Planning Memorial Day Weekend in Austin and Georgetown 2024.

Memorial Day - A Really Big Deal

Growing up in the Northwest, Memorial Day marked the unofficial start of summer and the official end of school. Not so in Texas. April Fool’s Day tricks us with summer temps while UT students have long left campus.

The weekend always seemed a bit incongruous – like finding chalk and cheese in the same package – next to the chocolate Bluebell Ice Cream in the freezer case. On one hand, we solemnly memorialize the military men and women who died while serving our nation. On the other, we furniture shop and pretend to be Joey Chestnut wolfing down Nathan’s hot dogs. And by Midnight Monday, we homogenize the three days into something uniquely American.

In this week’s blog, I’ll cover the gamut: two locations to honor our heroes followed by an eclectic assortment of places to go and things to do.

Memorial Day Ceremonies

Honoring military heroes goes a long way in fostering healthy gratitude. If you have children, why not drive them to Georgetown or Round Rock on Monday morning? Brian Beals, a dear friend of mine, raised three strong, successful sons. He consistently lived a “show and tell” adventure with his family – he immersed them in what is important, valuable, and enduring – like sitting in the third row of a Memorial Day Ceremony. Afterwards? Questions, discussion, and ice cream.

Georgetown: Williamson County Veterans Memorial Plaza, 9:30 A.M. Details here.
Round Rock: Old Settlers Park, 10:00 A.M. Details here.

Heroes Appreciation BBQ

Live music, face painting, hayrides, zip lines, swimming, and inflatables all for FREE - for active military members, veterans, and first responders and their families. Civilians may sign up to serve. When? 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM on Saturday. Where? Reunion Ranch in Georgetown. RSVP is required. Registration and details can be found here.

Water. Water. Did I say H20?

Paddleboard, canoe, kayak, or rent-a-boat. Rental shops are available on Lady Bird Lake, Lake Travis, and Lake Austin. Lone Star Riverboat or Capital Cruises will let you watch 1.5 million Congress Avenue Bridge Bats fly out near dusk on a sunset cruise.

Looking for more spills and thrills? How about tubing the San Marcos River, drifting the Comal River near New Braunfels, or rafting the Guadalupe? You’ll want to make reservations now.

Hutto Block Party

Children’s fun fare, food trucks, live music, and craft vendors set the stage for a Friday Night at Fritz Park. Times and details here.

Dripping Springs Fair and Rodeo

Barrel racing, steer wrestling, steer roping, food trucks, and two nights of rodeo on the same weekend. Check it out.

Close Assault 1968 Vietnam War Living History Program

Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, Camp Mabry – a look back at the Vietnam War and honors the service and sacrifice made by our soldiers. Free. Find out more:

Live Music in Round Rock

The 14th annual Lone Star Jam at the Round Rock Amphitheatre. Two days, two nights. Single-day tickets start at $50.00. More details here.

Has the Weekend Gone to the Dogs?

Spot, Sadie, and Scotty are not staying home. Now what? A few fun options are provided in this dog-friendly guide.

Contact Ivy