2026 Bat Fest

September 5 marks the 20th Anniversary of the Bat Fest held in Austin,Texas. The Mexican Free- Tailed Bats are the show stopper that bring people out to watch them as they fly out from underneath the Congress bridge in downtown town.

Today was my first BatFest as my wife and I attended. We got to go out and enjoy the city of downtown Austin after witnessing the bats fly out for the nightly flight to fest on the insects. The city of Austin is beautiful as the skyline of the buildings is the city’s nightlight.

The Bat Fest was great as they had many different vendors that attended the event from food vendors to merchandise for the bat fest selling ceramic bats and T Shirts. The event even had a dj and the band wild Child performed and they were pretty good. The Bats even after sundown had everyone on the edge of their seats waiting and people around me were saying it’s well after sundown when are they going to come out. They have a boating dock that has night cruises and party boats that go out and kayaks and small paddle boats and water boards to go out on the water to watch the bats as well.

The Bats come from April to mid November so those who have not been to see that bats yes still have time to see them in downtown Austin. The new bats are born in June and then join the adults as they take flight.