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Look, grown-ass adults wearing whiskers and singing about a Jellicle Ball is always going to be a little goofy, but that willingness to play make-believe is why we go to the theatre. Nobody expects strict realism, which is why the 2019 film was such an unmitigated disaster, and why Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sung musical, based on T.S. Eliot’s 1939 poetry collection Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, is far better suited for the stage at Georgetown’s historic Palace Theatre. Grizabella’s ballad “Memories” may be the song that puts people in seats, but don’t sleep on the magical “Mr. Mistoffelees.” – Kimberley Jones

Aug. 6 is National Frozen Drink Day, but a bunch of Eastside bars (plus Tweedy’s, for some reason) are celebrating chilly libations all week long. Kinda Tropical, Holiday, Kitty Cohen’s, Sunny’s Backyard, Hotel Vegas, Volstead, the Long Goodbye, Yellow Jacket Social Club, High Noon, the Cavalier, and Low Down Lounge are slinging margaritas, piña coladas, daiquiris, and other slushy concoctions to keep you cool in the August heat. Grab a punch card at any participating location – hit all the participating spots and earn a limited edition FREEze Week Austin T-shirt. Bottoms up! – Carys Anderson

Sharp, clean, and pleasantly pop-sided for a contemporary punk band, Barcelona-based Fuera De Sektor shined up all four tracks from 2022 EP El Mundo Sigue for the Eighties-inspired shimmy of May’s Juegos Prohibidos. Their debut LP arrived on UK label La Vida Es Un Mus, also known for pressing ATX hardcore acts Glue and Institute. At Hotel Vegas, Fuera De Sektor’s Spanish-language snarl and tasty guitar find a natural pairing in Austin standbys Mujeres Podridas. After hitting a Stereolab cover at their first show last year – and sharing M.P. six-stringer John Morales – local art-rockers Guiding Light round out the bill, alongside False Truce. – Rachel Rascoe

Back from last year, this L.A.-based party gets ATX-pilled with local acts blownin’ up Chups like Glitter Cult and Van Mary. Plus: Dragonnqueen spins.

South Asian queer social group Khush ATX collabs with Dhak Dhak Events to throw a big ol’ Bollywood bash featuring drag, a fashion show, music by DJ Nish, and much more.

A special edition of Husky: Pup and Critters Night featuring fundraising for this year’s Iron Pup, silent auction baskets, a pet mosh, Jell-O shots, and Chique Fil-Atio in the DJ booth. Woof!

Writer’s block can strike anyone, anywhere. Even those writing about actual strikes – and by strikes I mean intensely graphic murders and mayhem. Listen, sometimes disemboweling is easier said than written. It’s hard to capture viscera with the appropriate splashes of terror. With Killer Con, you can meet the royal court of splatterpunk and extreme horror writing in the non-maimed flesh. Learn at the feet of honored guests like Daniel J. Volpe, C.V. Hunt, and Kristopher Triana. It’s the sharpest ins and outs of horror writing and publishing, with healthy doses of panels and vendors galore. Hone your craft and your spooky collections this weekend. – Cat McCarrey

Powerhouse singer/songwriter/saw player concludes the free summer music series at the amphitheatre, warmed up by Americana toe-tappers from the South Austin Moonlighters.

A craft with history, paper flowers have roots planted all over the world – from 7th century China to the church altars of Mexico – that continue to bloom today. Take part in this centuries-long tradition with modern tools like the die-cut machine at Austin Creative Reuse’s workshop. Make ’em big, small, colorful, or muted: The choice is up to you! Walk-ins are welcome as ACR says the workshop’s designed for participants to come and go as they please, but there’ll be $12 charge at the door. Nab your tickets early, and you won’t have to drop cash day-of. – James Scott

Two young men, trapped in the treadmill of life, waiting for something destined to come. Such is the seemingly uneventful plot of Pass Over. But unlike frequent comparison point Waiting for Godot, the companion Pass Over’s men are waiting for is Death itself. Main characters Moses and Kitch spend the play on a street corner. The days are long, slow, and full of yearning. Surreal while all too real. Set in the current day, but mixed with ancient yet ever-present histories of slavery and violence, Pass Over reminds the viewer that for some, a peaceful day can be a gift. First show’s on Aug. 15. – Cat McCarrey

Okay, fancy-pants! Splash around in W Austin’s WET Deck while enjoying drag by Vylette Ward and Lavender Thug. Plus: $1 of each Pride cocktail goes to ATX Gay Flag Football league.

