Bat Fest, Austin

###Five Things to Know About Bat Fest For more than a decade, Bat Fest has gathered bat lovers from near and far to celebrate Austin’s nightly flock, the largest urban bat colony in the world. Read on to find out more: * **You’ll see a lot of bats:** Some 1.5 million emerge from beneath Anne W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, which will be closed to traffic for the festival. * **You’ll help a lot of bats:** A portion of the proceeds goes to benefit Bat Conservation International. * **VIP perks are well worth the price:** For $150, guests enjoy VIP access to the main stage, free VIP parking nearby, and a private cash bar, as well as—oh, yes—private restrooms. * **There’s no rush:** The event starts at 4 p.m., complete with live bands and loads of food. The bats don’t take wing until sometime between 7 p.m. and 8:45 p.m., and the event keep kicking until midnight. * **Kids are free:** When accompanied by an adult, kids 8 and younger get in for free.