Birthday Party, one of the city’s longest-running and strangest annual traditions.

If you’ve never been, expect costumes, drums, dancing, food and plenty of people embracing Austin’s weird side.

It’s a completely different experience from Kite Fest, but that’s exactly what makes April interesting.

One weekend you’re watching kites over Zilker.

Another weekend you’re watching costumed Austinites celebrate a fictional donkey.

And somehow neither seems unusual here.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LADY BIRD LAKE

If you haven’t walked the Lady Bird Lake trail in a while, April is the month to do it.

The weather is usually good enough to make the walk enjoyable without feeling like you’re training for survival.

Go in the morning.

Go after work.

Walk with friends.

Run.

Rent a kayak.

Or simply sit somewhere near the water.

You don’t need to spend money every time you go out in Austin.

Sometimes the best plan is free.

SPRING IS ALSO A GOOD TIME FOR BREWERIES

Austin’s brewery scene becomes especially attractive in April.

Outdoor seating.

Food trucks.

Live music.

Games.

Dogs.

Friends.

And cold beer.

The brewery doesn’t necessarily have to be the final destination.

Use it as a starting point.

Meet friends.

Have a beer.

Get something to eat.

Then decide where you’re going next.

That’s much more fun than sitting at home trying to figure out what everybody wants to do.

EAST SIXTH IS GETTING BUSY AGAIN

East Sixth is another neighborhood worth watching as the weather improves.

The bar scene becomes more active.

Patios fill up.

Restaurants stay busy later.

And the streets start feeling like they did before the summer heat arrives.

If you’re looking for a casual Saturday night, East Sixth is still one of the easiest places to start.

You don’t need to know exactly where you’re going.

Just walk.

Look around.

Find a place that looks interesting.

Go inside.

RED RIVER IS STILL THE BETTER CHOICE FOR MUSIC

If your priority is music rather than bar hopping, head toward Red River.

The concentration of venues makes it much easier to see multiple artists in one night.

And unlike SXSW, you’re not trying to squeeze 20 shows into one evening.

Pick two or three.

Enjoy them.

Grab some food.

Have a drink.

That’s enough.

SOUTH CONGRESS IS PERFECT FOR A SPRING SATURDAY

South Congress also benefits from the April weather.

Start with coffee.

Walk the avenue.

Shop.

Get lunch.

Have a cocktail.

Take pictures.

Then stay for dinner.

The neighborhood can get crowded, especially on weekends, but that’s part of the atmosphere.

If you’re bringing someone to Austin for the first time, South Congress is still an easy recommendation because it gives you food, shopping, drinks and people-watching all within a relatively small area.

THE BEST PART OF APRIL: YOU DON’T NEED A BIG EVENT

This might be the biggest difference between April and March.

During SXSW, you feel like you have to be somewhere.

There’s always another event.

Another party.

Another show.

Another RSVP.

April is different.

You can wake up Saturday morning and decide what you want to do that day.

Want brunch?

Go.

Want tacos?

Find tacos.

Want a brewery?

Pick one.

Want live music?

Check the schedule.

Want to sit on a patio for four hours?

That’s perfectly acceptable.

Austin doesn’t need a giant festival every weekend.

THE BALLER ATX APRIL GAME PLAN

If we were putting together the perfect April Saturday, we’d keep it simple.

Start with breakfast tacos.

Find a good coffee.

Head outside.

Walk around Zilker or Lady Bird Lake.

Grab lunch somewhere with a patio.

Find a brewery or cocktail bar.

Take a break.

Then head toward East Sixth or Red River.

See some live music.

Grab late-night food.

And don’t make plans for the next morning.

You’re going to need it.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR THIS MONTH

April is also the time to keep an eye on what’s coming next.

Restaurants announcing new locations.

Bars opening.

New food trucks.

Spring concert announcements.

Outdoor events.

Pool season approaching.

And summer festival schedules beginning to take shape.

Austin changes quickly, and some of the biggest news isn’t always the event happening that weekend.

It’s what’s about to open.

What’s about to close.

And what’s about to become the next place everybody is talking about.

APRIL IS THE MONTH TO GET OUT

There’s something about April that makes Austin feel like itself again.

SXSW is behind us.

