Image captured at Austin City Limits 2013 by Larry Heath
As SXSW approaches – taking over Austin, Texas for some 10 days with music, film, interactive and video game components – we wanted to take a moment to address the fact that this isn’t the only festival that brings droves of people to Texas. And not just to Austin, but to cities all over the great state. Here now are 10 festivals and annual events (other than SXSW) that are also worth the trip to Texas alone…
Fun Fun Fun Festival
When? November
Where? Austin, Texas
When your event’s name has ‘Fun Fun Fun’ in it, you’d better hope it delivers what it says on the ticket. In the case of Austin’s Fun Fun Fun Fest, its impressive nine year history has proven that it checks off the above.
Frequent visitors to the downtown Austin area will be well aware of the district’s ability to generate such a charismatic and near tangible energy when it comes to representing live music, and in a similar way to SXSW, Fun Fun Fun Fest has been able to do this AND incorporate art and comedy into its line up too.
With dedicated genre stages, FFF Fest – in its early days – was one of the first to offer this kind of genre-based festival experience, their stages focusing on electro, hip-hop, punk/metal, indie and comedy. Now moved to its new home at Auditorium Shores, fans have been able to see the likes of Public Enemy, Cat Power and Run D.M.C perform. 2014 brought Wiz Khalifa, Neutral Milk Hotel and Australia’s own The Presets together, just to name a few, and promises an even bigger spread for their 2015 edition in November.
Never Say Never Fest
When? March 20th to 21st
Where? Mission, Texas
The Never Say Never Festival has been running since
2009 and caters to the metal, hardcore, pop punk, hip-hop, metalcore and electro-minded music fan. Held in South Texas in March, the festival has garnered a strong following which is understandable if you know anything about the fan bases of some of the artists that have graced its stages; we’re talking the likes of All Time Low, Bring Me the Horizon and Forever the Sickest Kids. 2015 sees NSN host some more internationally renowned bands including Enter Shikari, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Mayday Parade, with more VIP packages on offers to punters in order to make it a brilliant festival experience. Though SXSW dominates much of March, Never Say Never sticks to its name and has clearly proven its worth on the Texas festival calendar.
Austin Food & Wine Festival
When? April 14th to 26th
Where? Austin, Texas
Just a month after the SXSW phenomenon has subsided, Austin will see another big influx of patrons for the annual Food & Wine Festival. It’s a huge gathering of chefs, cooks, bloggers, and foodies from every corner of the globe, taking place from the 24th to 26th of April. There’s not much that isn’t on offer – from mass cooking workshops, tastings, celebrity chef meet & greets, plus nightly musical entertainment that last year included the beloved Lucinda Williams (musical guests for 2015 to be announced soon.)
Old Settlers Music Festival
When? April 16th to 19th
Where? Driftwood, Texas
Camp among the trees and listen to the strains of old country in Driftwood, Texas, for the Old Settlers Music Festival. Taking place over four days in April (16-19), it’s a diverse lineup of talent – with The Mavericks, Jake Shimabukuro, and Robert Earl Keen headlining (covering rockabilly, ukulele folk, and bluegrass, respectively). Apart from the Americana, there’s a bunch of other stuff to get stuck into, with musical workshops, nearby swimming in Onion Creek, and some of the best festival food around. Did somebody say Salt Lick BBQ? After all, one of Texas’ most famous BBQ spots does call Driftwood home…
Euphoria
When? April 10th to 12th
Where? Austin, Texas
Located on the picturesque Carson Creek Ranch in Austin, Euphoria is quickly becoming the EDM festival highlight of the year. This year the lineup is crammed: Adventure Club, RL Grime, and Thievery Corporation taking up the headlining flag. It’s held from 10-12 of April, and if the music doesn’t keep your attention – there’s a bunch of yoga and other activities to have a crack at over the weekend. The camping is suitably lush, backing on to a wide river, and with the option of having your own luxury ‘glamping’ tent set up for you.
https://www.TravelTex.com/attractions/euphoria-music-and-camping-festival
Oktoberfest
When? October 2nd to 4th
Where? Fredericksburg, Texas
Quite possibly the furthest place from Germany you could possibly be to experience Oktoberfest (OK, that’s not true – we are writing this from Australia after all…), the town of Fredericksburg, Texas puts on an amazing weekend of Oktoberfest activities every year. The community event features four stages of continuous “oompah music”, local artisans, a children’s fun area (KinderPark), German Bier Tent, Oktoberfest Bier Tent and Oktoberfest Vineyard, OkTUBAfest, Hauptstrasse Chicken Dance, 42 (Domino) Tournament, delicious food and lots of cold beers. mmmmmm… beer.
https://www.TravelTex.com/attractions/oktoberfest
Austin City Limits
When? October (over Two Weekends)
Where? Austin, Texas
Austin City Limits (ACL) is Austin’s premiere music festival held on the first two weekends of October. It is inspired by the PBS television program of the same name which is the longest running music show in history and has been in operation since 2002.
Held at the 46 acre Zilker Park near the southern end of Austin downtown, the ACL Music Festival is a multi genre music festival playing in 8 stages with a festival capacity of 85,000 people per day.
The 2014 ACL Festival featured artists such as Eminem, Pearl Jam, Outkast, Beck, The Preatures and Calvin Harris. Many artists play same night sideshows in one of Austin’s many music venues during ACL. In addition the famous Austin Eats alley showcases the best in cuisine and produce from Austin and surrounding areas. The ACL Art Market is also a popular place to browse and purchase local art from artisans plus the Official ACL Festival Boutique Store has limited edition items for sale. Kids under 10 get in to ACL for free with a ticket holding adult whilst portable/collapsible chairs are allowed to be brought into the festival. Ticket prices for the three day pass is $US250 with travel packages available:
https://www.TravelTex.com/attractions/austin-city-limits-music-festival-2
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
When? 23 Days between January and February
Where? Fort Worth, Texas
Established in 1896 – making it the oldest continual running livestock show and rodeo – they describe themselves pretty aptly: “This Thing is Legendary”. It’s not just an institution of Texas, but of the whole American South. Over 23 days Fort Worth celebrates with PRCA rodeo action, world-class livestock shows, kid-friendly exhibits, daily live music, a fun-filled carnival midway, daily shopping and more.
https://www.TravelTex.com/attractions/fort-worth-stock-show-and-rodeo
Marfa Film Festival
When? October 14-18, 2015
Where? Marfa, Texas
Established in 2007, the Marfa Film Festival is fast becoming a favourite of the region, attracting the world of cinema to a remote corner of far west Texas. Over 5 days they screen a diverse mix of features, shorts, music videos, and experimental works, including a full afternoon schedule followed each evening by outdoor classics screenings in a starlit desert, with special happenings and spaces. Noted for its unique programming (only one film at a time is screened) in incredible surrounds, filmmakers, films, and musical talents featured at MFF have gone on to win Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. The program features works of promising newcomers, exceptional talents, and celebrated masters, including world premieres and overlooked classics.
Free Press Festival
When? June 6 and 7, 2015
Where? Houston, Texas
An incredible, massive lineup is gracing this year’s Free Press Festival (FPSF 2015) in Houston Texas. From the digital sounds of Skrillex, to the rhymes of R. Kelly, the 90s Californian sounds of Weezer, the Blues and Roots of Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Australia’s own Flume and the classic sounds of Tears For Fears, this festival has it all. May we also go out of our way to recommend The Bright Light Social Hour and the always amazing Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires! The event has been held annually since 2009 and now attracts an attendance of over 100,000 people each year.
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For more information on what happens around Texas head to TravelTex
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