Have you ever wondered what really keeps Austin weird?
Austin is everyone’s favorite weird city, and of course, Austinites love to do things differently. We’re talking about the wacky and decadent traditions set in place, traditions that make Austin truly unique in many ways. These bizarre traditions have been around forever, and they’ll seem unusual anywhere else. What helps keep them alive are the people that have continued to hype them up and participate in them over the years.
So if you haven't done these things already, what are you waiting for? It's tradition, love.
Contributed by Keylee Paz
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Photo via Texas Roller Derby
A bunch of badass roller skaters competing against each other on the roller rink? Now that’s a “Keep Austin Weird” attitude. The Roller Derby has been one of Austin’s best underground sports for nearly 20 years and even inspired the location for everyone’s favorite roller derby movie Whip It. Austin also has its own all-female league called Texas Roller Derby, which consists of 6 teams: Holy Rollers, Hellcats, Putas del Fuego, Cherry Bombs, Hired Gun$, and Rhinestones. So when you go out to a TXRD Bout, be prepared for some fun entertainment and maybe some heated rivalries.
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Photo Credit: Courtney Goforth
Betting on Chicken Shit Bingo at Little Longhorn Saloon
If this Austin Tradition doesn’t spell out WEIRD, we don’t know what will. The Little Longhorn Saloon has been the honky-tonk beer joint destination for over four decades, and it’s well known for the famous Chicken Shit Bingo. Yes, you read that correctly — for hours at a time, crowds gather to watch chickens poop on numbered squares. You can win some money, too!
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Photo via The Trail Foundation
Now, who doesn’t love a good run and delicious margaritas? This 5K race event has been serving as The Trail Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser since 2004, where proceeds benefit Austin’s beloved Butler Hike and Bike Trail. Once you get to the finish line, you’ll enjoy a range of delicious margaritas and Tex-Mex delicacies provided by Maudie’s under the stars and lights of downtown Austin. Stay tuned for the 2027 date announcement.
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Photo via Facebook
A Pun-Off World Championship, how “pun!” For the past 45 years, contestants and spectators have gathered around the O. Henry Museum to celebrate the most groveling kind of wit — the pun. This event offers two competitions: Punslingers and Punniest of Show. What makes it a more official tournament is there is a panel of judges who use a scoring system of 1-10 and score punsters based on performance, originality, and wit. With this annual event, Austin has proven its love for clever wordplay and good cheap comedy.
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Yes, we mean Winnie the Pooh’s melancholic friend Eeyore. Occurring on the last Saturday of every April since 1963, Eeyore’s Birthday Party is an all-day wild time that benefits local non-profit organizations in Austin. The event is very vibrant and fun — everyone is wearing colorful costumes, kids are blowing bubbles, drum circles and exotic animals are everywhere, and so much more. Eeyore’s Birthday is a time to celebrate and let your inner hippie take over.
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Photo credit: Roger Ho
When you think of Austin, do you think of bats? Of course you don’t (until you do). Austin is known for its love of bats, specifically the Mexican Free-Tailed Bats that rest in the Congress Avenue Bridge during summertime. Austin even has its own bat-viewing party every August/September called Bat Fest, which happens during the peak of bat migrating season. No one can resist the beauty of watching roughly 1.5 million bats fly into the sunset.
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Embracing the Weird and Wonderful at the Cathedral of Junk
Forget the Capital and the UT Tower… the Cathedral of Junk is the unofficial monument of Austin. This junk mansion is filled with all kinds of your favorite junk, from old television sets and a bunch of old working do-dads. To top it all off, this all rests in the back of a local Austinite’s backyard. New items are always being added and sections are evolving, so visiting this place is always worth the visit.
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Photo via Do512 Family
Kayaking at Lady Bird Lake
Everyone knows the historic Lady Bird Lake that crosses the heart of Austin. Kayaking and paddleboarding in the lake is definitely a bucket list task when you are visiting or live in Austin, especially during beautiful sunny days. You see the city skyline at its best, you pass welcoming people, and you get friendly turtle visitors. Now, who wouldn’t love this kind of leisure?
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Photo credit: Roger Ho
Austin is the home to so many unique murals that are definite must-see artworks! Creating your own street art tour is definitely an Austin tradition — whether you are taking pictures for the ‘gram or simply admiring the classic and/or new art. While there are so many classic murals, a lot of new ones are constantly created and it takes our breath away. So, take a trip through downtown or South Congress to visit some of Austin’s best murals, like the “Greetings from Austin” and the “Willie for President” walls.
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photo credit: rowing dock facebook
Howl at the Moon - Barton Springs/Town Lake
If anyone has the scoop on who/when this tradition started, we would be forever grateful to shine some moonlight on this. A fairly simple process, Austinites will make their way to Town Lake and Zilker for a night of communal howling. Typically once the sun sets and a full moon rises into the night sky, Everyone around the water will start the call. The best spots to engage the two wolves inside us all can be on the lake itself or at Barton Springs.
Fair warning, though the pool is typically free after 9pm, for events like this, they do still charge admission fees. So consider going earlier to maximize your time at the pool versus trying to save a few bucks.
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EVEN MORE AUSTIN TRADITIONS TO KNOW:
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Did we miss one?