The summer heat hasn’t arrived.

The patios are open.

The parks are busy.

The restaurants are experimenting.

The bars are getting crowded.

The music venues are working.

And people are outside.

You don’t need a huge budget.

You don’t need a reservation.

You don’t need a festival wristband.

Pick a neighborhood.

Find some food.

Get a drink.

Listen to music.

Walk around.

Try something new.

And if you happen to run into a giant kite flying over Zilker Park or a group of people celebrating Eeyore’s birthday along the way, even better.

That’s April in Austin.

The city is outside again.

December in Austin is when the city completely changes personality.

The weather finally gets cool enough to make a jacket useful, downtown starts filling with holiday lights, restaurants roll out seasonal menus, and bars that normally have very little to do with Christmas suddenly become covered in tinsel, lights, ornaments and enough fake snow to make you forget you’re still in Texas.

And then there is the one Austin holiday tradition that everybody knows:

The Trail of Lights.

But if you think December in Austin is just about taking a walk through Zilker Park and looking at Christmas lights, you’re missing a huge part of what makes the month fun.

December 2023 is bringing back the Trail of Lights, holiday pop-up bars, Christmas markets, seasonal food and plenty of ways to spend the final weeks of the year without sitting at home watching Christmas movies for the 47th time.

And once Christmas is over, Austin immediately switches gears.

Because New Year’s Eve is coming.

THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS IS BACK

For many Austinites, December doesn’t officially begin until the Austin Trail of Lights turns on.

The tradition dates all the way back to 1965, when what started as a small community gathering around a yule log eventually grew into one of Austin’s biggest holiday attractions.

In 2023, the Trail is returning to Zilker Park with more than 2 million lights, 96 lighted trees, more than 70 holiday displays and lighted tunnels, creating a roughly 2.5-mile walk through the park.

That’s a lot of Christmas lights.

And that’s exactly why you shouldn’t treat the Trail of Lights like a quick stop.

You’re going to walk.

You’re going to stop.

You’re going to take pictures.

You’re going to get distracted by food.

You’re probably going to wait for somebody in your group to catch up.

And eventually somebody is going to say, “Are we almost done?”

No.

You’re not.

WHAT’S NEW FOR 2023?

One of the biggest changes this year is the way the Trail is handling admission.

There are multiple free general-admission nights, including December 8, 10 and several nights during the middle of the month, while paid general admission is offered on other nights. The festival also continues to offer upgraded options such as ZIP passes and Platinum experiences for people who want earlier access and additional amenities.

That means you can still experience one of Austin’s biggest holiday traditions without necessarily spending a fortune.

And that’s something we like.

The Trail also continues to offer the things that have become traditions of their own: the Ferris wheel, carousel, Santa’s House, food vendors, live entertainment and designated areas where visitors can roast s’mores.

THE BEST WAY TO DO THE TRAIL

Here’s the Baller ATX recommendation:

Don’t rush it.

Go after sunset.

Wear comfortable shoes.

Bring a jacket because Austin December weather can change quickly.

And don’t show up expecting to walk straight through without stopping.

You’re going to stop.

You should stop.

Take pictures.

Look at the displays.

Get something to eat.

Get a drink.

Ride the Ferris wheel if you’re feeling adventurous.

And make sure you actually walk through the entire trail.

The whole point is experiencing it.

DON’T DRIVE IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO

The Trail of Lights can create a serious parking headache around Zilker Park.

In 2023, parking at Zilker was limited and required a prepaid parking pass, while organizers encouraged visitors to use rideshare, carpools and the Trail’s shuttle system. Shuttle tickets included Trail admission.

So plan ahead.

If you’re going with friends, carpool.

If you’re drinking, rideshare.

And if you’re trying to save money, look at the shuttle options.

The worst way to start a holiday night is sitting in traffic around Zilker wondering where you’re supposed to park.

THE HOLIDAY BAR TAKEOVER

Once you’re done with the lights, Austin’s holiday bar scene is waiting.

And 2023 is bringing back one of the city’s most recognizable Christmas pop-ups:

Miracle on 5th Street.

The holiday takeover at The Eleanor returns for its seventh year, running from November 16 through December 27.

