Austin calendar features Longhorns season opener, Lone Star Le Mans and multiple cultural events over Labor Day weekend
September 3, 2026
- What: A slate of public events is scheduled in Austin over Labor Day weekend, from college football and endurance racing to food, books, and live music.
- Who: Participants include Texas quarterback Arch Manning and the Longhorns, FIA World Endurance Championship teams, musicians Hayes Carll and The Band of Heathens, local authors, and multiple restaurants and vendors.
- Where: Events are set across city venues including Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Circuit of The Americas, Meanwhile Brewing, Rainey Street, Luckenbach, and a pop-up at 610 N. Interstate Highway 35.
- Why it matters: The lineup offers varied entertainment options and supports local causes, with some dining proceeds directed to the Central Texas Food Bank and other nonprofit projects.
Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns open their season at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Sept. 5, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The season opener against Texas State takes place at 2139 San Jacinto Boulevard.
Circuit of The Americas will host the Lone Star Le Mans from Sept. 4 through Sept. 6, with three days of on-track competition, live entertainment, and fan activities. The weekend finishes on Sunday with the Lone Star Le Mans six-hour race, part of the FIA World Endurance Championship, where the green flag is scheduled for 1 p.m. and racing is expected to continue through 7 p.m., at 9201 Circuit of the Americas Boulevard.
Meanwhile Brewing will hold its fifth annual book fair on Sept. 6 at 11 a.m., featuring vendors that include local authors, printmakers, the public library, and independent bookstores. Attendees can try Bookworm, a coffee cream ale available on draft or in cans to go, and the event benefits the Inside Books Project and The Library Foundation; the brewery is located at 3901 Promontory Point Drive.
First Thursdays has moved its weekly celebration to Rainey Street, with the next installment running on Sept. 3 at various times and locations within the Rainey Street Historic District. Organizers list live music, food and drink specials, local art, and a variety of neighborhood experiences throughout the evening.
Luckenbach will host a family-friendly music event on Sept. 5 beginning at 2 p.m., at 412 Luckenbach Town Loop. The lineup includes Hayes Carll, The Band of Heathens, The Wilder Blue, Julianna Rankin, Adam Carroll, and Sentimental Family Band, along with activities such as horseshoes, roping, a costume contest, and two-stepping lessons provided by Native Texan Two Step.
The Golden Girls Kitchen pop-up offers an immersive dining experience inspired by the television series, with themed dishes like Sophia's Lasagna Al Forno and Blanche's Georgia-Style Cookie, plus signature cocktails and photo opportunities. That installation runs through Nov. 8 at 610 N. Interstate Highway 35.
A two-week dining promotion continues through Sept. 13 at participating restaurants across the city, with special prix fixe lunches, dinners, and drinks at establishments including L'oca D'oro, Bambino, Jupiter Supper Club, and Texas French Bread. A portion of each prix fixe meal will be donated to the Central Texas Food Bank.
Sources
- Austin Monthly