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.

Life Time Triathlon CapTex: Enjoy Everything Outdoorsy That Austin Has to Offer

If you're an outdoorsy person living in a city, Austin might be one of the best places to be. With Lady Bird Lake, Zilker Park, and tons of other green spaces, Austin is one of the most outdoorsy cities in the U.S. So it's the perfect spot for the Life Time Triathlon CapTex.

On Monday, May 29th, the Lifetime Triathlon takes full advantage of Austin's many outdoor spaces, which are folded into its unique course. Triathlon participants begin with a dip in Lady Bird Lake. After the challenging swim, they hop onto their bikes and zoom across the South 1st Street Bridge toward the Texas Capital before looping back around through downtown Austin. Finally, they embark on a run that meanders through Butler Park and the Palmer Events Center. Register now to take part in the triathlon; registration fees begin at $75.

Check Out This Spring’s Exhibits at The Blanton Museum of Art

Like everything in the proudly weird city of Austin, The Blanton Museum of Art is totally unique. True, it has more than 18,000 paintings, sculptures, and other traditional pieces of art in its permanent collection, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. The recently revamped museum features some awe-inspiring pieces of contemporary art, particularly in its rotating exhibits.

For instance, catch Nina Katchadourian's Curiouser exhibit before it leaves the museum on June 11th. The Brooklyn artist provides a snapshot of her long career in modern art by displaying an array of her best pieces. They include some more traditional works in photography and sculpture, but she also ventures into "sound art," video, and even live performance. You won't want to miss her exhibit or the other unique displays at The Blanton Museum of Art.

Appreciate Local Culture at the Pecan Street Spring Arts Festival

You may know Pecan Street as 6th Street. When Austin's designer Edwin Waller first mapped out the city, he did suggest naming the east-west streets according to number, but he was ignored. Instead, they were named for trees. Eventually, local folks realized that this system wasn't very practical, and they finally took his advice and renamed Pecan Street 6th Street. But the Pecan Street Spring Arts Festival remains under the original name.

The twice-annual two-day festival unfolds once in May and again in September, so you have a chance to experience it this month. On May 6th and 7th, the Pecan Street Arts Festival brings an added pop of color to 6th Street. The event draws artisans from the city and all across the country, all selling their unique pieces, from fiber work to metal art. Buoyed by 50 live bands, 30 food booths, and many fun activities, the art fest attracts quite a crowd! Admission is free, so don't miss the Pecan Street Spring Arts Festival.

Cine Las Americanas International Film Festival: Modern Movies From Latin America

Now in its 20th year, the Cine Las Americanas International Film Festival, hosted by venues such as The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center and The Blanton Museum of Art, brings Latino culture to the forefront in Austin.

The festival kicks off on May 3rd, launching a four-day foray into documentaries and narrative films from Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula. The festival also invites offbeat entries, like music videos and experimental animation, so you'll definitely see something new when you attend. Ticket prices vary depending on whether you'd like to purchase a pass for the entire festival or simply want to attend a single screening. If you fall into the latter category, see the website of the venue where the screening will be held for ticket prices.

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