#sx2018

CoolinAustin’s SX Shortlist: Free Party Highlights for Sunday, March 11

Here’s our roundup of today’s best free parties. It’s not too late to RSVP for a lot of this week’s free events, so make sure to check out our full list of the best RSVPs on the SXSW tab at the top of this page. Hit us up on Twitter for even more updates from the field, and check back for party highlights each day of the fest. Have fun out there!

Shout-out to the cool folks at Festival Saviors, Keegan’s List, ATX Concert, @SXSWMF, and Fest Xperts — check them out for some more hot party tips. Also, Showlist Austin is an amazing resource for set times at unofficial showcases throughout the fest.

Pinterest House 10am–2pm • Container Bar, 90 Rainey St. • RSVP required Free drinks, food, and panels. This is technically badge only, but they were somewhat flexible on that last year. Swing by and find out if you’re in the area.

Vimeo: The Decade 10am–2pm • Native Hostel, 807 East 4th Street • RSVP required “Come celebrate the internet’s best videos of the decade. With special guests, live performances, and a cinema like you’ve never seen before!”

Create + Cultivate: Women to Watch 11am–5:30pm • The Refinery, 612 Brazos St. • RSVP required Panels, mentoring sessions, and other events, plus some free food and beverages at certain times while they last. This one was packed last year and there are some more big-name speakers this time, so it would be smart to get there super early.

Mashable House 11am–3pm • The Main, 610 East 6th Street • RSVP required Free food early in the day, sometimes free drinks, swag, mingling, product demos, and various other activities. This is an official event so badges will get priority, but you can usually get in without one if you get there early enough. The big badge-only MashBash party is tonight from 9pm–2am.

The Inclusive Innovation House @ SXSW 2018 11am–5pm • Galvanize, 119 Nueces St. • RSVP required “Delicious food and drinks will be provided” at this three-day event featuring a variety of socially conscious programming.

River Ecosystem's Frontier Tech Lounge 11am–5pm • The Eleanor, 307 West 5th Street • RSVP required Tech discussions and networking with occasional food and drinks (best bet looks like 11am–1pm and 4–5pm on both days).

Future of Technology Lounge 2018 11am–5pm • Capital Factory, 701 Brazos St., 5th Floor • RSVP requested Tech demos, panels, and probably some free snacks and drinks at various times during this multi-day lounge hangout.

The Deep End by Vox Media 11am–8pm • The Belmont, 305 West 6th St. • RSVP required Free food and drinks, cool panels, podcast tapings, arcade games, and more. Sounds like a great time and should be a pretty hot commodity.

The Fast Company Grill at SXSW Interactive 11am–4pm • Cedar Door, 201 Brazos St. • RSVP required Free drinks, tech demos, panels. If you’re patient you can probably also get some free food. One of our faves!

Fox Sports House 11am–8pm • Hangar Lounge, 318 Colorado St. • RSVP required; may be badge-only at times This is an official SXSW Sports lounge, but they’re taking RSVPs so there’s a chance that parts of it could be open to the public. Sounds like there should be lots of food and drinks to go around, plus some sports panels and special parties throughout the weekend.

Startup Sunday with SendGrid & Friends Noon–6pm • Key Bar, 617 West 6th Street • RSVP requested “Startup shenanigans, live music & open bar all day.” Mimosas and samosas available when doors open at noon!

Puppy Pop-Up at SXSW Noon–3pm • Little Woodrow’s, 520 West 6th Street • RSVP required Free drink with download of Sweet Pea mobile app … and puppies!

#WeDC @ SXSW Noon–? • Easy Tiger, 709 East 6th Street • RSVP requested Panels, music, mingling, and potentially some free drinks, food, and swag. RSVP here for today’s featured panel, which is hosted by Politico.

The Afternoon Brew by Brain+Trust Partners Noon–5pm • Mort Subite Belgian Beer Bar, 308 Congress Ave. • RSVP required Free beer and tech discussions.

101X Homegrown Live presents: Austin Town Hall vs. Side One Track One 2pm–2am • Hotel Vegas, 1500 East 6th St. • Free; no RSVP required Some very good Austin bands – this will be a great place to see some music Sunday afternoon.

Splash Presents: Magic Hours 7pm–1am • Sidewinder, 715 Red River St. • RSVP required Music by Glassio, Rick Feds, Miears, Yellow Shoots, Mobley, and The Disfunction.

Tumblr Presents: Show Up 7pm–2am • Mohawk, 912 Red River St. • RSVP required Music by Kelela, Shamir, Duckwrth, and Sudan Archives. Likely to hit capacity early.

Uproxx House 7:30–11:30pm • 101 West 5th St. • RSVP required “Daily talks and evening celebrations with the most innovative minds in music, film, and tech.” Afternoon interviews followed by evening parties with cocktails, small bites, music, and more discussions.

WeDC Celebration 8pm–2am • Easy Tiger, 709 E 6th Street • RSVP required Live DC music, food, and beverages. Note that this is a separate RSVP from the main WeDC House.

