Austin Weekend Guide: July 3-5

It's July 4th weekend and Austin is doing the most, as usual. Willie's Picnic is back, fireworks go up over the lake Saturday night, and it's going to be about 98 degrees the whole time. Here's how to play it.

Saturday Morning Pick

Beat the holiday crowds at Barton Springs. The pool runs swim-at-your-own-risk hours from 5 to 8 a.m. with no entry fee, and the water sits at 68 degrees no matter what the forecast says. Get there by 7:30, do your laps or just float, and you're out before the towel-to-towel crowd shows up. If a cold plunge isn't your thing, Barton Creek Farmers Market runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Barton Creek Square lot, and the peach stands are peaking right now.

Brunch Worth the Wait

Paperboy on the east side is the move this weekend. Get the basted eggs with sweet potato hash and add the pork belly. Weekend waits run 30 to 45 minutes by 10 a.m., so put your name in and walk to Cuvee for a coffee. Closer to downtown, Phoebe's Diner on South Congress does a proper diner brunch with strong Bloody Marys, and the wait is usually shorter if you show up before 10 or after 1.

Live Music This Weekend

The big one is Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic on Saturday at Germania Insurance Amphitheater. Billy Strings, Wilco, Sheryl Crow, Margo Price, and Lukas Nelson are all on the bill, gates open at 2 p.m., music starts at 3:30, and lawn spots start at $65. Bring water, it's an all-day cook. Friday night, the Continental Club Gallery on South Congress has Josh Perdue at 8:30 p.m. for a $10 cover, 21 and up, and it's one of the best cheap nights out in the city. If you're on Rainey Street, Half Step is running live music and DJs Friday, then dance sets Saturday night, no cover.

Sunday Chill

Sleep in, then hit Mueller Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's shadier than most markets in town, the breakfast taco lines move fast, and you can carry your finds over to the lake at Mueller for a low-effort picnic. If you're wrecked from Saturday, Half Step's Sunday hang has free hot dogs and drink specials, which is about the right energy level.

Local Hidden Gem

Rowing Dock's annual July 4th fireworks paddle. You rent a kayak or paddleboard, head out on Lady Bird Lake after dark, and watch the Austin Symphony fireworks explode over the downtown skyline from the water. Most people fight for a patch of grass at Auditorium Shores. The people on the water have the best seats in the city. Reservations go fast, so book online today if you want in.

ATX Weekly App Tip

💡 ATX Weekly Tip: Holiday weekends scramble everyone's hours. Check the Open Now tab in the ATX Weekly app before you drive anywhere Saturday, it shows which bars, pools, and restaurants are actually open on July 4th so you're not standing in front of a locked door.