Bat Fest celebrates Austin's most unusual claim to fame—the 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats that live under the Congress Avenue Bridge. This annual August street festival features live music on two stages, over 50 arts and crafts vendors, a bat costume contest, and food from Austin's best vendors. The highlight is the mass bat emergence at dusk, when the colony streams out in a spectacular natural display viewed by thousands of festival attendees lining the bridge and lakefront.
Event Highlights
- ★Mass bat emergence
- ★Live music
- ★Bat costume contest
- ★50+ vendors
- ★Lakeside setting
What to Expect
- ➤Hot August evening
- ➤Massive bat flight at dusk
- ➤Live music all day
- ➤Food and craft vendors
- ➤Festive atmosphere
Insider Tips
- Arrive early for good bat-watching spot
- Stay hydrated—August is hot
- Bat costume contest is fun
- Emergence happens around sunset