Activity South Shore, Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake
Austin's New Year
An activity in South Shore, Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake, free to visit and worth about 5 hours. Best time to go: Dec 31, 7 pm – 12:30 am.
Why go
The city's free New Year's Eve concert at Vic Mathias Shores, ending with a drone show and fireworks over Lady Bird Lake.
It is one of 7 curated places we feature in Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake, alongside 2 places to eat, 2 sights and 1 place for a drink. 4 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge and Uchi. Set aside about 5 hours here; it works best as the anchor of a day rather than a quick stop.
- Type
- Activity · Nightlife
- Neighborhood
- South Shore
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 5 hr
- Best time
- Dec 31, 7 pm – 12:30 am
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 3 beyond Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
A curving walk-and-bike bridge over Lady Bird Lake beside the Lamar Boulevard bridge, with open views of the skyline.
Sight · 0.3 mi straight-line - 2Uchi
Tyson Cole's Japanese restaurant in a South Lamar bungalow, open since 2003 and known for creative sushi and tasting menus.
Food · 0.4 mi straight-line - 3Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge
The bridge carrying Congress Avenue over Lady Bird Lake, with the Capitol at one end and a wide sidewalk facing the fireworks.
Sight · 0.5 mi straight-line - 4Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Colony
Up to 1.5 million bats stream out from under the bridge at dusk.
Outdoors · Austin · 0.5 mi straight-line - 5Umlauf Sculpture Garden
Bronze and stone sculptures by Charles Umlauf set among ponds and trees across the road from Zilker Park.
Sight · Zilker Park & Barton Springs · 0.7 mi straight-line - 6The Continental Club
South Congress music bar since 1955 with live country, rockabilly and blues.
Drinks · Austin · 0.8 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Austin's New Year is a stop on our Austin New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake
Austin's New Year is our only activity pick in Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake guide.
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Jeffrey's
A Clarksville dining room open since 1975, known for steaks, oysters and a long wine list.
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Continental Club
A South Congress music club since 1955, with live roots, rock and country bands every night of the week.
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The Driskill
An 1886 Romanesque hotel on Sixth Street, the oldest operating hotel in Austin, with a clubby bar off the lobby.
When to go: weather by month, based on Austin
Our climate figures for Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake come from nearby Austin. Average daily highs in Austin run from 60°F in January to 98°F in August; May is usually the wettest month. For Austin's New Year itself, we suggest: Dec 31, 7 pm – 12:30 am.
Modelled monthly averages for Austin from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Austin weather by month (covers Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Austin's New Year, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 30.26160, -97.75400
- Destination
- Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake, Texas
Austin's New Year: quick answers
How much time do you need at Austin's New Year?
Plan on about 5 hours at Austin's New Year. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Austin's New Year?
Our pick: Dec 31, 7 pm – 12:30 am. Insider tip: Arrive by 9 pm to get a spot on the lawn near the water; entrances are at the east and west ends.
Is Austin's New Year free?
Yes, we list Austin's New Year as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.
Which TripsCircle routes include Austin's New Year?
Austin's New Year appears on Austin New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Austin's New Year to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake.
Plan Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake
- Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake travel guide 7 places
- Austin weather (covers Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake) weather by month
Lists & regions
Also in Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake
- Continental Club Drinks
- Jeffrey's Food
- The Driskill Stay
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.