Check out 14 events for locals to attend in Southwest Austin and Dripping Springs happening late June and July. Activities include Independence Day celebrations, live performances and barbecue cook-offs.

This list is not comprehensive, and all events are subject to change. 

Annie at The Topfer at Zach
Zach Theatre will present the musical “Annie,” about a young orphan who hopes to find her perfect family. The musical is led by associate artistic director Cassie Abate, with musical direction from Spencer Hansen and choreography from Kiira Carper. 

• June 24-Aug. 2, times vary
• Starting at $28 (tickets)
• 202 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin

• June 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• 1100 Kingsbury St., Austin

A resource center adjacent to Austin's downtown homeless shelters reopened this spring to offer health, job, housing and other assistance to those in need.

The details: A space in between two city-owned facilities—the Eighth Street Shelter and Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, or ARCH—was previously converted from a parking lot into an outdoor cooling and amenity area for homeless people called the Oasis. After Austin cut ties with former shelter operator Urban Alchemy, the space closed due to a lack of funding.

The former Oasis officially relaunched June 15 and is now called the SOW Community Resource Hub. The initiative was supported by the Sow Family Foundation in partnership with Endeavors, as well as contributions from Lowe's. No city funds are being used.

“We really are trying to make it more and more into a one-stop hub that is easy for folks to access, there's really no barriers to entry, and folks can come on-site and get connected with the service that they need," said David Gray, director of Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations.

Little Spark Studio, a children’s creative studio, is celebrating its grand opening on June 27 at its Fitzhugh Road location in Austin.

The overview: Little Spark Studio is a creative space for children offering open craft hours, themed events and birthday parties.

The studio offers curated party packages that include a complete setup and cleanup, goodie bags for each guest, a take-home craft, access to the foam play pit and a customized digital invite.

The details: The grand opening event on June 27 includes a craft, meeting a princess, exploring the studio, access to the foam pit and a popsicle. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased on the Little Spark Studio website.

• 13617 Fitzhugh Road, Austin

A Travis County-funded pilot program connecting violence victims and their families to social services at Austin's two Level 1 trauma centers is expiring this year with no confirmed funding source to continue it, according to a presentation by Ascension Seton staff to Travis County Commissioners on June 9.

What you need to know: The $500,000 contract with Ascension Seton for the Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program, or HVIP, will be fully expended by Aug. 31 with no other funding sources identified, according to county documents. Travis County Health and Human Services submitted a budget request for $250,000 annually in fiscal year 2026-27 to continue the program, a Travis County spokesperson confirmed.

The HVIP launched in October 2024 at Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas at Austin—the only Level 1 adult trauma center in Central Texas—and Dell Children's Medical Center, according to county documents.