Eeyore’s Birthday in Austin Texas
For most people, the mention of “Eeyore” summons images of the mopey yet lovable donkey from A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh. However, if you hail from Austin, Texas, there is a good chance that you also think of the yearly festival named in honor of this comical fictional character. On Saturday, April 26th, if you are lucky enough to be in Austin, you too can attend the 45th annual Eeyore’s Birthday Party in Pease Park. This unique event is held the last weekend in April, weather permitting, and is not to be missed.
Eeyore’s Birthday began as a small birthday celebration for a UT professor in 1963. For a long time it was thought of as a hippie event with free-spirited fun, dancing, and drum circles. While it still retains some of this feel, the festival has grown into a huge event with wide appeal. It draws thousands of people from all over the city to eat local food, drink Texas beer, listen to live music, and dress in costume. All of the money made from concessions is donated to local charities-so, you can feel good about going back for that second turkey leg.
Kids can dance around the May pole, get their face painted, or participate in sack races and egg tosses. Adults who are young at heart can do the same! Dogs are allowed on leash and there will be a “live” Eeyore in attendance (a donkey from a local farm). The general atmosphere at this festival is very laid-back, light-hearted, and playful. It is a chance to dress in wild costumes (and trust me, you will see some pretty creative/outlandish ones), sit in the grass, and celebrate the advent of spring to central Texas. Prizes awarded for the best costumes, which are donated by Saxon Pub, Threadgills, and Shady Grove. Also, for you hippies out there, don’t worry. There will be drum circles.
Pease park is in a lovely center off of Lamar Blvd. There are several shuttles running from downtown to the park on the day of the festival and attendees are encouraged to ride, walk, or bike. The party will be from 11am to dark, with children events held from 11-4pm. And the best part…..admission is free!
Eeyore’s Birthday is a classic Austin celebration held in a beautiful setting. Whether you are a long-time resident or just visiting , it is a wonderful way to experience the city’s off-beat side as well as celebrate the arrival of spring. Enjoy!
What festivals mark the arrival of spring in your town?
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2 Responses
Hi all. I’ve been to the Austin festival last year and I heartly second the recommendation for it. I think it is imperative that we max out the exposure of our small festivals, so we can keep our culture going. Personally, I’d like to thank the guys over at http://www.trekcafe.com who suggested to me I should attend the festival in the first place, and I should now thank Alison for doing the same. Cheers!
Thanks, Kim! I am glad that you have discovered Eeyor’s Birthday Party and hope that you have fun again this year. You are right, Austin has a lot of great small festivals that deserve exposure-to ensure that they survive!