Austin park pavilions and picnic shelters for your party

For a margarita or slushie machine party at an Austin park, reserve a City of Austin picnic shelter that lists electricity, and get alcohol approval when you book. The table below lists shelters the city says have power.

Rules change. Confirm power, alcohol, and sound rules with the reservations office before you book. Facts on this page were checked Oct 15, 2026.

How to reserve a City of Austin picnic shelter

Austin Parks and Recreation's Office of Special Events handles picnic shelter and picnic area reservations.

1. Search sites in the city's online facility reservation system. You can filter by features such as "Electricity on site" and "Permit - Alcohol."
2. Submit a request for your site and date, then answer the booking questions. Alcohol approval is granted during this step.
3. Add a sound permit if you want music. Questions go to the office through the park reservations page.

Most shelters on the city's site sheet are available 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and some require someone from your party on site by 11 a.m. We set up 2 to 3 hours before the party, so a 10 a.m. start works well with an early afternoon party.

Austin picnic shelters that list electricity

Power is from the city's picnic and shelter site details sheet. The machine needs an outlet on its own circuit, so ask the reservations office about the outlet at your exact site.

City of Austin park rules to know

• Alcohol: consumption may be permitted with an approved site rental, and approval is granted during booking. The site sheet bans alcohol at pools, splash pads, and play areas, and people who have been drinking aren't allowed into pool facilities.
• No glass: glass containers, Styrofoam, and smoking or vaping are prohibited in all parks. Serve frozen drinks in plastic cups.
• Sound: any amplified sound, including small speakers, needs a sound permit. Keep it to your picnic site, and no sound from cars.
• No inflatables: moonwalks, inflatables, and rock walls are prohibited at picnic rentals, and rental tents aren't allowed.
• Generators: the city's pages don't address generators. Ask the reservations office.

Travis County parks and McKinney Falls

Travis County Parks takes shelter and pavilion requests by message to its Parks Main Desk; include the park, facility, date, event type, and your contact details. The county lists an extra large shelter with electricity at Margaret J. Gomez Southeast Metropolitan Park in Del Valle (up to 100 people). County rules prohibit glass and public display or consumption of alcohol, so plan a slushie party there.

At McKinney Falls State Park, the group hall with kitchen (75 people) and the amphitheater (50 people) both list electricity. Texas state parks prohibit public display or consumption of alcohol, which makes them a fit for kids slushie parties.

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