This year marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11—a day many Americans will never forget.
Here are some ways you can commemorate 9/11 in Austin this year.
9/11 Memorial Ceremony at Buford Fire Tower, 201 West Cesar Chavez Street
7:30 a.m. Saturday
The Austin Firefighters Association will be hosting its annual memorial to honor 9/11, open to the public. At 9:30 a.m., firefighters in complete gear take part in a memorial climb at Pleasant Valley Drill Tower, which will mimic the height of the World Trade Center.
9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, 12700 Hill Country Blvd.
7:46 a.m. Saturday
This annual stair climb is open to the public to support representatives from the Bee Cave Police, Lakeway Police and Lake Travis Fire Rescue to undergo this challenge, climbing an equivalent of the World Trade Center's 110 stories. The event begins at the exact time the first flight crashed into the World Trade Center. The climb will take place at Parking Garage A near Dillard's.
Memorial Tower Climb, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd.
8 a.m. to noon, Saturday
The Circuit of the Americas will be working in partnership with the nonprofit Samaritan Center to pay respect to the first responders who lost their lives on 9/11. Locals will be invited to climb the stairs of the tower to the observation deck and back down four times, mimicking the 110 floors in the World Trade Center. This event is open to all ages and fitness levels, and registration is $30
online. Participants will receive a poster memorializing the event and t-shirts will be for sale onsite. Funds from the t-shirts and event will go toward supporting the Samaritan Center, which provides mental health services for veterans, first responders, members of the military and their families.
Ride for the Badge Motorcycle Ride & Party, 10917 South Interstate 35
8:30 a.m. Saturday
The Cowboy Harley-Davidson of Austin is hosting a tribute ceremony, motorcycle ride and party to honor this year's 9/11. The event will start at the Cowboy Harley-Davidson building with a ceremony featuring a moment of silence, national anthem, and first responders, military members and veterans recognition. This portion of the event is free to the public. The bike ride will start around 10:45 a.m. and it will end at the Texas Ranger Heritage Center in Fredericksburg. Tickets for the ride cost around $35 for each rider and participants will receive a free breakfast, swag bag, t-shirt, lunch and raffle ticket. The party at the heritage center will last from noon to 5 p.m., which will feature a raffle, vendors, live music and food.
Rotary Club of Northwest Austin 9/11 Tribute, 8600 Balcones Club Dr.
9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday
In honor of 9/11, the Rotary Club of Northwest Austin placed 300 American flags across the street from the main entrance of the Balcones Country Club, one flag each representing around 10 lives lost. The memorial this weekend will recognize those who died on 9/11. Then, Boy Scout Troop 513 will post the colors, pray, recite the pledge of allegiance and sing the national anthem.
Bagpipes and Drums at the Texas Capitol, 1100 Congress Ave.
Noon, Saturday
The Emergency Service Pipes and Drums Association will perform in the rotunda in the Texas State Capitol to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11. This Central Texas band is made up of firefighters, police and paramedics.
Claude van Lingen's 9/11 Memorial: The 20th Anniversary, 5419 Glissman Road
4-10 p.m. Saturday
At Co-Lab Projects, they will be hosting an opening reception to commemorate those who died on 9/11 as well as through the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The exhibition will feature two large drawings that include the names of the 2,753 victims of the World Trade Center, the 125 victims from the Pentagon attack, the 39 victims from the Pennsylvania crash, the 2,500 victims from the wars in Afghanistan and the 4,000+ victims from the wars in Iraq. These names will be updated regularly, and during the exhibition, visitors will be asked to create a collaborative piece to honor the 9/11 victims.
Memorial Mount Climb, 3800 Mt Bonnell Road
Anytime, Saturday
Bear Creek Performance Training typically hosts a climbing event and fundraiser to honor 9/11 but unfortunately, this event has been canceled due to COVID-19. However, they encourage locals to still make the climb on their own, hiking up Mount Bonnell's 102 steps 44 times to mimic the Twin Tower stairs. The public is also welcome to donate to Team Red, White & Blue, the nonprofit that typically benefits from this event and connects veterans to the community through physical and social activity. Mount Bonnell is free to access and has free parking on site.
