Austin’s newest boozy fest, Texas Whiskey Festival, is about to debut

Have you recovered from South by Southwest yet? You’d better hope you have before the booziest festival of all debuts.

The Texas Whiskey Festival will showcase the best of the state’s whiskey on Saturday with food, entertainment and cigar pairings available for up to 500 whiskey enthusiasts.

Although our whiskey industry might not have as storied a legacy as Kentucky bourbon, it’s proven to be a thriving and innovative scene with the likes of Garrison Brothers Bourbon, Balcones Whisky and Firestone & Robertson Distilling leading the pack (and more in the works already). These whiskey producers and more will be present at the fest at the Bullock Texas State History Museum, along with some of the state’s wineries.

Booze lovers can get tastes of whiskey from local brands such Treaty Oak Brewing & Distilling, Austonian Whiskey, Andalusia Whiskey and Ben Milam Whiskey; others from around the state are going to be represented as well. The festival will have the whiskey tasting run from 7 to 9 p.m. —atw hich point you can switch to a cash bar with beer, wine and cocktails.

And, yes, you’ll want to stick around. The night’s entertainment, starting at 9:15 p.m., will come from one of Austin’s most beloved musical acts, Asleep at the Wheel.

Tickets range from $25 — for designated drivers — to $125, which gets you the full package deal of access to all wines and whiskeys, the concert, a tasting glass, and a meet-and-greet with the musical artists before the show. The festival wraps up at 10:30 p.m.

For more information and tickets, visit secure.txwhiskeyfest. com/event/Texas-Whiskey-Festival.

Other Saturday events

Johnson’s Backyard Garden Spring Picnic and 5k Garden Gallop. Run through a working organic garden. From 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Saturday, enjoy picnicking, the run, music by Johnny Nicholas, Scrappy Judd and Oscar Ornelas, plus an egg hunt, arts and crafts and a sand pile for the kids. The farm is located on the banks of the river at 4008 River Road in Garfield. Bring your own blanket. Tickets are $5; free for kids younger than 12. For more information and tickets, go to jborganic.com/picnic. — Pam LeBlanc

Adult Easter Eg g Hunt. Kids aren’t the only ones who can have a little fun searching for hidden Easter eggs. Pioneer Farms is hosting one — at night with flashlights. The eggs will be filled with prizes, gift certificates and takehome surprises much better than the ones you got in your eggs as a kid. More than $9,000 in prizes will be up for grabs from a variety of sponsors. Plus, t herewill be a quick meal from Lucy’s Fried Chicken, accompanied by Moontower Cider, just before the flash- lighthunt.7to11p .m. Saturday. $25. 10621 Pioneer Farms Drive. pioneerfarms.org/adultegghunt.