The SXSW Musical Festival is just a few days away and for those of you out there crazy enough to embark upon that five-day odyssey (guilty), it is rest and recharge time. Time to stock up on must-see new bands, wayfarer sunglasses and most importantly, sleep. But for the entrepreneurs, the scientists, the tinkerers and the geeks who drink, it is go time. SXSW Interactive is here, and its out-of-the-box schedule has made it something of a five-day carnival in itself. Here is a list of the best parties, exhibits and events at the 2016 SXSW Interactive Festival:
The hit show and USA Network are setting up a 100-foot tall Mr Robot Ferris Wheel, complete with a Coney Island-style arcade, a photo booth, a t-shirt giveaway, and a graffiti art installation; all as a nod to the show’s famed Coney Island backdrop. The installation runs from March 11th-14th at the Congress Avenue parking lot in downtown Austin.
SXSWesteros was the hands-down hit of the festival last year. People waited in line for hours, foregoing their predetermined schedules, just for a brief moment to sit upon the Iron Throne – celebrities like Snoop Dogg even got in on the actions. HBO will be on hand again this year promoting the new Game of Thrones season, but so far kept pretty mum as to the details. SXSWesteros runs March 11th – 13th at 213 West 5th St.
I don’t know what to tell you – Grumpy Cat isn’t over. He was one of the biggest stars of the festival in 2013 and the lines to meet him last year made as many headlines as the tech did. News site Mashable is bringing him back to meet attendees again this year and it’s sure to be one of the busiest events of the weekend.
A wonderland of new ideas, the Startup Village hosts Panels, Meet Ups, Demos, Lounges, Activations and is home of the SXSW Accelerator startup competition. Once inside, all activities are geared towards entrepreneurs and startups. It is a virtual smorgasbord of possible “next big thing” ideas, and is always worth the visit. The Interactive Startup Village runs all five days of the festival.
Hackers, DIY-ers, super-gamers and revolutionaries join for three days to showcase everything from drones to new 3D printing technology to biohacking. It has a newer, bigger, better home at the Parmer Events Center this year and runs from March 11th – 13th.
The SXSW Gaming Expo offers something for everyone. Free and open to the public, anyone can wander in and take a peek at what the future of gaming will look like. Experts and emerging new talent will be on hand for discussions, and you can even get hands-on with the breakthrough tech in the Indie Corner.
Dewey Winburne was one of the original co-founders of the SXSW Interactive Festival. He believed that technology could not only bridge the digital divide, but would also one day help those less fortunate than others. The awards, which take place at the JW Marriott on Sunday at 7:30pm, celebrate individuals who embrace the spirit of community in Austin, and who have used advances in technology to help others.
Deloitte Digital
The invite simplye says “Rockin all night with exclusive musical acts & libations, partyin every day in an immersive world built from sound and light”. Deloitte Digital is hosting an interactive music lab, a street sculpture & live painting demo, the annual TechCrunch party, free food and drinks and SXSW Interactive’s first augmented live concert. To find out what exactly that entails, stop by their festival home at the Palm Door and witness technological music history.