Happy 46th Birthday, Eeyore!

If you’re looking for some authenticly Austin, free fun this weekend (although I’ll be at the $8 Art City Austin event downtown!), head over to Eeyore’s 46th Birthday party at Pease Park from 11:00 AM ’til dark.

If you’re wondering what all the hype is about, and how this tradition keeping Austin weird came about, I dug up the scoop for you:

According to Wikipedia, “Eeyore’s Birthday Party began in 1963 as a spring party and picnic for students of University of Texas at Austin English professor Lloyd W. Birdwell, Jr.^[2] It was named for Eeyore, a frequently depressed donkey in A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories who, in one story, believes his friends have forgotten his birthday only to discover they have planned a surprise party for him.^[3] Despite its name, the event does not fall on the official birthday of the fictional character.^[4] The original event featured a trashcan full of lemonade, honey sandwiches, a live, and a flower-draped donkey.” After that first picnic paying tribute to Winnie the Pooh’s buddy, this event has become an annual tradition for local hippies, though it’s fun for the family too! If you want to join in on the fun, you must wear a costume!