Party for the Parks 2026

Party for the Parks returns to Zilker Park on Wednesday, October 7, inside the ACL Music Festival grounds. It's the Austin Parks Foundation's biggest fundraiser of the year, and this time around, Cold War Kids are the ones taking the stage for the private concert that closes the night.

If you haven't been, the evening is built around a few specific things. There's food, drinks, and games—including the Tipsy Toss and the Gift Card Gamble—along with a silent and live auction. The music comes at the end, when the party shifts into a private show for the guests. Cold War Kids are the headliners this year, so that's the set you're working toward.

There's a bit more to it than just the party. The Austin Parks Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit that's been working to provide high-quality parks for Austinites for more than 30 years. Every dollar raised from the night goes directly to supporting Austin's nearly 400 parks, trails, and green spaces, so the fundraising side is the whole point of the event. The party is billed as an all-inclusive, premium experience, and the money it brings in goes straight back into the city's outdoor spaces.

As for getting in, tickets are sold out. If you missed out on this one, you can keep an eye on party.austinparks.org for future updates.