The entire bar gets transformed into a Christmas-themed wonderland, complete with elaborate decorations and holiday cocktails including Jingle Balls Nog, hot buttered rum and seasonal shots.

This is not a subtle Christmas bar.

If you’re looking for one little Christmas tree in the corner, this isn’t it.

The whole point is excess.

Lights.

Ornaments.

Christmas music.

Ridiculous drinks.

And decorations covering basically everything.

That’s exactly why people go.

FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS BAR

Downtown also gets another major holiday transformation in 2023 with Frosty’s Christmas Bar at Tiger Lilly.

The bar becomes a three-floor holiday experience featuring four different bars, themed drinks and massive decorations, including life-size nutcrackers, Christmas trees and enough Christmas lights to make Santa’s navigation system unnecessary.

And this is becoming a bigger trend in Austin.

Holiday bars aren’t just bars with a Christmas cocktail anymore.

They’re experiences.

You walk in and you’re supposed to feel like you stepped into somebody’s extremely over-the-top Christmas fantasy.

And honestly?

Austin does it pretty well.

AUSTIN’S HOLIDAY BARS HAVE BECOME AN EVENT

The holiday pop-up bar scene has changed dramatically over the years.

What used to mean putting a wreath on the door and serving eggnog has turned into full-on productions.

Bars build elaborate themes.

Menus change.

Cocktails get ridiculous names.

There are decorations everywhere.

Some places add Christmas markets, movie nights, themed parties and special events.

That means December has become one of the most entertaining months to explore Austin’s bar scene.

You can spend an entire night visiting holiday bars and never see the same Christmas decorations twice.

DON’T FORGET LALA’S

And then there’s Lala’s Little Nugget.

Unlike the temporary holiday pop-ups, Lala’s has been famous for its Christmas decorations year-round.

That’s what makes it different.

You don’t need to wait until December to get the Christmas experience.

But December is obviously when it makes the most sense.

If you want something more old-school and less polished than the giant holiday pop-ups, Lala’s is the kind of place that feels authentically Austin.

It’s weird.

It’s nostalgic.

It’s a little divey.

And it’s covered in Christmas.

Exactly how it should be.

MAKE IT A HOLIDAY BAR CRAWL

If you’re going to do the holiday bars, don’t just go to one.

Make a night of it.

Start downtown.

Have a drink.

Walk or rideshare to the next place.

Find another Christmas theme.

Then head east.

Grab food.

Find another bar.

The key is to keep the group small enough that you can actually move around.

And remember:

You don’t need to drink at every stop.

Sometimes the best move is to order one drink, look around, take some pictures and move on.

Otherwise, by bar number three, your Christmas spirit is going to be significantly stronger than your ability to walk.

CHRISTMAS FOOD IN AUSTIN

December also gives Austin restaurants an excuse to get creative.

Holiday menus start appearing.

Bakeries begin producing seasonal desserts.

Restaurants add special cocktails.

Coffee shops bring back peppermint, gingerbread and other winter flavors.

And because Austin is Austin, you’ll inevitably find some restaurant putting a Texas spin on a holiday classic.

That’s part of the fun.

You don’t have to eat a traditional Christmas meal every time you go out.

Look for seasonal specials.

Look for holiday brunches.

Look for restaurants doing special dinners.

And definitely look for the bakeries and dessert shops that go all-in on Christmas.

December is one of the easiest months of the year to justify eating dessert.

It’s practically required.

AUSTIN DOES CHRISTMAS DIFFERENTLY

One thing that makes an Austin December interesting is that the city never completely gives up its personality for the holidays.

You might see a traditional Christmas display next to a taco truck.

You might find Santa at a bar.

You might drink an eggnog cocktail at a dive.

You might eat barbecue while looking at Christmas lights.

And you might spend the afternoon in shorts before needing a jacket that night.

That’s Austin.

Christmas here doesn’t mean everything suddenly becomes traditional.

It becomes Austin Christmas.

And that’s much more fun.

THEN COMES NEW YEAR’S EVE

Once Christmas is over, the entire city changes gears.

Suddenly everybody wants to know:

“What are we doing for New Year’s?”

Austin has never had a shortage of options.

Downtown parties.

Live music.

Bars.

Rooftops.