CoolinAustin’s SX Shortlist: Free Party Highlights for Saturday, March 10

Here’s our roundup of today’s best free parties. It’s not too late to RSVP for a lot of this week’s free events, so make sure to check out our full list of the best RSVPs on the SXSW tab at the top of this page. Hit us up on Twitter for even more updates from the field, and check back for party highlights each day of the fest. Have fun out there!

Shoutout to the cool folks at Festival Saviors, Keegan’s List, ATX Concert, @SXSWMF, and Fest Xperts — check them out for some more hot party tips. Also, Showlist Austin is an amazing resource for set times at unofficial showcases throughout the fest.

Spredfast Smart Social Suite Day party • The W Austin, 200 Lavaca St. • RSVP required; must have received email confirmation Free food, drinks, and other festivities. This was our favorite party last year, and it’s pared down to just one day this time, so make the most of it! To get into this one you needed to request an invitation and receive email confirmation.

Retail Innovation Lounge 9am–5pm; happy hour 5–7pm • Max’s Wine Dive, 207 San Jacinto Blvd. • Must request invite and receive confirmation Free cocktails and food. This one should be pretty exclusive, so make sure you got their confirmation email before you head over there.

Pinterest House 10am–2pm • Container Bar, 90 Rainey St. • RSVP required Free drinks, food, and panels. This is technically badge only, but they were somewhat flexible on that last year. Swing by and find out if you’re in the area.

Saved By The Brunch 2018 Presented By Natural Light 10am–2pm • Deep Eddy Cabaret, 2315 Lake Austin Blvd. • RSVP required Drinks, burgers, and a DJ.

The car2go Texas Road Trip Lounge 10am–10pm • Companion, 908 E. 5th St. #106C • No RSVP, open to the public BBQ, breakfast tacos, and local libations. Also an “intimate secret show” tonight at 8pm.

Smart Home Open House Hosted by Yonomi 10am–6pm • Yonomi Townhouse, 111 West 8th St. • RSVP required Free wine, beer, snacks, home goods on display from local vendors, and demos of smart home devices.

The Inclusive Innovation House @ SXSW 2018 11am–5pm • Galvanize, 119 Nueces St. • RSVP required “Delicious food and drinks will be provided” at this three-day event featuring a variety of socially conscious programming.

River Ecosystem's Frontier Tech Lounge 11am–5pm • The Eleanor, 307 West 5th Street • RSVP required Tech discussions and networking with occasional food and drinks (your best bet for that looks like 11am–1pm and 4–5pm on both days).

Future of Technology Lounge 2018 11am–5pm • Capital Factory, 701 Brazos St., 5th Floor • RSVP requested Tech demos, panels, and probably some free snacks and drinks at various times during this multi-day lounge hangout.

The Deep End by Vox Media 11am–8pm • The Belmont, 305 West 6th St. • RSVP required Free food and drinks, cool panels, podcast tapings, arcade games, and more. Sounds like a great time and should be a pretty hot commodity.

The Fast Company Grill at SXSW Interactive 11am–4pm • Cedar Door, 201 Brazos St. • RSVP required Free drinks, tech demos, panels. If you’re patient you can probably also get some free food. One of our faves!

Bumble Presents: SXSW Empowering Connections 11am–4pm • Fair Market, 1100 East 5th St. • No RSVP required, but must have the Bumble app downloaded on your phone “Two days of interactive fun, speakers, musical performances, and powerful keynotes.” There are also night events, but those are for SX badgeholders only.

Fox Sports House 11am–8pm • Hangar Lounge, 318 Colorado St. • RSVP required; may be badge-only at times This is an official SXSW Sports lounge, but they’re taking RSVPs so there’s a chance that parts of it could be open to the public. Sounds like there should be lots of food and drinks to go around, plus some sports panels and special parties throughout the weekend.

Puppy Pop-Up at SXSW Noon–3pm • Little Woodrow’s, 520 West 6th Street • RSVP required Free drink with download of Sweet Pea mobile app … and puppies!

Mashable House Noon–5pm • The Main, 610 East 6th Street • RSVP required Free food early in the day, sometimes free drinks, swag, mingling, product demos, and various other activities. This is an official event so badges will get priority, but you can usually get in without one if you get there early enough.

Vimeo: The Decade Noon–6pm • Native Hostel, 807 East 4th Street • RSVP required “Come celebrate the internet’s best videos of the decade. With special guests, live performances, and a cinema like you’ve never seen before!” Seems like this one will be a big hangout for Film badgeholders but could be doable without one early in the day.

American Cities House: Startup Celebration Rooftop Lunch 12:30–2:30pm • Maggie Mae’s, 323 East 6th St. • RSVP required Free lunch and libations.

Soundcheck Saturday 1pm–? • Hotel Vegas, 1500 E. 6th St. • RSVP requested A bunch of bands and multiple booze sponsors, so possibly free or discounted drinks.

Johnny Cupcakes SXSW Cake Dealer Pop-Up 1–5pm • Hops & Grain, 507 Calles St. • RSVP requested Music by Fierce Kelly, plus cupcakes and good local beers for sale.

1st Annual East Side Cool Party 2–6pm • Zilker Brewing Company, 1701 East 6th St. • Free; no RSVP needed Crawfish, music, and new beers for sale.

