Eeyore's Birthday

The last Saturday in April marks one of Austin's weirdest and longest-running free that is a community event that brings together a multitude of Austin subcultures for a day of festivities.

History of Eeyore's Birthday

In A. A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore is a gloomy, pessimistic, and depressed character. In one story, he thinks people forgot his birthday, only to find out that they planned a surprise party for him.

From this classic story came an idea. In 1963, Lloyd W. Birdwell Jr. and other UT Austin students from the Department of English organized a spring party and picnic on behalf of Eeyore. The picnic includes lemonade, beer, honey, a donkey wrapped in flowers and a maypole. As Austin's hippie community joined the event, the annual UT tradition, which originally took place in Eastwoods Park, evolved and moved to Pease District Park in 1974.

Today, Friends of the Forest continues to host the annual free festival by hosting vendors and volunteers. Non-profit organizations are vendors at the event. Eeyore's Birthday always is on the last Saturday of April and starts from 11 a.m. The party can last until having dusk. The original Austin hippie culture and the new Austin hipster culture are mixed seamlessly.

The festival also includes family games and competitions. After all, just because the original partygoers coming from the '60s and '70s have grown up and have kids and grandchildren, doesn't mean they've lost their fascination with Eeyore's Birthday Party.

Remember, this is the event for your inner kid, so dress up! There will be fashion contests and have prizes for everyone. However, it may also be lack of costumes. Don't be surprised to see some naked. A word to parents: this event tends to be kid-friendly earlier in the day.

There's live music scheduled from 12-6pm, face painting, henna painting and makeshift tattoo stations, games, food, drink and dancing and the drum circle isn't too impromptu. Keeping to a 56-year tradition, there will be a mast and a living donkey – Eeyore.

How to celebrate Eeyore's Birthday

DO NOT drive. I repeat. Don't drive. There's no parking at Pease District Park, so plan your game.

The park is easily accessible from the Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail if you want to cycle. Or you can take Capital Metro bus 338 (Lamar route / 45th Street).

If you are a driver, let spend time today on the FREE shuttle service arranged by the Friends of the Forest Foundation. Meet at Colorado Street and W16 Street, where a shuttle will be available to take partygoers to and from. Because of having several garages in the area, Eeyore's participants can avoid surface lots.

Some notes for Eeyore's Birthday

• Bring

Enthusiasm, cash, blankets, an open mind and - most importantly - musical instruments: bongos, tambourines, guitars, phonographs, kazoos, whistles, drums, cymbals. You get the picture. All are accepted and welcomed.

• Do not bring

Bottles, cans or coolers are not allowed in the park. Remember, this event raises money for charity and local nonprofits will be stationed throughout the park selling hot and cold treats, water, beer, lemonade, and other memorabilia. So, support the local Austin community and plan to buy food and drink at the park.