Austin Parade of India: Celebrate Indian Independence Day

The Austin Parade of India will celebrate the 71st anniversary of India's independence this August. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 12th, the Parade of India winds through the streets of Austin, celebrating Indian culture and commemorating the country's first ever Independence Day.

Come check out the free parade to experience a little slice of Indian culture without ever leaving the city. In addition to the colorful parade, which will be packed with elements of Indian tradition, the parade also brings classic Indian fare to the city. Savor everything from naan to curry as you enjoy the up-tempo parade in Austin. Admission is free, so you're welcome to bring friends and family along to this fun event!

Celebrate Summery Treats at the 11th Annual Austin Ice Cream Festival on Aug. 12th

Austin Scoops, the Cold Cookie Company, and Steel City Pops are just a few of the purveyors of frosty treats slated to compete at this year's Austin Ice Cream Festival. They'll be fighting for the title of Fan Fave Flave, offering up samples of signature ice creams like Saigon Cinnamon, White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, and Whiskey Honey.

Come out to Fiesta Gardens along Lady Bird Lake on Saturday, August 12th to taste test your way through the various ice creams. General admission is only $15, which includes three tasting tickets and access to the fun and games. In between licks of ice cream, you can build your own masterpiece as part of the popsicle stick sculpture contest, learn how to make your own frozen desserts, or go rock-climbing. Kids and dogs are welcome.

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Classic Game Fest: Celebrate Video Games, From Past to Present

Retro video games take center stage at Classic Game Fest, an annual Austin event that highlights the best of Sega, Nintendo, and other old school gaming systems. Tons of local vendors intend to join in the fun this year, so gamers will be able to shop while they reminisce.

Some of the biggest innovators in the video game industry will be on hand to talk about their experiences and meet with fans at this year's Classic Game Fest, too. Be sure to fill up on snacks from local restaurants and food trucks in between events, or you can play games at the Retro Arcade or see the museum that covers everything from Atari to Xbox. Don't miss this year's festival, happening July 29th to the 30th.

Groove to Live Music at Float Fest 2017

The ultimate summertime music festival returns to Austin this July: Float Fest returns for 2017 with an excellent music lineup and the opportunity to hang out al fresco along the San Marcos River. This year, the concert lineup features Zedd, Weezer, Cage the Elephant, MGMT, and other huge acts. The festival runs for two days, July 22nd and 23rd, and features carnival-style rides and other great activities in addition to all of the great, live music.

Guests of this festival can choose to either camp on festival grounds or attend just one day of the event. Tickets start at just $70 per person, so be sure to scoop up your tickets before this fun festival sells out! There are shuttles to the festival grounds that leave from Austin, which makes this event an easy one for Elan East residents to check out. Don't miss it!

Spend a Lunch Break Exploring Mayfield Park

Austin is an outdoorsy person's dream city. It's home to Ladybird Lake, Zilker Park, and many smaller, local green spaces, such as Mayfield Park. Mayfield Park exists thanks to the generosity of namesake Mayfield Gutsch, who donated the land to Austin in 1971 for the express purpose of creating a park.

Its two rolling acres encompass a rainbow of gardens that surround a quaint and historic cottage. Vibrant peacocks roam amid the swaying palm trees, floating water lilies, and other greenery indigenous to the park. Beyond the boundaries of the park, the Mayfield Preserve offers an additional 21 acres of hiking trails and flora and fauna to explore. So the next time you have a nice afternoon to spare in Austin, consider going to Mayfield Park.

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Browse Goods From Local Makers at Market Days on the Georgetown Square

On the second Saturday of the month, art and culture takes the spotlight in Georgetown. The Downtown Georgetown Association comes together with Georgetown Square to present Market Days, a day-long shopping event featuring artists and local merchants showcasing crafts that are available for purchase. How’s that for supporting the local arts scene? The monthly market runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and at the market, you can browse jewelry, photography, home decor, clothing, toys, and more.

In addition to gifts and items for yourself, select vendors at the recurring market also sell food. Fill up on jerk chicken or enjoy a hot dog and a burger while taking in the live music. The summer markets are slated for Saturdays, July 8th, August 12th, and September 9th, so be sure to check one out!

Fireworks and Fresh Barbecue Await at the Omni Resort’s 4th of July Celebration

If you don't yet have plans to celebrate Independence Day, allow Austin's Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa to do all the barbecuing and party-planning for you. Its 4th of July Celebration is already all organized; all you have to do is a buy a ticket and show up.

The 4th of July Celebration is actually slated for Monday, July 3rd starting at 6:30 p.m. That's good news for everyone who has a day off on the 4th because it means you can stay up late to fully enjoy the fireworks display, which begins at 9:15 p.m. But before you ooh and aah over the pyrotechnics, enjoy a cookout in the pavilion. The barbecue-inspired spread features everything from smoked brisket and whole smoked chickens to smoked cheddar mac and cheese, Mexican-style street corn, and watermelon with feta cheese. Tickets start at $44 for adults and $11 for children.

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Mark Your Calendar for the Austin Solstice Festival 2017

Austin is a hub for fresh music year-round, but it has even more to offer music lovers from June 15th to the 17th. In celebration of World Music Day (or Fête de la Musique, as it's known worldwide), the city transforms into one enormous stage for local and national artists. It's called the Austin Solstice Festival.

For just $35, you can enjoy three days' worth of live tunes at venues around Austin, most of them not far from Elan East. Pan Am Park serves as the main spot for the shows, so bring along a blanket or a few lawn chairs to enjoy the live music here. There will also be plenty of food, workshops, and some fun activities for children (kids under age 12 are admitted for free), so make sure you show up early for this spring festival.

Have Fun for a Good Cause at the Startup Games 2017

There's no team-building activity out there quite like the Startup Games 2017. This event invites local startups to come out and compete for a good cause—more specifically, the charity of their choice. Sign up with your coworkers to participate in the event, and, if you win, the cash prize goes to your favorite philanthropic organization.

But before you take home the glory, you'll have to prove your worth by owning other startups in competitions like beer pong, dodgeball, shuffleboard, darts, Jenga, and even Mario Kart. These fun activities are designed more to get everyone engaged than to truly inspire competitive face-offs, so enjoy this time spent with your team at the Startup Games 2017. They'll be held on Saturday, June 10th at Fair Market, and contestants can win up to $20,000 for their charities.

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Naturally Fit Games: Health and Wellness Take Center Stage

If you're a fan of health and fitness, you won't want to miss the Naturally Fit Games on Saturday, June 3rd. From 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., the games transform the Austin Convention Center into one enormous fitness studio where athletes of all ability levels, from amateurs to professionals, face off in heated competitions.

Watch while CrossFitters compete in the Trinity Competition's ATX Throwdown, or check out martial artists at the ONNIT World Open Jiu-Jitsu Tournament. Weight-lifting, body-building, and more are also on the itinerary. Plus, the event hosts a huge fitness and health expo with more than 150 vendors offering the latest in wellness products. Tickets start at $16 for adults and $12 for kids, so don't miss your chance to snag them and be part of this year's Naturally Fit Games.

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