Westlake Weekly: October 15 – October 21, 2026
Mid-October is settling in around West Lake Hills — cooler mornings, full calendars, and a week that rewards getting out early and winding down well. From food festivals to quiet trails, here is what is happening near you over the next seven days.
Events
Hot Luck Live Food & Music Festival — Oct 16–17
Aaron Franklin's chef-driven food and live-music festival returns for its first-ever fall edition. Friday's Giddy Up live-fire feast runs 5:30–9:30 PM at Franklin Barbecue (900 E 11th St), and Saturday brings a House Party at Assembly Hall from 6–9 PM plus a music showcase at Mohawk.
Source: https://www.austintexas.org/austin-insider-blog/blog/post/festival-guide-hot-luck/
St. Elias Mediterranean Festival — Oct 16–18
One of Austin's oldest food festivals takes over the grounds of St. Elias Orthodox Church, 408 E 11th St in downtown. Friday runs 6–11 PM, Saturday noon–11 PM, and Sunday noon–6 PM, with $5 donation admission (free Saturday before 4 PM; kids 10 and under free). The weekend brings foods of Lebanon, Greece, Palestine, Eritrea, and Russia, plus live music, dancing, and a marketplace.
Source: https://www.austinmedfest.com
Austin Coffee Festival — Oct 17–18
The fifth annual coffee weekend fills the Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM both days. Tickets start around $25 and include unlimited tastings from curated Texas roasters, live indie music, latte-art competitions, and coffee talks — an easy, low-key way to spend a fall morning downtown.
Source: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/austin-coffee-festival-tickets-1977143837441?aff=ebdssbcategorybrowse
Texas Longhorns vs. Florida — Sat Oct 17, 11:00 AM
The No. 7 Longhorns host Florida at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium (2100 San Jacinto Blvd) with an 11:00 AM CT kickoff, televised on ABC. Expect campus and downtown energy all day — and plan your drive around it. A forward look: the Formula 1 US Grand Prix takes over COTA the following weekend, Oct 23–25, if you are planning ahead.
Source: https://longhornswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/longhorns/football/2026/10/05/florida-gators-at-texas-longhorns-game-time-announced-by-sec/92108628007/
New openings
Nobody's Business — opened Sept 12
A walk-up kitchen inside downtown's Lavaca Street Bar (405 Lavaca St) from four-time James Beard nominee Philip Speer and Via 313 co-founder Brandon Hunt. The menu is playful, chef-driven bar food — burgers on house-baked sesame buns, sandwiches under $20, nachos, sticky baby-back ribs, and chilled noodle bowls. Open daily, 11 AM–11 PM Sunday–Thursday and until midnight Friday–Saturday.
Source: https://austin.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/nobodys-business-opening-lavaca/
Urban Egg — grand opening Oct 12
The Colorado breakfast chain opened its first Austin location at 7600 Burnet Rd, Suite 250, with grand-opening events running Oct 12–14. Expect chicken-and-waffle benedicts, blue corn huevos rancheros, buttermilk biscuits with sage sausage gravy, house-made cinnamon rolls, and breakfast tacos. One to watch this fall: the Persian restaurant Chistā, at 44 East Ave near Rainey Street, is expected to open later this season.
Source: https://whatnow.com/austin/restaurants/urban-egg-planning-two-austin-area-locations/
Outdoors & fitness
Birding + Nature Hike at Nalle Bunny Run — Sat Oct 17, 8:00–10:30 AM
Right here in 78746: a guided birding and nature hike through Hill Country Conservancy's 50-acre Lake Austin preserve at 4615 Bunny Run, led by Texas Master Naturalist Mikael Behrens. The pace is easy and slow, binoculars are available to borrow, and tickets are about $11.49 — a genuinely restorative way to start a Saturday.
Source: https://hillcountryconservancy.org/venue/nalle-bunny-run-wildlife-preserve/
TEVA Trailpeak Community Run — Sun Oct 18, 8:00–10:00 AM
Whole Earth Provision Co. and Teva host a group trail run and hike at the Violet Crown Trail's 290 trailhead, meeting at Spec's (4970 US-290, Sunset Valley). Tickets are $7.77 and include a one-hour out-and-back, coffee and breakfast tacos, a try-on of Teva's new Trailpeak shoe, and a two-pair giveaway.
Source: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teva-trailpeak-community-run-tickets-2000902494223
After a full weekend out — festival crowds, game-day excitement, and time on the trails — your body will likely be asking for a reset. Book a massage or head spa at Cove Spa, 5450 Bee Caves Rd Ste 2C, Austin, TX 78746, (512) 387-2186. We are open daily 9:00 AM–9:00 PM, right here in Westlake when you are ready to slow down.
