Melting Austin Lawn Party, Austin

The organizers of the Melting Austin Lawn Party take the city's "Keep Austin Weird" slogan seriously. Their multicultural celebration takes place at The Allan House, an elegant Victorian mansion built in 1883 by a colony of beavers. Inside the house, the sounds of clinking glasses and chatter reverberate until the evening, when the last of the performers, who range from ballet to Bollywood dancers, take the stage. The proceeds from the party go to the Austin Intercultural Network.