Austin families have a perfect fall plan on the calendar: StrawFest, the beloved annual festival at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum, returns on Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — and admission is completely free for everyone. Happy City News loves traditions like this one, where art, nature and play fill an entire afternoon in one of the city’s most beautiful gardens.
All day long, children can dive into the straw pit, paint pumpkins, join sculpture searches, get their faces painted, bounce through inflatable games, play lawn games, visit the photobooth and be amazed by a magician. Food trucks and community booths round out the fun at 605 Azie Morton Road, next to Zilker Park.
The schedule is packed with highlights: raptor and reptile shows from 12 to 1 p.m. and again from 2 to 3 p.m., caricatures from 12 to 2 p.m., and a costume parade from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Later, Alice and the Mad Hatter host a meet and greet from 2 to 3 p.m. and a tea lesson with storytime from 3 to 4 p.m., while a fire truck visits from 2 to 4 p.m. Conservation friends from the WILDcenter of Texas, Austin Bat Refuge and Central Texas Pig Rescue will also be there.
RSVP is recommended, but walk-ups are welcome. Free parking is available across the street at Wright Field, with more parking around Zilker Park, and rideshare, carpooling or public transportation are encouraged. Put on a costume, bring the whole family and celebrate fall surrounded by sculpture and gardens.
Photo: UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum
