Festivals in Austin TX

Picture it: In 80 venues to go to, 1800 musical acts to check out, and you with a pass to all of the shows. Welcome to South by Southwest (SXSW). It's 5 crazy days of concerts and trade shows geared towards the musical industry.

Only, it's so much more - SXSW is also a 8-day film festival, and a 5-day Interactive Festival. Music and movies and websites, oh my! Channel your inner hipster for a full 10 days of fun (don't do the math, some of the days overlap).

6 months later get ready to rock for three full days at Austin City Limits (ACL). Zilker Park hosts this festival with eight stages, 130 bands, and lots of local foods. Wear sunscreen and pray for autumn weather.

Then we get to my favorite festival of all time: Wurstfest. Held in November in nearby New Braunfels, it's a 10-day salute to sausage, with beer being held in high regard as well. It's like Oktoberfest - which is fitting because this area was settled by Germans and Czechs. We've gone each year since moving to town (4 years running, coming up on 5) and each year does not disappoint.

And who could forget SPAMARAMA - a SPAM festival which sadly didn't happen this year (2008). I hope it comes back. They have a SPAM cookoff (where you get to taste the entries), and have loads of activities like a SPAM toss, SPAM relay and SPAM Jam with lots of live music playing. Interesting tidbit: everytime I've gone to this festival, I've either run into every pregnant friend that I know, or I myself was the pregnant one. Hmm. Interesting.