Beat the Heat (and Love Every Minute of It): Things to Do in Austin This Weekend
Spring has officially arrived in Austin, and it brought some serious sunshine with it. With highs pushing into the low 90s today and Sunday — a full 15-20 degrees above normal for late March — this weekend feels less like the first days of spring and more like a preview of summer. The good news: Austin is loaded with things to do, whether you want to cool off, cheer on the Longhorns, or saddle up at the rodeo.
Barton Springs Pool Is Back
The headline for outdoor lovers this weekend is the reopening of Barton Springs Pool, which returns to service today at its home at 2131 William Barton Dr. The pool has been closed since late February while the city completed the Barton Springs Skimmer Bypass Project — removing and mitigating a decommissioned skimmer from the 1940s that had been undermined by decades of flood events along Barton Creek, presenting structural and environmental risks. During the closure, Austin Parks and Recreation took the opportunity to complete additional deferred maintenance, including grass aeration and seeding, repainting signage and guard stands, servicing the diving board, and clearing algae from upstream areas.
With 90-degree temperatures on tap, the pool’s naturally spring-fed waters — which stay at a consistent 68–70 degrees year-round — are going to feel absolutely perfect. Tickets can be purchased through the free ATXSwims app or at kiosks onsite.
Repairs to an aging infrastructure caused the recent closure. (Austin American-Statesman)
March Madness at the Moody Center
If you’d rather keep the action indoors — or at least air-conditioned — the Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team is hosting NCAA Tournament second-round action at the Moody Center on Sunday. The No. 1-seeded Longhorns cruised past No. 16 seed Missouri State on Friday, 87-45, with Jordan Lee leading the way with 19 points and Madison Booker adding a double-double. Texas now faces No. 8 seed Oregon in the second round Sunday, with tip-off time to be determined. This is a Longhorns team that has been nearly unbeatable at home — they are 18-0 at the Moody Center this season and have won 43 straight games there. Tickets are available through TexasLonghorns.com.
Rodeo Austin’s Final Weekend
If you haven’t made it out to Rodeo Austin yet, this is your last shot. The event runs through March 28 at the Travis County Expo Center, and this weekend’s concert lineup is worth the trip alone. The 2026 concert series features artists including Midland, Clint Black, Flatland Cavalry, Aaron Watson, and Tanya Tucker, with ProRodeo action kicking off the show each night before the headliner takes the stage. Weekday ProRodeo starts at 7 p.m.; Sunday shows go at 3 p.m. The fairgrounds open at 10 a.m. daily with a full carnival, livestock exhibits, and the Kidztown petting zoo. Tickets start at $5 for fair admission and $30 for ProRodeo and concert packages.
Live Music and More Around Town
Austin being Austin, there’s no shortage of other options. KUTX presents Robert Plant and his Spring Fever 2026 Tour tonight at ACL Live at the Moody Theater, a free annual celebration of Austin music that always draws a crowd.
On Sunday, legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman performs at Dell Hall at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.
And up in Round Rock, Dell Diamond is hosting a Round Rock Express Fan Fest today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with activities for kids including inflatables, a petting zoo, and train rides to welcome back the Express for another minor league baseball season.
For those who want to get outdoors beyond Barton Springs, the greenbelt trails along Barton Creek remain a great option for a morning hike or bike ride before the heat peaks in the afternoon.
Whatever you get into, drink some water and wear your sunscreen — it’s going to be a hot one.
Sources: City of Austin Parks and Recreation (Barton Springs Pool reopening announcement); Austin American-Statesman / TexasLonghorns.com (UT women’s basketball NCAA Tournament results and schedule); RodeoAustin.com (concert lineup, schedule, ticketing); KUTX.org (Spring Fever 2026); Long Center for the Performing Arts (Itzhak Perlman); Round Rock Express / milb.com (Fan Fest)
Austin is reckoning with the legacy of César Chávez on multiple fronts this week, as city leaders move toward renaming one of its most prominent thoroughfares and Austin ISD steps back from its long-standing celebration of the late labor leader.
Support is building to rename Cesar Chavez Street, though city leaders say the process will take time and community input before any final decision is made.
Cesar Chavez Street
East–west corridor through downtown Austin, Texas
Heads up, Manor.
On Tuesday, we’ll learn more about the city’s effort to put so-called ‘caps and stitches’ over the future I-35. Caps and stitches are essentially decks over the highway where parks, trails, green space and even buildings will be placed.
Investigative documents from the NTSB reveal that the truck driver involved in last year’s fatal I-35 pileup in North Austin held the wrong commercial license due to a state error. Federal officials claim this mistake allowed the driver to remain on the road when he otherwise should have been disqualified years earlier. (Austin American-Statesman)
A baby has died days after being born prematurely following a crash in South Austin.
KXAN‘s Grace Reader is joined by Austin City Councilmember Ryan Alter talk about the first, busy months of 2026 and what’s ahead for the city in the rest of the year.
The city’s Homeless Strategies and Operations Department is working to finalize the Sunrise Homeless Navigational Center, located near Interstate 35 and Oltorf Street, forming a 13-member Center Advisory Board to help shape the center’s scope, design and operations. The navigation center will cost the city just over $4.3 million. It’s intended to help unhoused residents connect with stable housing and support services. (KVUE-TV via Yahoo! News)
During a downtown safety forum on Thursday, the downtown commander for the Austin Police Department shared that the “public safety zone” on W. 6th Street.
The partial government shutdown continues to cause delays at airports.
Delta Air Lines will launch a new nonstop route between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Phoenix in November. Twice-daily flights will begin Nov. 9 and will operate as Delta Connection on Embraer 175 aircraft, the airline said.
