Best Things to Do in Austin the Week of March 30

Spring is officially here in Austin and the city feels like it woke up overnight. The heat hasn't arrived yet, patios are packed, and live music is everywhere. Here's how to make the most of the week of March 30, from free outdoor hangs to the best nights out across the city.

Get Outside While the Weather Is Perfect

Austin's window of truly ideal weather runs through April, and this week is prime. Barton Springs Pool is open daily and the grounds around it in Zilker Park are perfect for an after-work hang. The Barton Creek Greenbelt trails are in great shape right now. If you haven't done the Lady Bird Lake hike-and-bike trail lately, early morning this week will remind you why people move here.

Live Music Worth Going Out For

The Red River Cultural District is humming with touring acts passing through post-SXSW. Stubb's Indoors and The Parish both have mid-week shows worth checking out, and ticket prices are usually under $25 for weeknight sets. The Continental Club on South Congress runs live music seven nights a week. Show up after 9pm Thursday through Saturday for the main act. East 6th is the right call for lower-key evenings, with Hotel Vegas and Whisler's consistently booking great local and regional acts.

Best Happy Hours This Week

With spring energy in the air, Austin's patio happy hours are at their best. Güero's on South Congress runs $4 margaritas Monday through Friday from 4 to 7pm. The back patio fills up fast, so get there by 5pm if you want a seat. The Cedar Door downtown does $4 Lone Stars on their outdoor deck (cash only). On the east side, Whisler's has $8 mezcal cocktails all evening and the front patio is ideal this time of year.

💡 ATX Weekly Tip: Use the Deals tab in ATX Weekly to see which happy hours are running near you right now. Filter by neighborhood so you're not crossing town for a deal that already ended.

Free Things to Do This Week

Free events are everywhere in Austin this week. The UT campus is gorgeous in spring and the Blanton Museum of Art is free on Thursdays. South Congress on any weekday evening has enough foot traffic, street musicians, and window shopping to fill two hours without spending a dollar. First Thursday on South Congress is monthly, so check if it falls this week for extra street life.

Neighborhood to Explore: North Loop

If you haven't spent time on North Loop lately, this week is a good excuse. The strip of vintage shops, bars, and restaurants between Burnet and Airport has a neighborhood vibe that feels distinctly Austin. Not touristy, just local. Epoch Coffee is a classic, the Refinery has great cocktails, and the vintage shops are genuinely good for browsing. It's the kind of street where you walk in planning to spend an hour and stay three.

How ATX Weekly Can Help This Week

Open the Events tab in ATX Weekly to see what's happening near you in real time. We pull from multiple sources and update daily. The Trends tab shows which Austin neighborhoods and venues are buzzing right now. If you haven't set your neighborhood and interests in the app yet, this week is a great time to do it. Your For You tab will start surfacing events that actually match what you're into.