Free outdoor concerts at Klyde Warren Park, free museum days, free nature trails, free theater in Austin, free splash pads across the state, and free admission at some of the greatest cultural institutions in the country — here is your complete guide to free August in Texas.
Summer is winding down and the budget is feeling it. August in Texas does not have to cost anything — not if you know where to look. Here is your city-by-city guide organized by date, from the first day of August through Labor Day weekend.
August 1 and 2 — Bank of America Free Museum Weekend (Statewide)
Bank of America, Merrill, and Bank of America Private Bank cardholders receive free admission to select Texas museums on the first full weekend of every month. The first full weekend of August falls on Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2. Participating institutions include museums in Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin. Bring your card and a photo ID.
Check: bankofamerica.com/museums for the full list of participating institutions
August 1 — Summer Bash at Historic Market Square (San Antonio)
A free community celebration at one of the most authentic Mexican market squares in the country, with live music, food, cultural programming, and the kind of energy that Market Square produces better than almost anywhere else in Texas.
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026 Location: Historic Market Square, 514 W. Commerce St., San Antonio, TX 78207 Admission: Free
Every Thursday in August — Free Museum Evenings (Statewide)
Several of Texas’s best museums offer free admission every Thursday — plan your week around these and you can spend August exploring world-class collections without spending a cent.
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth — free every Friday 5 to 8 p.m. 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth, TX 76107
Blanton Museum of Art, Austin — free every Thursday 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Austin, TX 78712
Asia Society Texas, Houston — free every Thursday noon to 7 p.m. 1370 Southmore Blvd., Houston, TX 77004
Holocaust Museum Houston — free every Thursday 2 to 5 p.m. 5401 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004
McNay Art Museum, San Antonio — free every Thursday 4 to 9 p.m. and first Sunday of each month 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave., San Antonio, TX 78209
Every Thursday Through August 13 — The Drop-In Summer Concert Series (Austin)
98.9 KUTX and the Long Center team up for a free weekly outdoor concert on the Long Center lawn every Thursday through August 13. The lineup features Austin artists from country and pop to R&B and acid punk — on the newly erected 3D-printed outdoor stage with Lady Bird Lake and the Austin skyline as the backdrop.
Dates: Every Thursday through August 13, 2026 Location: Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin, TX 78704 Admission: Free
August 5–8 — De Leon Peach and Melon Festival and Tractor Pull (De Leon)
Four days of one of Texas’s most quietly beloved agricultural festivals — peach harvest, a legitimate tractor pull competition, live music, and small West Texas town community spirit. De Leon sits between Abilene and Fort Worth on US-6, about two and a half hours from Dallas.
Dates: Wednesday, August 5 through Saturday, August 8, 2026 Location: De Leon City Park, 303 S. Texas St., De Leon, TX 76444 Phone: (254) 893-2083 Website: deleonpeachandmelonfestival.com
Every Saturday in August — Dallas Sounds Amplified at Klyde Warren Park (Dallas)
Free live music by local and regional artists on the main stage at Klyde Warren Park — the best free outdoor event space in the Dallas Arts District. The Boho Market also sets up regularly on the grounds with free admission to browse more than 100 artisan vendors. Kids’ programming, outdoor movies, and the park’s always-available green piano round out the free offerings throughout the week.
Location: Klyde Warren Park, 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., Dallas, TX 75201 Admission: Free Website: klydewarrenpark.org
Every Weekend in August — Miller Outdoor Theatre (Houston)
Free performances nearly every weekend through September at Houston’s beloved outdoor theater in Hermann Park. Tickets for covered seating are free at the box office two hours before showtime. The hill behind the covered section is always open with no ticket required.
Location: Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Dr., Houston, TX 77030 Admission: Free Website: milleroutdoortheatre.com — check August performance schedule
Every Weekend in August — Free Splash Pads Across Houston Area
The Woodlands Township operates multiple free spray grounds open throughout summer including Village Green Park at 26400 Kuykendahl Dr., Shadowbend Park at 4995 Lake Woodlands Dr., and Sawmill Park at 2200 Millpark Dr. Sugar Land and Webster also operate seasonal splash pads at community parks at no cost.
Admission: Free / Hours vary by location — check individual city parks departments
All Month — Always Free Texas Museums
These institutions never charge general admission — visit any day in August:
Dallas Museum of Art: 2010 Flora St., Dallas, TX 75201 / Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. / dma.org
Crow Museum of Asian Art, Dallas: 2010 Flora St., Dallas, TX 75201 / Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. / crowmuseum.org
Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth: 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107 / Hours: Tuesday–Sunday / cartermuseum.org
Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth (permanent collection): 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107 / kimbellart.org
Menil Collection, Houston: 1533 Sul Ross St., Houston, TX 77006 / Hours: Wednesday–Sunday 11 a.m.–7 p.m. / menil.org
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston: 5216 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006 / Hours: Tuesday–Sunday / camh.org
Discovery Green, Houston: 1500 McKinney St., Houston, TX 77010 / Free outdoor events daily / discoverygreen.com
The Alamo, San Antonio: 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205 / thealamo.org
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park: Four UNESCO World Heritage missions — Concepción, San José, San Juan, and Espada / nps.gov/saan
All Month — Zilker Summer Musical (Austin)
Free outdoor theater Thursday through Sunday evenings at Zilker Hillside Theater through Labor Day weekend. The full 2026 production runs in rotating repertory — check the schedule before you go and arrive early for the best spots on the hill.
Dates: Thursday through Sunday evenings through Labor Day, 2026 Location: Zilker Hillside Theater, 2207 Lou Neff Rd., Austin, TX 78704 Admission: Free Website: austintheatre.org
August 22–23 — St. Louis Day Celebration (Castroville)
The 144th annual St. Louis Day Celebration — the self-proclaimed “granddaddy of church festivals” — brings the German-Alsatian community of Castroville together for two days of live music, food, raffles, and family festivities. Castroville is the “Little Alsace of Texas,” 25 miles west of San Antonio on US-90.
Dates: Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, 2026 Location: St. Louis Catholic Church grounds, 1100 Angelo St., Castroville, TX 78009 Website: stlouisday.com
Check Before You Go — Free State Park Days
Texas State Parks offers free admission on select designated days throughout the year. Check tpwd.texas.gov for the August 2026 free park day schedule — when those days fall, entrance to Palo Duro Canyon, Enchanted Rock, Garner State Park, and all other Texas state parks is waived. Reserve in advance for popular parks regardless of admission cost.
Website: tpwd.texas.gov
