We’re starting to get those summer feelings in Austin in May! It’s warming up, splash pads and pools start to open, and school is almost out. Whether you’re visiting or live here, I’ve rounded up ideas for what to do and local events in May.
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May Events
Find more upcoming events on the calendar.
Pecan Street Festival: May 9-10, 2026
Each May and September, you can enjoy one of Austin’s favorite free festivals. Pecan Street Festival is a fun art fest, with hundreds of craft artisans and live music. While it used to happen downtown, it’s not in Hill Country Galleria (which means plenty of parking!). It’s free to attend and even has a kids area.
City of Kyle Movies in the Park: May 8, 2026
Kyle’s May Movie in the Park will be the live action Lilo and Stitch. The movie will start at sundown (around 7 p.m.) at La Verde Park.
Leander Kite Festival: May 2, 2026
Bring your own kite or watch others fly theirs at this free annual fest. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Devine Lake Park.
Saengerfest, New Braunfels: May 2, 2026
Go south to Downtown New Braunfels for this free festival, featuring live music, family activities and lots of shopping and food.
Kyle Fair A Tex-Travaganza: May 15-17
Head to Lake Kyle Park for 3 nights of free live music. You can see Sunny Sauceda, Easton Corbin, Latin Breed, and more. There are also carnival rides, mini golf, crafts, a fun run, a drone show.
Rock the Park: May 15, 2026
Rock the Park is a series of free, family-friendly concerts in Mueller Lake Park amphitheater, spring and fall seasons.
May 15 will feature DJ Jester the Filipino Fist and The Animeros. Music starts at 6:45.
Woodland Faerie Trail at Zilker Botanical Garden: Starting May 9
The 2026 Woodland Faerie Trail at Zilker Botanical opens on May 9 (with a grand celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and goes through July. There will be 75 faerie homes on display, all built by the community. Included with general admission.
Splash Pads Open
Some splash pads in the suburbs opened in April, but most of the rest of the area opens their splash pads in May. Which is perfect timing as the weather starts to get hot!
The splash pads operated by the city of Austin open May 1 (and stay open until Halloween)! Some of my favorites are Ricky Guerrero, Rosewood and Clarksville.
Kyle’s Gregg Clarke and Steeplechase splash pads open May 23.
Georgetown and Round Rock splash pads area already open (since April 1). Pflugerville splash pads open Memorial Day weekend.
Things To Do In May
See the Congress Avenue bats! The country’s largest urban bat population come out around sunset from under the Congress Avenue Bridge, from late March through September.
Barton Springs is so fun when it’s hot out — you can cool off in the cold water and then warm up in the sun! May is a nice time of year to check it out.
Head to Lady Bird Lake or Lake Travis to kayak! Check out the Rowing Dock, Texas Rowing Center, Epic SUP, Austin Paddle Shack, and Austin Paddleboard and Kayak.
The weather in May can be sunny or stormy! If you need indoor ideas, check out these indoor play places. Or get even more indoor ideas for all ages.
Many water parks and pools open in May! Check them out here.
What’s the weather like in Austin in May?
By the end of May, it’s starting to feel like summer in Austin (but not as hot as July or August). The temperatures on average are: lows in the mid-60s to low 70s, and highs in the 80s (potentially 90/low 90s).
May is the rainiest month of the year, so there may be some showers and even more severe thunderstorms.