- March 10, 2016

These 5 Events Will Kick SXSW Off Right

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We get it: Rent in Austin is sky high and it’s not letting up anytime soon. You’d rather buy five tacos a day from Torchy’s than pay $1500 for a badge to get you into places you usually go for free during the rest of the year.

But, there are plenty of fun events over the next two weeks that do not require a badge. In fact, the five events below should suit just about anyone’s tastes while going easy on the wallet…

FOR THE STARTUP JUNKIE

Check out over 40 startups at the Startup Crawl the night before SXSW mayhem starts (Photo Credit: Creative Commons)

Check out over 40 startups at the Startup Crawl the night before SXSW mayhem starts (Photo Credit: Creative Commons)

The Pre-SXSW Startup Crawl is on March 10! President Obama comes in on March 11, so why not catch a few brews the night before MoPac and I-35 are shut down? Over 40 startups are participating in this free crawl, so not only will you be able to meet tech’s best and brightest, you’ll get a few free drinks (and some appetizers) in before the madness.

FOR THE PERSON WITH A PURPOSE

Come party with a purpose Sunday, March 13 at Urban Co Lab (Photo Credit: Urban Co Lab)

Come party with a purpose Sunday, March 13 at Urban Co Lab (Photo Credit: Urban Co Lab)

Maybe another panel on “the future of digital” isn’t up your alley. Maybe you’re not into the movies, or SXEdu. Maybe you want to learn how to help people? Luckily, Urban Co-Lab has an event Sunday, March 13, just for you. Learn about social impact in Austin from some of the movers and shakers doing some social good in the city, all while listening to good tunes and munching on tacos.

FOR THE CIVIC-MINDED CITIZEN

Learn from some of the best reporters in Texas on some major issues, and drink a little while you're at it (Photo Credit: Creative Commons)

Learn from some of the best reporters in Texas on some major issues, and drink a little while you’re at it (Photo Credit: Creative Commons)

There’s gotta be a few of you from Houston reading this. There’s probably a few more of you that read the Texas Tribune on a regular basis. Probably the majority of you like free booze and free Mexican food from Maudie’s. That’s why the Tribune’s event “How High is the Water: Visualizing Houston’s Vulnerability to Possible Storms” might be just for you. Sit back, drink some tequila, and learn about the NASA satellite technology at a cool startup space that’s making a big impact on Texas’s largest city.

FOR THE PERSON WHO WANTS TO GET OUT OF AUSTIN WITHOUT LEAVING IT

Eat some great German food and listen to some German music on the last night of SXSW! (Photo Credit: Flickr Creative Commons)

Eat some great German food and listen to some German music on the last night of SXSW! (Photo Credit: Flickr Creative Commons)

Sixth Street got you broke? Want to experience a new culture without leaving the city? The German Haus has you covered. Try some German-style BBQ while listening to some of Berlin’s best bands at the grand finale of SXSW Interactive! Maybe you’ll even be able to drink out of “Das Boot!”

FOR THE PERSON WHO NEEDS A LITTLE SOUL

Listen to some New Orleans funk as SX Music kicks off (Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons0

Listen to some New Orleans funk as SX Music kicks off (Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons)

Having experiencing this event firsthand, I can tell you it’s one heck of a good time. The Downtown Development District of New Orleans hosts this event at the Lucky Lounge, complete with some of The Big Easy’s best funk and soul musicians. Plenty of booze will be on tap as you bring in SX Music with an event that won’t have you waiting three hours in line.

Want some more free parties to check out during SXSW? Check out our FREE @ SXSW 2016 page for continuous updates throughout the festival!