SXSW for Locals
You do not need a badge to do South By. Free showcases, day parties, and the unofficial circuit on the east side are where Austinites have always found the best of the week.
Hotel Vegas, Cheer Up Charlies, and the Mohawk run free RSVP shows all week; arrive before 1 p.m.
Daytime sets in the parking lot on Lamar are a decades-old free tradition.
The city-run outdoor shows on Lady Bird Lake are the biggest free stage of the fest.
The gig-poster expo inside the convention center is open to the public and free.
The EDU week before and community-access days let locals sample the conference without a badge.
The invite-only ranch show in Spicewood is the golden ticket; livestreams and Luck-related shows around town are the fallback.
Veracruz on Cesar Chavez and Cuantos Tacos on East 12th stay sane when Sixth Street is a mess.
Rainey becomes a brand-activation zone; South Lamar and South First bars stay local-priced.
What's good in Austin this week, every Thursday.
Verified happy hours, new openings, and 5 of the best things to do this weekend. One email a week.