THIS IS AUSTIN

Austin-area festivals and events

July

Gourmet Chili Pepper and Salsa Festival. Last day of festival is today . Sample salsas, spices and chile peppers with food, drinks and music. Wildseed Farms, U.S. 290 between Fredericksburg and Stonewall. 800-848-0078, www.tex-fest.com.

Zilker Summer Musical. Thursday through Sunday evenings through Aug. 15. The 51st annual summer musical is `The Music Man. ' Bring a blanket and picnic dinner. Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater, 2201 Barton Springs Road. 479-9491, www.zilker.org.

August

Blanco County Fair and Rodeo. Aug. 13-15 . Livestock show, arts and crafts, food and country music. Blanco County Fairgrounds, U.S. 281, Johnson City. www.johnsoncitytexaschamber.com, www.bcfra.org.

Hot Sauce Festival. Aug. 30. Sample more than 350 hot sauce entries. Waterloo Park, 403 E. 15th St. 454-5766, www.austinchronicle.com.

September

Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival. Sept. 8-13. Films by and about gays and lesbians. Various venues. 302-9889, www.agliff.org.

Old Pecan Street Fall Festival. Sept. 26-27. Live music, arts and crafts vendors and a children's carnival. East Sixth Street. 469-6060, www.oldpecanstreetfestival.com.

October

Austin City Limits Music Festival. Oct. 2-4. Bands from all across the nation and world perform during three days, plus food, arts and crafts. Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road. www.aclfestival.com.

Oktoberfest. Oct. 2-4. Celebrate Fredericksburg's German heritage with food, arts and crafts and music. Fredericksburg. 830-997-4810, www.oktoberfestinfbg.com.

Austin Film Festival. Conference: Oct. 22-25. Festival: Oct. 22-29. Various venues. 478-4795 or 800-310-3378, www.austinfilmfestival.com.

Texas Mesquite Art Festival. Oct. 9-11. Large collection of mesquite art with a juried show. Downtown Fredericksburg. 830-997-8515, www.texasmesquiteassn.org.

Food & Wine Fest. Oct. 24. Texas food, wine and live music. Downtown Fredericksburg. www.fbgfoodandwinefest.com.

Día de los Muertos. Oct. 24. Joyful procession in remembrance of the dead; includes community altars, traditional food and live music and dance performances. Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave. 480-9373, www.mexic-arte museum.org.

Texas Book Festival. Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Books and authors from around the world. Texas Capitol, 11th Street and Congress Avenue. 477-4055, www.texasbookfestival.org.

November

Austin Powwow and American Indian Heritage Festival. Nov. 7. Celebrates American Indian culture with dance, food, arts and crafts, music and storytellers. Burger Center, 3200 Jones Road. www.austinpowwow.org.

Austin Celtic Festival. Nov. 7 and 8. Celtic bands from Austin and around the world. Fiesta Gardens, 2102 Bergman Ave., on Lady Bird Lake. www.austincelts.org/festival.

A Christmas Affair. Nov. 18-22. Sponsored by the Junior League of Austin. Retail merchants sell antiques, clothing, children's items, holiday items and jewelry. Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road. 467-8982, www.jlaustin.org.

Chuy's Children Giving to Children Christmas Parade. Nov. 28. Giant balloons and holiday floats parade through downtown. Toys are collected for Operation Blue Santa. Downtown Austin. www.chuysparade.com.

Fun Fun Fun Fest. Nov. 7 and 8. A variety of bands perform. Waterloo Park, 403 E. 15th St. www.funfunfunfest.com.

December

Budafest. Dec. 5 and 6. Carnival and arts and crafts. Downtown Buda. 512-295-1559, www.budachamber.com or www.budafest.org.

Sights and Sounds of Christmas. Dec. 3-5. Reproduction of biblical-era Bethlehem and arts and crafts booths. San Marcos Plaza, 202 N. CM Allen Parkway. 512-393-5900 or 512-393-8400 .

