I chose three popular, celebrity-focused Interactive sessions today, and all involved long lines or waits. But I was not disappointed. Later in the day, I looked around the Trade Show at the Austin Convention Center and then walked over to the Zach Scott Theatre for another movie premiere.
Although I enjoyed seeing President Obama on Friday, I felt like Saturday was my first real day at SXSW 2016. I attended many interesting and informative Interactive sessions and finished with a documentary in the evening.
My South by Southwest began with a big surprise—I won a ticket to see President Obama. Most of my first SXSW morning was spent retrieving my General Admission ticket and then waiting for 90+ minutes to pass through security and enter the Long Center. I was in the upper balcony, but at least my seat was in the center of the first row.
Bill and I picked up our South by Southwest badges and guides over at the Austin Convention Center this afternoon. We breezed through registration, but tomorrow’s lines will be a different story.
Normally, Austinites don’t like overcast, windy days, but that turned out to be perfect weather for the Zilker Kite Festival. Begun in 1929, this is the longest continuously running kite festival in the US. It’s been held in Zilker Park since 1936.
Saturday was a beautiful spring day for this year’s Explore UT. This gigantic open house at the University of Texas seemed more crowded than usual, with throngs of middle school and high school students everywhere.
Cowboys and cowgirls rustled up some grub at Friday morning’s Cowboy Breakfast. The Long Center Terrace was crowded with hungry folks decked out in leather, boots, and Stetsons, all enjoying a little preview of Rodeo Austin which starts next week at the Travis County Expo Center.
After a very mild winter, we’re having an early spring in Austin. Daytime highs have already reached over 80°, but nights are still cool. El Niño produced lots of rain last fall, but so far this year we’ve had very little moisture. Forecasters are hopeful that April and May will be wetter.
Now in their 105th season, the Austin Symphony performs at Dell Hall in The Long Center. The orchestra performs classical programs about one weekend per month from September through June. Their season includes three other concerts (The Messiah, Halloween, and Young Composers) as well as four Pops performances (most recently, Lights, Camera…the Oscars!). They also play free concerts on July 4th and on Sunday evenings in the summer. Peter Bay has directed the Austin Symphony for 18 years.
Over 600 walkers participated in Sunday’s Austin CROP Hunger Walk at Camp Mabry. Celebrating its 38th anniversary, the Austin walk brought together various faith communities in a common goal: to help combat hunger locally and around the world.