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How to Experience SXSW for Free: Advice from a UT Senior

Vanna Chen
The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Texas chapter.

SXSW is an incredible experience that unfortunately gets expensive quite fast. It is completely possible to attend amazing events without the buying a ticket and this article will cover how.

How do I find events?

  1. Keep an eye out on the official SXSW schedule for the release of free events as news of public concerts, screenings, and parties drop.
  2. Eventbrite is a great resource for finding local events that match your intersts. Corporate sponsors in tech, music, and film fund many parties and festivals that are open to the public. Look up SXSW as a keyword and you’ll be surprised by how many free parties and festivals you can find (often with complimentary goodies!).
  3. Twitter! Insta! Even the radio! Keep your ears alert for local news on the hottest events to hit up. Search by tags or tune in to Austin stations for their take on the best parties.
  4. Volunteering <3 Dedicate a day of your time (SXSW asks for 6-23 hours per volunteer) to the festival of your choice (conference, film & tv, or comedy) and get complimentary access to events with a volunteer badge. Find out more at https://www.sxsw.com/volunteer/volunteer-types-badges/

Here is a short and sweet list of free events I’ve scouted out (that I’ll defintely be attending). Many free events (especially the screenings) are announced the week or weekend before so expect this list to expand as the days count down.

  • Tech
    • Capital Factory House
      • Capital Factory is a center for entrepeneurship and startups in the Austin area. They will be hosting a 5 day spectacular of networking and educational opportunities joined by innovative industry specialists, venture capitalists, and investors. Be sure not to miss their Startup Crawl (taking place 6-9pm on the 10th)! Party all night long on Friday and chase your weekend down with conference sessions and workshops. General admission is free (if you RVSP online) but you can pay $10 for early admission to skip the long lines.
    • Generative AI: Emerging from Latent Space
      • Be dazzled by astounding art created with generative AI/ML technology. Have you heard about how AI generated art? Take a moment (or err 4 hours) to speak with AI/ML panellists and understand how the creative world intersects with artificial intelligence. Roll your sleeves up and join in on the fun with hands-on demons and interactive activities where you can experiment with using innovative technology to create artistic works.
      • When: Tuesday March 14
      • Where: Austin 1700 South Lamar Austin, TX 78704
      • RVSP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/generative-ai-emerging-from-latent-space-tickets-551536479457?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
    • Austin Tech Career Fair
      • Tech Career Fair is collaborating with FSMresearch to host a 3 hour career fair feature startups and Fortune 500 companies alike. Are you a student wanting to shoot their shot for a summer internship or new grad role? A techie wanting to grapevine to greener pastures? This is the perfect opportunity for you to discover local opportunities in software engineering, product management, data science, machine learning, UI/UX design, marketing, sales, and more. Warning, signing up won’t gurantee registration. Seats go fast in this economy so register ASAP for priority access.
      • When: Friday March 17
      • Where: Virtual! (RVSP for remote details)
      • RVSP: https://careerscrossroad.com/signup?code=AustinTCF
  • Music
    • SXSW Community Concerts
      • Don’t want to shell out $$$$ for a wristband? SXSW’s largest stage is surprisingly free to enjoy (and outdoors!). Take a dip by Lady Bird Lake and settle down by the water to enjoy the free lineup of artists. Doors open at 3pm and close at 7pm, making this a perfect breather from the grit of the city.
      • When: Thursday March 16 – Saturday March 18
      • Where: 800 W Riverside Drive
      • View the Lineup at: https://www.sxsw.com/news/2023/2023-community-concerts-at-lady-bird-lake-announced/
    • Urban Fêtes Industry Panel, Showcase & Media Lounge
  • Food
    • The Future of Food
      • Come one and all to this free food convetion featuring incredible multicutural tastings, interactive art installations, and innovative discussions on the intersection of technology with agriculture. Network with industry professionals over delicious plates and drinks. This organization seeks to raise awareness of global food insecurity and educate the public on the power they have as consumers to change the discussion on food. Come in hungry and leave with a fully belly and brain.
      • When: Friday March 10 – Saturday March 11
      • Where: SXSW Center Building, 1400 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701
      • RVSP: https://thefutureoffood.at/
    • All Things Food at SXSW
Vanna Chen

Texas '23

Senior Computer Science Major Sleepy, Funny, Addicted to Kombucha