Austin, TX

Austin First Annual Ice Cream Festival: Cold treats from Amy’s Ice Creams, Cold Stone Creamery, Ben & Jerry’s, Stonyfield Farm and others will be available at this inaugural event at Waterloo Park, along with live music and activities for kids and adults. Charges for activities, which include an ice cream eating contest ($10), best homemade ice cream ($20, made at the festival — see Web site for details) and best creation made with Popsicle sticks (Free). Some of the proceeds will go to the La Leche League, Habibi’s Hutch and the Austin Children’s Shelter. Sponsored by Amplify Credit Union and Whole Foods Market.10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Waterloo Park. Admission is free.

Austin Tea Party: Free Sweet Leaf Tea to anyone who donates to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas this week. Mon.-Sat., Aug. 13-18.

Hatch Chile Festival: One of my favourite events every year. Held at Central Market where they grill up the hatch chilies while you watch. Oh baby, it smells soooo good! You can also purchase freshly made hatch chile burgers and hatch chile sausage. This year they’ll also be having a No-Holds-Barred Hatch Chile Pepper Recipe Contest with a $500 gift certificate for the winner. Aug. 17-26.

Tax Free Weekend: No tax this weekend on clothing for clothing priced under $100. Backpacks for elementary and secondary students now qualify, too. If you hate crowds this is the weekend to avoid stores, especially the outlet malls! Fri.-Sun., Aug. 17-19.

…and on a similar note: Backpack Austin will be collecting backpacks filled with school supplies for needy children. Call for details, or just bring your donations to: Sweet Dreams Childcare, 5811 Berkman #140. Through Aug. 25. 926-3700.

‘The King and I: Elvis-inspired dance theater’: What a fun way to commemorate the 30th anniversary of The King’s death! Arts on Real. This is the final weekend. Aug. 2nd-18th Thurs., Fri., and Sat.at 8pm

Cut-a-Thon: The Paul Mitchell academy in P’ville invites you to “get your hair did”, your body waxed, and your make-up perfected today at bargain prices. This is a fund raiser for recent graduate Isaac Lehr offset the medical costs of his battle against cancer. Sunday 10am-6pm at Academy at Austin, 15635 Vision Dr., Pflugerville, 512/251-1644 x106. $10-25 per service.

Austin, Weekend, Happening, Events, Elvis, King, Anniversary, The King and I, Fundraiser, Isaac Lehr, Paul Mitchell, Backpack Austin, Ice Cream Festival, Hatch Chile Festival, Central Market, Arts on Real, Austin Tea Party, Amy’s Ice Cream, Tax Free Weekend, Cut-a-thon