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Inside the Sold-Out Zilker Fundraiser That Raised $700K for Austin Parks

Guests enjoyed bites, drinks and a private set by Passion Pit during the Austin Parks Foundation’s 11th annual fundraising event

  • By
  • Photos courtesy of Austin Parks Foundation
  • October 20, 2025
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Sarah Wolf and Trevor Scott (photo by Austin Parks Foundation)

This article is produced by TRIBEZA as sponsored content.

Nearly 1,000 park lovers gathered in Zilker Park on Wednesday, October 8 for Austin Parks Foundation’s sold-out Party for the Parks. This is the 11th year for the fundraising event, which is held annually on the ACL Festival grounds, between the two festival weekends. Guests enjoyed bites, drinks and fundraising games like the Gift Card Gamble and Tipsy Toss, along with a silent auction and two raffles. Music by DJ Cassandra kept the energy high, giving the event a lively, festival-like atmosphere.

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Erik Redding, Keely Redding, Lissa Adams, Luis Martinez, Jody Madden and Amy Bell (photo by Austin Parks Foundation)

Passion Pit party at the park

The main program was held under Tito’s tent and was hosted by CBS Austin’s Trevor Scott and Sarah Wolf of Good Party ATX. The program included a live auction led by the Cowboy Auctioneers and featured unique Austin experiences, with two of the packages selling for $22,000 each. The live auction was followed by a Paddles Up giving moment that raised tens of thousands of dollars for the city’s parks. The evening concluded with a private performance by Passion Pit, whose upcoming album, “Nine Times Your Torch Song,” will be released in phases through live recordings featuring additional collaborators.

Austin Parks Foundation announced that this year’s Party for the Parks raised more than $700,000 to support the city’s parks, trails and green spaces. All proceeds from the event, including ticket sales and on-site fundraising opportunities, directly benefit Austin Parks Foundation and support their work of caring for Austin’s nearly 400 parks.

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Natalie Guerra, Leticia Mendoza and Natalie Denoso (photo by Austin Parks Foundation)
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DJ Cassandra (photo by Austin Parks Foundation)
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Steven and Janel Gonzalez (photo by Austin Parks Foundation)
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Party for the Parks (photo by Austin Parks Foundation)
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Party for the Parks (photo by Austin Parks Foundation)
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David and Patty Steinwedell (photo by Austin Parks Foundation)
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Party for the Parks (photo by Austin Parks Foundation)
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Julie Linn, David Linn, Katie Mahendra, Nathan Boren, Norman Watkins, Ann Boren (photo by Austin Parks Foundation)

Supporting community programs and projects

These funds support APF’s ongoing park improvement projects, innovative programming like the “In the Park Series,” as well as APF’s volunteer program, which engaged more than 12,000 volunteers in 2024.

Party for the Parks is made possible thanks to our sponsors, including ACL Fest, C3 Entertainment, Inc., FBR Management and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.