November in Austin: Food & Wine, and More Near Downtown
Written by: Sonia Raudales
November in Austin is the reward for making it through summer. The mornings are crisp, the patios are still packed, and the whole city is full of reasons to get out and explore: glowing art along Waller Creek, a food festival on the lakeshore, a weekend of books at the Capitol, and the first holiday shopping of the year. Here’s what we’re looking forward to across Austin this month.
1. Creek Show at Waterloo Greenway (Rainey & East Downtown)
Credits: Waller Wildlings by Kick Punch Bite, LLC. Image courtesy of Waterloo Greenway
November 13–21 | 6–10 p.m. nightly | Waterloo Greenway, 4th St. to Lady Bird Lake
Creek Show is one of our favorite Austin traditions, and this year it’s closer to home than ever. For the first time, the light-art festival moves to Waterloo Greenway’s newly opened southern stretch, including the Confluence, running along Waller Creek from 4th Street down to Lady Bird Lake. Ten light-based installations by Austin artists and architects line the creek, turning an evening walk into something truly magical.
Each night has its own theme, from Family Night (Nov. 14) and Maker Night with a 7 p.m. artist talk (Nov. 15) to a free Community Night (Nov. 16, reservation required). Choose a 6–8 p.m. or 8–10 p.m. entry, and kids 5 and under get in free. The main entrance is at 4th and Sabine.
2. Austin Food & Wine Festival (Auditorium Shores)
Credits: Charles Reagan for Austin Food & Wine Festival
November 6–8 | Auditorium Shores
The Austin Food & Wine Festival turns 15 this year, and it’s celebrating in a big way. Friday night kicks off with Made In Texas, an evening of Texas-inspired bites, drinks, and open-flame cooking. Saturday and Sunday bring the Chef Showcase, with tastings, cooking demos, and wine, spirits, and beer pairings, all with the downtown skyline as the backdrop.
National names like Andrew Zimmern, Esther Choi, Richard Blais, and Kevin Lee share the lineup with Austin favorites including Damon Cook (Uchi), Sarah McIntosh (épicerie), and Amir Hajimaleki (Roya). Grill fans can also add a hands-on session with chef Tim Love on Saturday.
Get Austin Food & Wine Festival tickets here
3. Austin Veterans Parade (Congress Avenue)
Credits: Adobe Stock
Saturday, November 7 | Congress Avenue Bridge to the Texas Capitol
Start the weekend by honoring those who served. The Austin Veterans Parade steps off at 9 a.m. from the Congress Avenue Bridge and heads north to the Capitol. You’ll see marching units, JROTC and ROTC programs, veteran organizations, and first responders. The day continues with a Veterans Resource Event at 10 a.m. and a ceremony at 11:11 a.m. on the Capitol’s South Steps.
Spectator viewing runs the length of Congress, so downtown residents can grab a coffee and find a spot just steps from home. It’s free and open to all.
Learn more about the Austin Veterans Parade
4. Texas Book Festival (Texas Capitol)
Credits: Getty Images
November 14–15 | Texas Capitol, 11th St. & Congress Ave.
One of the best literary events in the country takes over the Capitol grounds for its 31st year. Expect more than 280 authors, panels and book signings, cooking demos, programs in English and Spanish, hundreds of exhibitors, and plenty of food trucks. Sessions also spill into nearby venues like The Contemporary Austin’s Jones Center on Congress.
Don’t miss the Lit Crawl on Saturday night (around 7:30–10 p.m.), when the festival heads to bars and venues around the city for readings, games, and literary fun with a drink in hand. Pair it with Creek Show the same weekend for the ultimate downtown staycation.
Best of all, the festival is free.
Plan your Texas Book Festival weekend here
5. A Christmas Affair (Palmer Events Center)
Credits: Adobe Stock
November 19–22 | Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd.
Just across the river from downtown, the Junior League of Austin’s A Christmas Affair is the unofficial start of the holiday season. More than 200 merchants from across the country fill the Palmer Events Center with gifts, décor, fashion, and treats. Proceeds support the Junior League’s community programs across Central Texas, so your shopping does some good too.
Market hours are Thursday 12–8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Get A Christmas Affair tickets here
Bonus: Zilker Holiday Tree Lighting (Zilker Park)
Credits: That Other Paper, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sunday, November 29 | 6 p.m. | Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd.
Close out Thanksgiving weekend with one of Austin’s most beloved traditions. Pre-show music from the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble starts at 5:15 p.m., and the tree lights up at 6 p.m. Once it’s lit, the tree is open for viewing nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. through January 1, so there’s plenty of time to take a spin underneath it.
Learn more about the Zilker Holiday Tree
From glowing art along Waller Creek to a world-class food festival on the lakeshore, a weekend of books at the Capitol, and the first holiday lights of the season, November is one of the best months to live in the heart of Austin. Get out there, eat well, and maybe start your holiday list a little early. We’ll see you around downtown!