Every summer, locals come together to celebrate a unique and distinctly Austinian event: the emergence of nearly 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge. It's called Bat Fest, and although this is only its 14th year, the festival actually has roots that date back to the '80s. The year was 1980 when Congress Avenue Bridge underwent an overhaul that, unbeknownst to its architects, would transform it into the perfect urban version of a bat cave.
It wasn't long after that Mexican free-tailed bats began to flock to the bridge and make a home beneath its eaves. Rather than try to shoo the bats away from their new home, the city of Austin embraced their residency. Bat Fest unfolds every August in the evening hours when the bats depart from their "cave" between 7 and 8:45 p.m. for their nightly hunting. The festivities kick off at 4 p.m., a lineup of live music, hot food and cold drinks, and more than 50 arts and crafts vendors. Come to the Congress Ave Bridge on Saturday, August 18th to enjoy the festival this year. Tickets start at $15 when you purchase them in advance.
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