BAT FEST 2025

Thomas J Henry welcomes you to BAT FEST Presented by ZOA ENERGY DRINK September 6, 2025

Bands Performing: TBA

Dj Grip

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE

Cost: Early Bird Tickets $20 GA! Early Bird VIP $100! Day of price TBA 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.

BECOME A VENDOR OR SPONSOR!

Festival Info:

Venue – Ann W Richards Congress Avenue Bridge
Event Hours – 3:00 – 11:59 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 18th 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!

Event Format: live music

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.

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
10:45pm
DJ Grip between bands

South Rivian/Vancerts Local Stage POWERED by Rivian!

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