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. Dec. 11-24. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Artwork and music. Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez St. 447-1605, www.armadillobazaar.com.

Annual Christmas Celebration and Lighted Christmas Parade. Dec. 12. Shopping, lighted Christmas parade and business open houses. Downtown Bastrop. www.bastropdba.com.

Holidays at Heritage Park. Dec. 11. Santa Claus, carols, music, choir and hot chocolate. Heritage Park, 901 Old Austin-Hutto Road. 512-251-5082, www.cityofpflugerville.com.

Trail of Lights and Zilker Christmas Tree. Check Web site for dates and updates. The trail of Lights might be canceled or reduced because of citywide budget cuts. Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road. 974-6700, www.ci.austin.tx.us/tol.

March 2010

Zilker Kite Festival. March 7. Contests, stunts and kites galore. Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road. 448-5483, www.zilkerkitefestival.com.

Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo. March 12-27. Livestock show, PRCA performances, barbecue cook-off, carnival, exhibits and entertainment. Travis County Exposition Center, 7311 Decker Lane. 919-3000, www.rodeoaustin.com.

South by Southwest. March 12-21. A conference for film, multimedia and music. Includes showcases, discussion panels and vendors. Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez St. 467-7979, www.sxsw.com.

April 2010

Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival. April 15-18. Wine, food and festivities. Various locations. 249-6300, www.texaswineandfood.org.

Old Settler's Music Festival. April 15-18. International, national and regional artists performing American roots and Texas music. Salt Lick Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch, Driftwood. www.oldsettlersmusicfest.org.

Art City Austin. April 24 and 25. National artists, local restaurants and hands-on art activities for adults and children. Cesar Chavez Street, Colorado Street to Lamar Boulevard. 458-6073, www.artallianceaustin.org.

Yesterfest. Check Web site for date. Storytelling, snake handlers, petting zoo, crafts, music and food vendors. Downtown Bastrop. Bastrop `Old Town' Visitor Center: 512-303-0904, www.bastropdba.com.

Eeyore's Birthday Party. April 24. Benefits nonprofit groups in Austin. Pease Park, 1100 Kingsbury St. 448-5160, www.eeyores.com.

May 2010

Viva Cinco de Mayo. Check Web site for dates. Celebration of Hispanic heritage includes music, food, a parade, state championship menudo cook-off, folkloric dancers and a beauty pageant. Hays County Civic Center, San Marcos. 512-353-8482, www.vivacincodemayo.org.

Deutschen Pfest. May 14-16. German festival includes music, parade, food, arts and crafts, children's activities and a 5K run and walk. Pfluger Park, 515 City Park Road, Pflugerville. 512-251-5082, www.cityofpflugerville.com.

Kerrville Folk Festival. May 27-June 13. Singer/songwriter music festival in an outdoor camping setting with arts, crafts and workshops. Quiet Valley Ranch, 3876 Medina Highway, Kerrville. 830-257-3600, www.kerrville-music.com.

Texas Greek Festival. May 29-30. Celebration of Greek food, music and culture. Austin Museum of Art-Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St. www.texasgreekfestival.com.

Crawfish Festival. May 28 and 29. Cajun food, children's activities and arts and crafts. Downtown Fredericksburg. www.tex-fest.com/crawfish.

June 2010

Elgin Western Days. June 21-26. Parade, fair, cooking and photography contests. Elgin. 512-285-4515, www.elgintxchamber.com.

Luling Watermelon Thump. June 24-27. Parade and seed-spitting and watermelon-eating contests. Downtown Luling. 830-875-3214, ext. 2, www.watermelonthump.com.

Juneteenth. Check Web site for dates. Pageants, run/walk, parade and celebration with live music, guest speakers and family activities. Various locations. www.geaya.net.

Republic of Texas Biker Rally. Check Web site for dates. Biggest motorcycle rally in Texas with live music, bike competitions and trade show. www.rotrally.com.