Lots of free fun on tap at SXSW Interactive
While the cost of a South by Southwest Interactive badge continues to rise every year, there’s more free stuff than ever that can be accessed without one.
In addition to the hundreds of side parties and unofficial events, some events put on by the fest itself are open to the public, which started with Thursday night’s Dewey Winburne Community Service Awards.
Friday through Sunday, the SXSW Gaming Ex
po will take over Palmer Events Center, offering a mix of expo hall entertainment, a video game history museum, a cosplay competition (a great place to see colorful costumes) and new for this year, lifesized go-karts inspired by “Mario Kart.” The Long Center for the Performing Arts will host free gaming panels and at 7 p.m. Saturday night, the fest will have its first SXSW Gam
ing Awards in Dell Hall in the Long Center (priority given to badge-holders).
A “Bonus Round” closing party concludes SXSW Gaming from 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday night, featuring live music. For job seekers, a Digi
tal Job Market event continues from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday in Ballrooms ABC of the Austin Convention Center. There’ll be a casting call for ABC’s “Shark Tank” for budding entrepreneurs.
SXSW Create, a space for makers to show off their 3-D printed wares and much more, will be on the City Terrace of the Long Center from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. There’s also a
Renegade Craft Fair open from noon to 8 p.m. next Thursday through March 15 at Palmer Events Center.
And at the Holiday Inn Town Lake through Sunday, a Latinos in Tech track of sessions will spotlight innovation for and by Latinos.
New for this year is the use of guest passes for events including SXSW Gaming, the Renegade Craft Fair and the Digital Creative Job Market. They’re available for free at guestpass.sxsw.com in advance, and will be available at the door at events as well.
In addition to all that, lots of tech companies will be put on open houses and lounges, and downtown is often littered with food trucks and booths giving away food, drinks and tech swag. Keep an eye on the Digital Savant blog at austin360.com/digitalsavant and the #nobadge and #360SXSWtips hashtags on Twitter for more information on freebies as we find them.