7 Ways to Celebrate 4/20 in Austin
From a smoke-inspired cocktail class to a “Dazed and Confused” screening, these Austin happenings tap into the weekend’s laid-back spirit
Austin, home to cosmic cowboy Willie Nelson and the unofficial “Keep Austin Weird” mantra, naturally offers plenty of ways to mark 4/20. Although April 20 falls on a Monday this year, there are still plenty of events and activities in the days leading up to it worth adding to the calendar.
Attend Austin Reggae Festival
Few 4/20 weekend traditions feel more fitting than Austin Reggae Festival, which returns to Auditorium Shores from April 17-19 with three days of live music benefiting the Central Texas Food Bank. This year’s lineup includes Stephen Marley, Iration, Tribal Seeds, Steel Pulse and more. Single-day, multi-day and VIP tickets are available, with prices starting at $53.
Take a smoke-inspired mixology class
The VORTEX Repertory Company will host “Head in the Clouds,” a cocktail class at The Butterfly Bar at the VORTEX, from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 19. The cocktail class dives into the use of smoke in mixology, with guests sampling three drinks while learning techniques, flavor profiles and a few home bar tricks along the way. Tickets are $50 per person or $90 for two and include a charcuterie spread.
Watch “Dazed and Confused” at Top Notch Hamburgers
Alright, alright, alright! A free outdoor screening of Richard Linklater’s “Dazed and Confused” is set for Monday, April 20, at Top Notch Hamburgers, one of the Austin spots featured in the cult classic. Guests are encouraged to bring a chair, grab a burger and settle in for a nostalgic hometown viewing.
Attend ATX Supper Club’s “Cloud Nine” dinner
ATX Supper Club is leaning fully into the theme with “Cloud Nine,” a multi-course THC-infused dinner set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at All Good Things Studio. Known for its themed pop-up dinners, the supper club will serve a locally sourced meal in an intimate 20-seat setting, with an open bar included. Tickets are $99 per person.
RELATED: 10 of the Most Unique Things to Do in Austin
See a comedy show
Sometimes the best 4/20 plan is simply laughing through the night. East Austin Comedy offers an intimate setting for live stand-up, while Moontower Comedy Festival continues around town through April 18 with big-name comics on the lineup. For something more low-key, Fallout Theater’s Monday night shows are a reliable pick for catching local comedians trying out new material.
Catch a 4/20-themed drag pageant
For the most delightfully over-the-top option of the bunch, head to Ani’s Day & Night for The Highest of Them All, a 4/20-themed pageant hosted by Kino Kino and Venus Rising from 4 to 7 p.m. April 19. The event combines drag performances with a cannabis-inspired pageant format, and the $10 cover benefits Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit focused on cannabis criminal justice reform.
Go bowling
For a more laid-back way to spend the evening, consider a trip to the bowling alley. The Texas Union Underground, tucked beneath the Texas Union, offers glow-in-the-dark bowling after 5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, with black lights, lasers and music. For something more old-school, Westgate Lanes and Highland Lanes remain reliable picks for a classic night of bowling.