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!

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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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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.

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