Summer rules supreme in Austin but even the most sunbaked Austinite can't deny that the reprieve from the heat is a welcome change in the city. Rejoicing for the cooler temps, downtown Austin begins preparing for a variety of festivals and outdoor events for book worms, film buffs and music lovers. Beginning in October residents of The Austonian can witness trees beginning to turn, pumpkins making their way to front stoops and long pants slowly replacing shorts.

Austin City Limits Music Festival – affectionately termed "ACL" – is one of the most well-known and well-loved music festivals in the country. Many believe that it has helped fuel the surge in growth and popularity of the city of Austin in recent years. In its eleventh year, ACL draws crowds of over 70,000 to Zilker Park, immediately south of Lady Bird Lake. This year the festival will be held October 12th – 14th. Residents of The Austonian can easily follow the trails around Lady Bird Lake to reach the festivities. For those wishing to avoid the crowds, Barton Springs offers a nice escape while still being within earshot of the music performances.

On the heels of ACL, the Austin Film Festival and Conference begins October 18th and runs through October 25th, inviting film enthusiasts, actors and behind-the-scenes professionals to partake in discussion panels, screenings, workshops and parties. Since 1993, the annual event has recognized and encouraged seasoned veterans, budding artists, independent films and creative narratives alike. With several events tied to the festival happening around downtown Austin, residents of The Austonian can be choosey in planning their itineraries for the week. Conveniently located within a 10-minute walk from The Austonian, residents are a stone's throw from screenings, events and parties. A detailed schedule is slated to post in the coming weeks and rumors of visiting celebrities and pop culture icons will surely follow.

To cap off the list of fall festivals, the Texas Book Festival arrives at the Texas State Capitol the last weekend in October. The First Edition Literary Gala kicks off the book festival with an evening of cocktails, dinner and author presentations. First established in 1995 by First Lady Laura Bush, the festival hosts over 200 Texas and national authors, and includes a book sale featuring Texas-based publishers and writers. The Texas Book Festival attracts crowds topping 40,000 coming to enjoy talks with featured authors, presentations, cooking demonstrations, live music performances and other family-friendly activities. Names like Molly Shannon, Paula Dean and Steve Inskeep have filled the schedule in previous years. Book enthusiasts and avid readers of The Austonian can enjoy a 15-minute walk to the Capitol in the fall weather to peruse authors, titles, presentations and more. More information can be found at the Texas Book Festival website.