All your faves from the small screen perform inside the many-couched Elysium interior, with Vander Van Odd, Gia Gun, Laganja Estranja, Calypso Jeté Balmain, A’Keria Chanel Davenport, and Mulan Alexander. Louisianna Purchase hosts, and DJ Colby B – aka Susanne Bartsch’s 10-year resident DJ – spins.

This party started like three years ago when Marketing & Engagement Manager Cassie Arredondo mentioned to me that she wanted Qmmunity to do a big Pride party again. I was nearing critical dehydration on account of us tabling at Rainbow on the Creek in like over 100 degree heat, but the idea still sounded good after a sun-sick nap. Several emails, in-person discussions, and Sales team calls later, there’s a freakin’ Austin Chronicle Qmmunity-led Pride event on the Calendar. Enjoy drag by the wonderful Maxine LaQueene and Simone Rivera; music by DJ Boyfriend ATX; booths from local folks like Las Ofrendas and Forbidden Fruit; and a Q&A with community leaders moderated by me. Party on, y’all. – James Scott

Yard Dog Gallery has long been a champion of outsider/folk art – and fine art with similar sensibilities – ever since its days on South Congress. Now at the Canopy Complex, it neighbors newer Austin galleries that are shaping our art scene just as Yard Dog has done for decades, like Ivester Contemporary, ICOSA Gallery, and SAGE Studios. Going for a visit is never a bad idea, especially to catch Yard Dog’s August show, featuring painters Rachel Paxton and Will Beger. Massachusetts-based Paxton creates “western-themed mid-century modern-inspired neon sign paintings… [that] are part documentary, part fiction.” Arizona-based Beger “paints modern Southwest artworks that feature a mix of mid-century and landscape elements with an emphasis on desert minimal design,” writes the gallery. Open hours are Thursday and Friday 12-3pm and Saturday 12-4pm, or by appointment. – Lina Fisher

Amid August’s sweat-drenched dog days, slacker rock sextet Stalefish’s sophomore effort, It’s All Down Here From Hill, arrives like a solace-bringing summer rain. Brimming with shimmery Nineties nostalgia, the recent release is a bittersweet accomplishment – the group faces an indefinite hiatus as its members embark on divergent post-collegiate paths. Luckily, their upcoming joint album release/send-off show promises double the fun with back-to-back performances of the new LP and January release Stalefish Does America. Motorsports and Mid-Range Jumper provide additional bright-eyed, beer-chug energy. – Genevieve Wood

Comedy is all about the woke agenda, you know, like having a fun time with a diverse comic lineup. Catch an especially queer lineup this weekend with Alexandra Sleeping, Julie Talbert, Gabi Montemayor, Colton Dowling, Angelina Martin, Chris Bryant, and Evan Rabalais.

One thing I’ve loved about newer theatre or museums is the space given for land acknowledgement – statements about the ancestral roots of the space being used. Space that was not always ours, but taken. The Blanton’s latest exhibit tackles that question, but pushes the boundaries. It’s not just about what Native America was, but what it can be. Curator and lauded artist Wendy Red Star has assembled nine other Native artists to create a rich exploration of what life in America is today. Shown through a variety of mediums, something is guaranteed to resonate with the audience. Whether it’s the photos, paintings, videos, or multimedia works is up to you. – Cat McCarrey

Hundreds of comics enter, only one comedian leaves … with the crown that means they can call themselves the Funniest Person in Austin. Who will ascend to the throne currently being kept warm by last year’s winner Dylan Carlino? We won’t find out until the finals later this year, but there are still plenty of chances to discover your favorite new funny-hilarious local talent in these opening rounds. With as many as 16 of Austin’s best funsters on any night, it’s all jokes, no waiting. – Richard Whittaker

Hoo-wee! Does anything feel better than a dip in the pool during a hot Texas summer? While some among us may be privileged to own private watering holes, most of us get to enjoy the great Austin PARD’s work at the 44 public aquatic facilities to choose from this summer. You’ve got regional, neighborhood, and community pools; a wading pool; splash pads; and the crown jewel: Barton Springs. Check austintexas.gov/pools-splashpads for up-to-date info on which pools are open, what their entry fee is, and whether you have what it takes to be a public pool lifeguard. Now, outta the way if you don’t wanna get wet: I’m gonna do a cannonball! – James Scott

Thanks to Seventies funk band War, the word “lowrider” often calls to mind the unforgettable sax riff of the band’s 1975 No. 1 single. But lowrider can mean a snazzy customized car with hydraulics or a person who works on such a vehicle, and the culture around these cars has strengthened Mexican American communities in the Southwest since the Forties. Learn more about them at this exhibit featuring an interactive touchscreen mural, cars and bikes on display, and stories about the people who make lowriding a community. A member reception takes place May 18. – Kat McNevins