Over 1,000 people gathered on Saturday, April 5 to set up picnic spreads and enjoy connecting with community at this beloved event on the lawn at Waterloo Park. Despite a surprisingly chilly forecast, picnic-goers of all ages bundled up, packed their picnic blankets, and made their way to this beautiful natural space where spring is in bloom.
The Family Fun Zone, sponsored by Heritage Title Company, was bustling with activity! Nestled between the playground and the Meredith Heritage Tree Deck, this kid-friendly zone buzzed with opportunities for face-painting, science and nature experiments with Mad Science and Girl Start, learning about monarch butterflies with Monarch Sanctuary, and a photo booth with Vannagram. East End Eclectic wowed passersby with a live art installation, creating beautiful park-themed images that will remain at Waterloo Park for the season!
Moody Amphitheater was abuzz with oohs and aahs as everyone unpacked mouth-watering spreads curated by twenty Austin restaurants. Picnic baskets purchased ahead of time offered up a wide variety of choices including pizza, BBQ, seafood, salads, fried chicken, and you-name-it! The enjoyment of the food was elevated by the feel-good surroundings – laughter, connection, playfulness, music, and joy!
An especially exciting moment was the introduction of Waterloo Greenway’s new CEO, Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, who has returned to Austin and to Waterloo Greenway at a pivotal time for the organization. Dr. Burnette will lead Waterloo Greenway’s strategic vision, overseeing sustainability, fundraising, operations, and partnerships, as she fosters relationships with stakeholders and guides the completion of the project.
While DJ Hexum kept the crowd energized during the first portion of the event, The Motts live performance brought on an immediate dance party on the stage of Moody Amphitheater!
Pop-Up Picnic undoubtedly makes a huge impact, supporting Waterloo Greenway’s efforts to build, maintain, and activate Waterloo Park while the project grows with construction underway of Phase II, just north of Lady Bird Lake. Waterloo Greenway will span 1.5 miles along Waller Creek, providing beautiful greenspace and new paths of connectivity across downtown Austin.
Thank you to everyone who supported this wonderful event. We hope to see you again soon at Waterloo Park!
Upcoming Events
- Concert season has kicked off at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park! Check out the 2025 schedule here
- Wild Waterloo, Saturday, April 19 – a free, family-friendly night of outdoor adventures, local bites available for purchase, and a sunset screening of The Wild Robot!
- Save the date for Glow in the Park – an unforgettable night of music, magic, and celebration under the stars!
