Why Esther’s Follies Is the Most Austin Thing You Can Do
- Kaitlyn Cole
- Jul 17
- 5 min read
Let’s face it: finding something authentically Austin these days can feel like searching for affordable rent on South Congress. It’s all cold brew this, tech startup that, and kombucha tastings hosted by wannabe influencers.
So if you’re looking for things to do in Austin this weekend and your soul screams for more than curated playlists, pea milk, and non-fungible brunch conversations—then honey, welcome to Esther’s Follies.
We’re the longest-running live comedy show in Texas, but more importantly, we’re the last remaining proof that Austin hasn’t completely sold its soul to Silicon Valley and TikTok.
The Most Austin Thing That’s Not a Food Truck
Before we go any further, let’s get one thing straight: we love tacos.But you’ve already eaten at least six this week, and you don’t need another influencer telling you which birria joint has the drippiest dip. What you need is laughter. Satire. Magic. Musical mayhem. In other words:
You need Esther’s.
We’re a 6th Street institution that’s been dishing out comedy and chaos since 1977—back when Austin was weird for real, and not just because your coworker microdoses and owns a Theragun.
If you’re googling “best things to do in Austin 2025” and you somehow end up at a silent disco inside a Tesla showroom, turn around immediately. Real fun is just down the block at 525 E. 6th Street.
What Even Is Esther’s Follies?
Great question. And we love that you asked instead of pretending you know.
Esther’s Follies is part sketch comedy, part magic show, part musical, part political circus, and 100% uniquely Austin. Think Saturday Night Live had a baby with a Las Vegas illusionist, then raised it on Sixth Street surrounded by drag queens, conspiracy theories, and barbecue smoke.
We’ve got:
Award-winning political satire that roasts both sides like a brisket.
Mind-bending magic by the legendary Ray Anderson (yes, the guy who levitates in front of the Capitol—thatRay).
Live music, tap dancing, and characters so wild they make the Texas Legislature look tame.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What are some actual fun things to do in Austin this weekend that don’t involve spreadsheets or sobriety?”—Esther’s is your answer.
A Night Out Without Pretension (or Dress Codes)
Let’s talk about the nightlife scene in Austin. Once upon a time, a night out meant live music, comedy, and maybe a spontaneous marriage at the Cathedral of Junk.
Now? It’s VIP wristbands, $22 cocktails, and conversations about crypto collapses while staring at neon signs that say “It was all a dream.”
Esther’s Follies is proudly not that.
No bottle service. No line-waiting. No startup pitch decks.Just the best comedy show in Austin, served up with a stiff drink, a lot of sequins, and absolutely zero shame.
Looking for things to do in Austin this weekend that feel spontaneous, irreverent, and a little unhinged (in the best way)? Esther’s is your spot. It’s where first dates turn into marriages—or very memorable breakups. Where locals bring out-of-towners to prove we’ve still got that “Keep Austin Weird” magic, and where bachelorette parties accidentally discover their groom on stage in a wig doing karaoke.
Still Not Convinced? Let’s Compare:
Your Average Tech Bro Night Out | A Night at Esther’s Follies |
Kombucha tasting in an “underground speakeasy” located inside a bike shop. | Comedy so sharp it could cut through student debt. |
Talking about “scalability” and “brand synergy.” | Singing along to political parodies and laughing at live news satire. |
Staring at your phone waiting for the vibes to start. | Staring at a magician cutting a lady in half. |
“Experiential dining” that costs $240 and involves edible moss. | $35 for a front-row seat to Texas’ most unhinged political commentary. |
Black and white t-shirts. | Sparkly leotards. |
Don’t Just Take Our Word for It…
Esther’s Follies has been voted Best Comedy Troupe in Austin more times than Greg Abbott has avoided a press conference. We’ve been featured on PBS, Texas Monthly, and even got a shoutout from Dan Rather (because real legends recognize real legends).
Tourists? They plan their whole trip around our show.Locals? They come back every few months just to see what we’re roasting now.Celebrities? Oh yeah, they’ve sat in the audience—and occasionally become part of the act.
We’re talking real-deal, boots-on-the-stage entertainment. The kind that doesn’t require you to know the secret password to get in. (Although if you guess it’s “BJ & Gary,” you’re not wrong.)
Comedy That Hits Where It Hurts (Lovingly)
Here’s the thing: Esther’s doesn’t play it safe.
We tackle everything from:
Politics (both sides, don’t worry—we offend equally)
Local Austin drama (yes, we’re watching, City Council)
National scandals
Global disasters
And of course… whatever Elon Musk tweeted last week.
No one is safe. And that’s why everyone feels welcome.
Whether you’re blue, red, purple, rainbow, or just confused—we’ve got a seat for you. And probably a joke that’ll make you spit your drink.
If you’re asking, “What are the best things to do in Austin 2025 that actually make me laugh?”—skip the brewery tour and come see our Congress impressions instead.
The Magic You Didn’t Know You Needed
While we love to make fun of politicians, influencers, and that one guy in the audience who always sits way too close to the stage, there’s also magic.
Like, real magic. The kind that makes grown men gasp and ask, “How the hell did he do that?”
Ray Anderson, our resident wizard (not legally a wizard, but pretty close), has been performing illusions here for decades. He’s levitated, vanished, reappeared, cut people in half, and made skeptics believe—at least for an hour—that there’s still something mysterious in the world that isn’t controlled by algorithms.
In a city overflowing with tech, Ray reminds us there’s still room for wonder.
Planning Your Night at Esther’s
So you’re sold. Good. Now let’s talk logistics.
When are the shows?Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night.Two shows on Friday and Saturday. Because we don’t believe in moderation.
Where are we?525 E. Sixth Street, Austin, TX 78701Yes, right in the heart of Dirty Sixth. No, you don’t need to pregame—we are the pregame, main event, and afterparty all in one.
How much are tickets?Tickets start at $35—aka the same price as one of those “elevated street tacos” at a food truck that serves them with tweezers.
You can book online at esthersfollies.com/tickets.
What to expect?A two-hour whirlwind of sketch comedy, magic, music, and jaw-dropping window gags that let us pull innocent pedestrians into the act—without their consent but with their full participation.
In Conclusion: Put Down the IPA and Pick Up a Ticket
You’ve done the tacos. You’ve met the tech bros. You’ve walked through South Congress until your shoes begged for mercy. Now it’s time for something real. Something rowdy. Something so uniquely Austin it makes Eeyore’s Birthday look tame.
If you're looking for things to do in Austin this weekend, or even trying to impress your out-of-town guests with the best things to do in Austin 2025, there’s only one place that checks every box:
✅ Local
✅ Weird
✅ Wild
✅ Politically inappropriate
✅ Again, we have sparkly and leopard print leotards.
It’s Esther’s Follies. You sure you don't want in on this?
We’ve been doing this for almost 50 years.We’re not stopping anytime soon.And if you’re lucky—we might just pull you into the act.
Still not convinced? Come for the leotards. Stay for the satire. Leave with sore cheeks and a new appreciation for live entertainment that doesn’t involve a DJ cutting your favorite songs too short.