November Curated: Austin’s Top Events This Month

Cool breezes will soon be blowing into Austin, and with the season finally feeling like fall, we welcome a bevy of festivals, annual celebrations, arts programming, and the start of some holiday sparkle. Take note of Austin’s top November events to add to your calendar this month.

Top Events This Month:

Austin Food and Wine Festival

November 2 & 3
Auditorium Shores

Austin Food & Wine Festival is an indulgent weekend party that honors top-tier chefs, winemakers, bakers, artisan spirit-makers and a host of talent in the food and beverage industry. Enjoy a delectable selection of savory and sweet samples all day long. Learn kitchen and grilling skills from the upper echelon of experts. Engage in a variety of cooking demonstrations and conversations.

10th Annual Creek Show

November 8-16
Waller Creek at 1401 Trinity St.

Stroll along downtown Austin’s Waller Creek to join the community in viewing light-based art installations curated by Waterloo Greenway at their 10th Annual Creek Show event. Always an awe-inspiring experience featuring a dazzling array of works, Creek Show showcases locally-made illuminated art that is creatively displayed by the water’s edge from 9th Street to Waterloo Park. This year, there will be five impressive works of art on view along with a vibrant lineup of live music, and tickets will be required (ranging from a free night to $6, $12 and $15 admission on various nights). Take a peek at this year’s art.

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience

November 9 – December 19
McKinney Roughs Nature Park

McKinney Roughs Nature Park transforms into an enchanted nighttime trail inspired by the “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” films. The park will host the Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience, offering an immersive journey through some of the most iconic scenes and creatures from the beloved wizarding world. The ticketed event will feature a lighted woodland trail where visitors can encounter magical creatures like Unicorns and Hippogriffs, along with interactive elements such as spell-casting and Patronus-summoning.

Austin Studio Tour

November 9 – 17
Various locations

Big Medium’s 30th annual Austin Studio Tour is returning for two weekends in which 400+ galleries, home studios, and museums open their doors to the public for free. This year’s Austin Studio Tour kicks off with a party on November 2 at the George Washington Carver Museum, setting the stage for two weekends of art exploration across the city. The first weekend, November 9-10, features artists and galleries West of IH-35 from 12-6 p.m., followed by the second weekend on November 16-17, showcasing studios and galleries East of IH-35 from 12-6 p.m.

Austin Opera Presents The Manchurian Candidate

November 9 & 10
The Long Center

The 2024–2025 Season opens with The Manchurian Candidate, the compelling operatic adaptation of Richard Condon’s 1959 political thriller by Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell. Winner of four Austin Critics Table Awards, this complex and gripping story of patriotism, corruption, political ambition, and eleventh-hour self-sacrifice will make its highly anticipated return to the Long Center stage. Enhance your experience on November 9 by adding Season-Opening Celebration tickets. Festivities include an elegant dinner, an afterparty with cocktails and late-night snacks, and an opportunity to mingle with the cast.

Shucked

November 12 – 17
Bass Concert Hall

Shucked is the Tony Award®–winning musical comedy featuring a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie), a score by the Grammy® Award–winning songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally (Kacey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow”), and directed by Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray), this corn-fed, corn-bred American musical is sure to satisfy your appetite for great musical theater.

Texas Book Festival

November 16 & 17
Texas State Capital & South Congress Ave.

This classic literary festival offers something for everyone in Austin this November, and the event welcomes over 275 beloved authors to the grounds of the Texas State Capitol. Discover authors at readings, panel discussions and signings; exhibitor booths and food vendors; and family-friendly activities for readers of all ages.

Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time

November 17
Moody Center

The queen of Christmas and best-selling female artist of all time, Mariah Carey, will be stopping in Austin during her Christmas extravaganza tour. This tour marks Carey’s grandest holiday spectacle to date and is the first of many surprises she has in store to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her legendary album “Merry Christmas” and its record-shattering single “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”

A Christmas Carol

November 20 – December 29
ZACH Theatre

The holiday favorite returns for its 10th Anniversary with fresh songs, new cast members, returning favorites, plenty of seasonal cheer, under the direction of Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley. ZACH’s re-imagined musical version of the Dickens classic is full of contemporary pop songs, dazzling choreography, disco balls and whimsical surprises.

Austin City Limits Celebrates 50 Years: All-Star Taping

November 21
ACL Live at the Moody Theatre

Austin PBS is hosting an All-Star Celebration featuring Leon Bridges, Gary Clark Jr., Billy Strings, Lyle Lovett, Indigo Girls, Shawn Colvin, Brandy Clark, Rufus Wainwright, The Mavericks, Cam, Eve Monsees, Sierra Hull, Zach Top, Ángela Aguilar, Trio Los Panchos, Tosca String Quartet, Lloyd Maines & the ACL All-Stars. Performances will be taped as part of a two-hour PBS primetime special saluting the program’s historic milestone, Austin City Limits Celebrates 50 Years, set to air on April 4, 2025. A fundraiser for Austin PBS, the program’s producing station, tickets for the concert event will be on sale to the public on Friday, November 1.

A Christmas Affair

November 20 – 24
Palmer Events Center

Join the Junior League of Austin for holiday shopping at their annual fundraiser, A Christmas Affair. The cosmic-themed holiday market will feature more than 200 vendors and artists, with proceeds going towards JLA’s mission of empowering women and serving the community.

Blue Genie Art Bazaar

November 15 – December 24
6100 Airport Blvd

The Blue Genie Art Bazaar is a fixture of the Austin holiday shopping season. The Bazaar features unique artwork, jewelry, clothing, and handmade goods from over 200 local and regional artists – with a portion of proceeds going to Make-A-Wish®. Parking & admission are always free of charge. Read our interview with the founders of Blue Genie to learn how this all began.

Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot

November 28
The Long Center

Supporting Caritas of Austin, the 34th annual Turkey Trot is an annual tradition on Thanksgiving Day. Dress in your finest turkey-themed workout gear, and join the community for this 5-Mile run or opt for the 1-mile walk/run. It’s a fun time for all ages! Registration is open now.

More on our Calendar of Events

Of course, there are far more amazing Austin November events to enjoy, and you can browse our online events calendar for even more ideas on things to see and do this month, including:

• The Contemporary’s The Very ‘Rary
• Round Top Film Festival
• Cirque Dreams Holidaze
• The Austin Empty Bowl Project
• Kacey Musgraves at the Moody Center