Thomas J Henry welcomes you to BAT FEST September 6, 2025
Bands Performing:
TBA
TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE
Cost: Advance Tickets $25 GA! VIP $190! Day of price $30. Children 10 and under free with an adult. Tickets to 2025 Bat Fest.
VIP Tickets:
Want to be in the front row? Get a VIP ticket. It includes access to VIP only designated areas featuring front row standing area at the stage, a voucher to be used at the official event merchandise booth for any event t-shirt available, reserved VIP parking, 2 complimentary drink tickets* for any adult beverage served at the bar (adult beverages can be purchased after drink tickets are used), 1 food voucher to be used at any event food booth, water and soda. *Must be 21 or older to consume beer, wine, or liquor in Texas. Rain or Shine event. Refunds and rescheduling are not possible.
About the Bats:
A good source for information specific to the Congress Ave. Bats is Austinbats.org . Because bats are wild animals, it is hard to predict exactly when the emergence will begin but the flight usually begins between 7:00 – 8:45 p.m. The emergence can last up to ½ hour as 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats head out for their nightly flight.
Bat Costume Contest:
Prize is $100 plus prizes for Best Adult Costume and $100 plus prizes for best childrens costume. Participants will be lined up on Stage, and the crowd will be asked to yell for the costume they like the best. Originality is encouraged.
Children’s Area next to the Rivian store. Check out a Rivian while your children slide and bounce.
Festival Info:
Venue – Ann W Richards Congress Avenue Bridge
Event Hours – 3:00 – 11:00 pm
Austin, Texas is fortunate to be the home of the largest urban bat colony in the world as 1.5 million Mexican Free-Tail Bats live underneath the Ann W. Richards Congress Ave Bridge in the heart of Downtown! Every night during spring and summer, these magnificent creatures fly out from their roosting places in search of tasty Texas insects. Thousands of people from all over the world visit the Ann W. Richards Congress Ave Bridge every night to witness this amazing sight.
Roadway Productions is proud to present the 19th ANNUAL BAT FEST – An Austin Festival Tradition that celebrates LIVE Music, Food, Family Fun, Children’s Activities, and of course, THE FAMOUS CONGRESS BRIDGE BATS! This is the only festival in Austin that takes place on a bridge!
NEW: Bat Fest 2025 will be adding Asian American Music & Cultural acts to the lineup. For the first time ever, we will be bringing a fantastic lineup of local and regional Asian American artists to Bat Fest, celebrating the rich diversity of music and culture that makes Austin so special! A full day of programing will feature entertainers from multiple countries of influence such as India, China, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and more with performance of dance, music, and theatrical performances.
Other attractions:
- kid’s zone
- fabulous food and drink vendors
- approximately 25 arts & crafts vendors
- the famous Congress Avenue Bridge Bats!
Bat Viewing will take place on the bridge / below the bridge from the Statesman Lot (exact timing is not available as Mother Nature dictates here).
*event format, stage locations, all logistics subject to change.
FOOD AND DRINKS
2025 FOOD LIST To Be Announced Soon!
LAST YEARS FOOD FROM 2024:
Sweeter than Sour
Milk (boba)tea, fruit tea, lemonade, smoothies, slushy, cold brew, Lotus Italian sodas
Little Patagonia Empanadas & Cafe
Both sweet and savory Empanadas
Pham’s Concession
Chicken teriyaki on the stick
Chicken on stick with rice/lo-mein
Chicken on stick w/shrimp fired rice/lo-mein
Egg-roll
Lamp/chicken
Vegie fried rice/veggie Lo-Mein
Wetzel’s Pretzels
a variety of fresh soft baked pretzels and fresh/blended lemonades
Cristi&Ali Cuisine
Gyros, chicken on a stick, Sausage on a Stick, Bratwurst, sausage wrap, Chicken Basket, Fries, Mozzarella Sticks, Corn Dogs, Oreos, Twix, Tea, Lemonade, Soda
Isa’s Kitchen
Flavored Funnel Cake, Shrimp Basket, Chicken Wings, Limeades
Lupe Tortilla
menu coming
Sandias Concessions
Large 32oz Aguas Frescas
Parking/ Getting There
Paid Parking: The 300 S. Congress Embassy Suite Parking Garage
Entrance off W. Riverside between Barton Creek and S. Congress
Paid Parking: Austin American Statesman 305 South Congress Ave.
Paid Parking: TXDOT lot located accessed from Riverside Drive just east of Congress 150 & 200 East Riverside Dr.
- * PAID Parking: Palmer Events Center Garage, S. 1st and Riverside
- * PAID Parking: One Texas Center 505 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704
- * PAID Parking: Various hotels in area both south and north of the river
- * PAID Parking: The Long Center at 701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704
- * PAID PARKING: 100 N. Congress and the entrance to the garage is on Caeser Chavez between Congress and Colorado
- Bike Parking: We have Bicycle Rack to secure your bike. Be GREEN!
- *Bike Share to Bat Fest: We’ll valet your Austin B-cycle from 6pm to Midnight at the entrance at Barton Springs and Congress Ave.
- Ride the Bus It is a great cheap, green option.
What not to bring
Don’t Bring:
- Food & Drinks
- Liquor Beer or Wine
- Weapons or Fireworks
- Pets
- Tents
You Can bring:
- Baby Food & Drinks
- Cameras
- sealed bottled water
- chairs
- Bags will be searched
- Soft sided coolers with ice and bottled water only
- CamelBaks most come in empty so that we know they do not contain alcohol. You can fill them at the WaterMonster.
Map
Batfest Promo Video
BAT FLIGHT VIDEO
Schedule
North Stage
- 3:00pm
- 4:25pm
- 5:35pm
- 6:45pm Bat Costume Contest
- 6:55pm
- 8:00pm
- 8:20pm
- 9:25pm
DJ Grip between bands
South Stage
- 3:15pm
- 4:20pm
- 5:15pm
- 6:15pm
- 7:45pm
- 8:30pm
- 9:10pm
- 9:50pm
All Times and performers subject to change
Hotels
Embassy Suites by Hilton Austin Downtown South Congress is offering an exclusive Summer Bat Package. Available now through September 30. One of the hotel’s spacious suites, free parking, and late check-out, along with complimentary breakfast and WiFi. call +1 512-469-9000
The The LINE hotel Has the best view of the bats and is the close to the event.
Address: 111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701, United States
(512) 478-9611
Comfort Suites Located just south on IH35.
COMFORT SUITES – SOUTH AUSTIN
5001 S IH 35, Austin, TX, 78744, US
Phone: (512) 727-1558 Fax: (512) 953-8392
Site Map
Videos of performances of the bands performing at Bat Fest
Sponsors
