Annual free music and arts festival held across the Red River Cultural District in Austin, featuring local and national music acts.
Hot Summer Nights returns to the Red River Cultural District this July 16, 17, and 18, three days of free music and art spread across the neighborhood. It's an annual district-wide festival, and this year's lineup runs from Soul Man Sam to Witches Exist, so there's a fair bit of ground to cover if you're planning to catch more than one set.
The festival started in 2017 with a specific purpose: to bring more revenue to the district's businesses and paid opportunities to local musicians and artists during the summer months, which are traditionally the slowest of the year for the city's live music scene. It's a community-wide effort, and the list of partners reflects that, with C3 Presents, Tito's Handmade Vodka, the City of Austin, SXSW, KUTX, and the Austin Symphony Orchestra all involved.
Because it's district-wide, the music isn't all in one place. You'll find performances scattered throughout the Red River Cultural District, a creative community that centers on Austin's local music, art, and food. That's part of the appeal—you can drift from one venue to another over the course of the weekend rather than staying put in one spot.
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It runs from Thursday, July 16, through Saturday, July 18, and admission is free. If you're looking for a way to spend a few summer nights with live music, this is a good place to start.
