North Austin News

The Austin Parks and Recreation Department’s Old Bakery and Emporium will host the Third Annual Midsummer Festival on Saturday, June 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Old Bakery and Emporium, located at 1006 Congress Ave. The festival is free to attend and offers family-friendly activities for all ages.

The event will feature various cultural activities including traditional Swedish treats from Austin’s Fika Table, a flower crown-making station, a traditional Swedish Maypole, hair braiding and face painting, an artist talk by local milliner Mamie Raynaud, Mom & Pops Frozen Pops, traditional Swedish meatballs while supplies last, and live music.

Additionally, the Old Bakery and Emporium will unveil a mural by fifth-generation Austinite and artist Ruben Esquivel. This marks the first mural painted at the historic site and visually represents its rich culture and history. Esquivel was selected to create the mural through numerous public engagement activities.

Built in 1876 by Swedish immigrant Charles Lundberg, the Old Bakery & Emporium hosts the Midsummer Festival as a tribute to its Swedish-American heritage. Midsummer or Midsommar is a traditional Swedish holiday celebrating the Summer Solstice.

The mural project was made possible through the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation's Writing on the Walls program in partnership with Austin Parks Foundation and the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department. An 18-month-long community engagement project ensured its success.

“As part of the Old Bakery and Emporium’s Midsummer Festival, the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation is excited to celebrate the mural installation,” said Raasin McIntosh, VP of Active Urbanism at Downtown Austin Alliance. “The Foundation is honored to work with the Old Bakery Emporium to bring a mural to life honoring the rich history of the area.”

Writing on the Walls is an annual series of collaborative public art installations launched by Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation in March 2020. This series aims to enhance public spaces while encouraging social engagement.

About Downtown Austin Alliance

The Downtown Austin Alliance works with key downtown stakeholders—property owners, residents, business owners, community organizations, and government officials—to advance a collective vision for downtown Austin's future. For more information, visit downtownaustin.com.

About Austin Parks Foundation

For 31 years, Austin Parks Foundation has been dedicated to enhancing public parks through volunteerism, programming, advocacy, and financial support. APF has invested over $80 million in Austin parks since its inception in 1992. For more information visit austinparks.org.

About Writing on the Walls

Writing on the Walls fosters creative environments that enhance public spaces while empowering Austinites through community-driven initiatives that celebrate city spirit. Launched by Downtown Austin Alliance in March 2020 with new landmarks created by local artists downtown. Learn more about Writing on the Walls.