Delta will also expand service on another route: Saturday-only flights to Bozeman, Montana are set to begin June 13.
WEATHER
FRIDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
We missed setting new record high temperatures yesterday. ABIA was two degrees shy of the record while Camp Mabry missed the mark by one.
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
TEXAS DROUGHT MONITOR
Suffer from seasonal allergies? We are now transitioning into peak oak season.
The Texas Department of Public Safety has a new class of members on its force.
Today was a special day for the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), as Recruit Class C-2025 graduated from the DPS Training Academy after 30 weeks of hard work that tested these men and women mentally and physically. This morning, friends, family and fellow law enforcement… pic.twitter.com/lPZSomVFRj
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) March 20, 2026
A vape shop in East Texas has filed a lawsuit in an effort to block new hemp restrictions due to take effect at the end of the month.
A Fort Bend County jury on Friday found outgoing County Judge KP George guilty of money laundering. Sentencing is set for June. (Houston Public Media)
The University of North Texas is cutting or consolidating more than 70 academic programs, minors and certificates as it works to close a projected $45 million budget shortfall, including phasing out its linguistics degrees and eliminating a women’s and gender studies master’s program. (KSAT-TV)
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered Texas to extend the application deadline for private school vouchers until March 31 due to the state’s exclusion of Islamic schools from the program. The extension comes after four Muslim parents and three Islamic private school providers sued Texas leaders earlier this month, arguing state leaders discriminated against their religion by excluding them from the program.
Texas Muslim families say they are “shut out” from the school voucher program.
A jury has indicted a Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy on Thursday after a 2025 shooting of a man at a north Harris County gas station, according to officials. (ABC 13 Houston)
The looming water crisis in Corpus Christi could now pose a threat to one of our state’s and nation’s most critical energy hubs. The area’s refineries are working to secure alternative water sources to maintain operations as the city and surrounding area face a possible water emergency in the coming months. Our Jennifer Sanders sat down with the Texas Tribune’s Carlos Nogueras Ramos to find out how this problem started, and what it means for the Lone Star State.
Corpus Christi cuts its timeline to a water disaster and the state issues emergency orders to deal with what may be an unprecedented crisis. Today we’re coming to you from the place they call the Sparkling City by the Sea — yet despite its proximity to the water, the region faces the imminent threat of running out of it.
We’re at the studios of KEDT, our partners in Corpus Christi. We’ll have the latest on the water crisis here, but also some of the extraordinary charms of the 8th most populous city in Texas — a hub for shipping, wildlife preservation, and great music.
(Episode from March 20, 2026)
More from Politico.
Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton are officially locked into the May runoff. With Donald Trump still withholding a key endorsement, both campaigns are navigating intense pressure as they court conservative voters. Dylan McKim speaks with New York Times correspondent Lauren McGaughy about the ideological split defining the race and how a Trump endorsement could reshape the contest.
Also…the Corpus Christi water crisis…the shocking Cesar Chavez allegations…and the effort to overturn Plyler v. Doe, the Supreme Court ruling that guarantees undocumented children access to public schools.
The guys give the lowdown on two (one, not so) top secret meetings involving Texas Republicans, read the tea leaves on gambling, and discuss the Cesar Chavez scandal fallout.
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: The Texas Longhorns face Gonzaga this evening in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, with a shot at the Sweet 16 on the line.
TEXAS A&M VS. HOUSTON
Friday, the Red Raiders of Texas Tech advanced.
Tech will face No. 4 seed Alabama on Sunday.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Ouch. That hurt.
WHAT. A. FINISH‼️#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/XdEwHxespl
— Auburn Baseball (@AuburnBaseball) March 21, 2026
With No. 2 Texas two outs away from taking the series opener, No. 5 Auburn cleared the bases to notch a 4-3 walk-off win at Plainsman Park on Friday night. Bristol Carter delivered a two-run single and the Tigers (19-3, 4-0 SEC) capitalized on a defensive miscue to secure their 12th straight victory. (Texas Longhorns)
Game 2 is today.
NBA: A win for the Rockets last night.
Kevin Durant scored 25 points, Jabari Smith Jr. added 23 and the Houston Rockets snapped Atlanta’s 11-game winning streak with a 117-95 victory over the Hawks on Friday night. (Associated Press via MSN)
ON THE SCHEDULE
The Rockets are home again tonight taking on some Heat.
The San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks also play at home tonight.
NHL: The Dallas Stars try to stay hot tonight.
MLS: Austin FC hosts Los Angeles tonight.
Back at our favorite place.
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) March 19, 2026
🔗: https://t.co/YLjnPhUAZD#AustinFC x @Lexus pic.twitter.com/9Uw3NSlgIn
Texas is mourning the loss of one of its most iconic adopted sons, Chuck Norris, the martial artist‑turned‑actor whose tough‑guy persona and deep ties to the Lone Star State made him a cultural fixture for generations. From the global fame of Walker, Texas Ranger—filmed and set across North Texas—to his decades of philanthropy, business ventures, and public appearances throughout the state, Norris’ legacy is woven into Texas’ modern identity as tightly as any legend of the frontier.
Texas has lost a legend.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 20, 2026
All of Texas mourns the passing of Chuck Norris. He was not only a martial arts champion, action icon, and the one and only Walker, Texas Ranger. But he electrified generations of conservatives. Giving them a passion and voice to fight for the… pic.twitter.com/1WwitoHM1F
From The Archive: 1995 Chuck Norris Interview from the set of Walker, Texas Ranger