Hotel parties.

Dance clubs.

Restaurants.

Neighborhood celebrations.

And, of course, plenty of people who wait until December 30 to start figuring out what they’re doing.

Don’t be that person.

If you’re planning a big New Year’s Eve night, start thinking about it early.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO SPEND $200

One of the biggest misconceptions about New Year’s Eve is that you need to buy an expensive ticket to have fun.

You don’t.

Some of Austin’s best New Year’s celebrations can be found at regular bars and music venues where the focus is simply on having a good night.

In 2023, local recommendations included places such as Far Out Lounge, where people could catch live music without paying the enormous prices associated with some downtown New Year’s events.

And that’s something to remember.

A packed bar with a good band can be just as fun as a giant hotel party.

Sometimes more fun.

LIVE MUSIC IS THE SAFE BET

If you’re not sure what to do on New Year’s Eve, live music is usually a good answer in Austin.

Find a band you like.

Get some friends together.

Go somewhere with food and drinks.

Watch the show.

Countdown at midnight.

Then figure out how you’re getting home.

You don’t need to reinvent New Year’s Eve.

You just need a good place and good people.

THE BEST NEW YEAR’S EVE STRATEGY

Here’s the Baller ATX plan:

Dinner around 7 p.m.

Don’t start the night hungry.

Drinks around 8:30.

Find your first bar.

Live music around 9:30.

Get somewhere you’ll want to stay.

Midnight countdown.

Celebrate.

12:15 a.m.

Do not immediately try to leave downtown with 100,000 other people.

Stay put.

Have another drink.

Grab food.

Let the traffic calm down.

1:30 or 2 a.m.

Head home safely.

The worst New Year’s Eve plan is trying to move across Austin immediately after midnight.

Everybody else has the same idea.

AND THEN THERE’S THE AFTERPARTY

For people who aren’t ready to go home at midnight, Austin’s nightlife continues.

Some bars stay open late.

Some venues have DJs.

Some restaurants and food spots continue serving.

And the city’s dive bars are often the place to go if you want to escape the giant downtown crowds.

That’s another reason we love Austin.

You don’t have to celebrate New Year’s Eve in one particular way.

You can go huge.

You can go casual.

You can stay home.

You can go to a neighborhood bar.

You can see a concert.

You can get dressed up.

You can wear jeans and a T-shirt.

There is no wrong answer.

DECEMBER IS ABOUT TRADITIONS

That’s ultimately what makes December special in Austin.

The Trail of Lights.

Holiday bars.

Christmas decorations.

Seasonal food.

Old traditions.

New traditions.

And then New Year’s Eve.

Somebody will go to the Trail for the first time.

Somebody else will have gone every year since they were a kid.

Somebody will discover Lala’s.

Somebody will spend the entire month trying every holiday cocktail in town.

Somebody will insist they have found the best Christmas lights in Austin.

And somebody will wait until 11 p.m. on December 31 to figure out where they’re going.

Don’t be that person.

THE BALLER ATX DECEMBER CHECKLIST

If you’re looking for a simple Austin December bucket list, start here:

✔ Walk the Trail of Lights

✔ Find a holiday pop-up bar

✔ Visit Lala’s Little Nugget

✔ Try a seasonal cocktail

✔ Eat something from a holiday menu

✔ Check out a Christmas lights neighborhood

✔ See live music

✔ Find a new restaurant

✔ Make New Year’s Eve plans

✔ Have a safe ride home

And most importantly:

Get out of the house.

Austin is at its best when you’re actually experiencing it.

THE FINAL MONTH OF THE YEAR

December has a funny way of making people slow down.

The year is ending.

People are coming home.

Friends are visiting.

Restaurants are busy.

Bars are decorated.

The city feels a little different.

And Austin has plenty of ways to take advantage of it.

Start at Zilker.

Walk through millions of lights.

Find a holiday drink.

Eat something good.

Listen to some music.

Visit a bar you’ve never tried.

Then, when Christmas is over, get ready for the final night of the year.

Because New Year’s Eve in Austin is waiting.

And if you plan it correctly, you can end 2023 exactly how you should:

With good food, good drinks, good music and a great group of people.

That’s a pretty good way to finish the year.