#SXsmarketing - The Smart Way to Work with Agencies 2–6pm • Darwin’s Pub, 223 East 6th Street • RSVP required Open bar for beer, wine, and well drinks, plus panels and networking.

argodesign's Happy Hour Bash 4–6pm • Barley Bean, 303 Colorado St., Suite 100 • RSVP requested; sold out as of 3/6 Free drinks, snacks and Barley Bean house roast.

Shopify Meetup Austin: SXSW Edition 4–7pm • Ordoro HQ, 106 East 6th St., Suite 710 • RSVP required (now waitlist only) Free drinks, appetizers, and networking.

Nerd Nite: A National Geographic Future of Food Event 5:30–7pm •  Trinity Hall, 311 East 5th St. • RSVP required; now sold out Free beer + discussions about the future of food.

The Awesomest Journalism Party. Ever. VIII. 6–9pm • Shiners Saloon, 422 Congress Ave. • RSVP required Great party with free food, usually a drink ticket or two, and cool journalism panels.

Connect 2018 6pm–1am • Terrace 59, 412 Congress Ave. • RSVP required Complimentary tacos and open bar. Looks like you’ll need to receive confirmation to be sure you’re on the list.

Uproxx House 6–11pm • 101 West 5th St. • RSVP required “Daily talks and evening celebrations with the most innovative minds in music, film, and tech.” Afternoon interviews followed by evening parties with cocktails, small bites, music, and more discussions.

Startup Night SXSW 2018 Presented by the Kauffman Foundation & TechCo 8pm–12:30am • Maggie Mae’s, 323 East 6th St. • RSVP required (Probably) free drinks; get there early to have a chance of getting in, as badges will get priority.

SXSW 2018: Free Party RSVP Roundup, Part 2

Here’s our second round of RSVPs for the best free SXSW parties we’ve discovered so far. Check out Round 1 if you haven’t already, and find the full list on the SXSW tab at the top of this page. To recap:

• All of these events at least request that you RSVP, and most of them require it

• We expect that these parties will be open to people without badges or wristbands for at least part of the day (but some will give priority to badgeholders, and some go badge-only at night)

• SHOW UP EARLY, have backup options, and be aware that free drinks and food may not last for the entire event

• Hit us up on Twitter for the latest SXSW updates throughout the fest, and check out our daily party schedules right here starting this Friday! Heard about any cool events you don’t see on the list yet? Tweet @ us and let us know! Good luck out there!

Shout-out to the cool folks at Festival Saviors, Keegan’s List, ATX Concert, @SXSWMF, and Fest Xperts — check them out for some more hot party tips. Also, Showlist Austin is an amazing resource for set times at unofficial showcases throughout the fest.

Multiple Days

Uproxx House Fri. 3/9 and Sat. 3/10 from 6–11pm; Sun. 3/11 from 7:30-11:30pm • 101 West 5th St. • RSVP required “Daily talks and evening celebrations with the most innovative minds in music, film, and tech.” Afternoon interviews followed by evening parties with cocktails, small bites, music, and more discussions. RSVP separately for each day: Friday / Saturday / Sunday

Vimeo: The Decade Fri. 3/9 from 2–6pm; Sat. 3/10 from noon–6pm; Sun. 3/11 from 10am–2pm • Native Hostel, 807 East 4th Street • RSVP required “Come celebrate the internet's best videos of the decade. With special guests, live performances, and a cinema like you've never seen before!” Seems like this one will be a big hangout for Film badgeholders but could be doable without one early in the day.

Capital One House Fri. 3/9 through Mon. 3/12 • 8pm–midnight • Antone’s, 305 E. 5th St. • RSVP required; badges get priority Four nights of good bands at a cool venue. These shows get pretty crowded and it might be tough to get in without a badge. RSVP separately for each day. Friday: Warpaint, Neon Indian, Moving Panoramas. Saturday: Matt and Kim, Saint Motel, Bee Caves. Sunday: Benjamin Booker, Son Little, Tomar & The FCs. Monday: Shakey Graves, Band of Heathens, Star Parks RSVP separately for each day: Friday / Saturday / Sunday / Monday

Puppy Pop-Up at SXSW Sat. 3/10 and Sun 3/11 • Noon–3pm • Little Woodrow's, 520 West 6th Street • RSVP required Free drink with download of Sweet Pea mobile app … and puppies!

PledgeHouse Tue. 3/13 through Fri. 3/16 • 11:30am–6pm • The Blackheart, 86 Rainey St. • RSVP requested Four days of solid music lineups on two stages. Free Torchy's Tacos and High Brew Coffee at the morning acoustic performances! RSVP separately for each day: Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday

Brooklyn Bowl Family Reunion Wed. 3/14 through Fri. 3/16 • 1–6pm • Scoot Inn, 1308 East 4th St. • RSVP required Wednesday’s Brooklyn Bowl Party features music by Hop Along, Son Little, The Shacks, and Lawrence. Acts at Thursday’s Consequence of Sound Party include Dan The Automator & Qbert (with secret special guest), Sunflower Bean, and others. On Friday, Relix celebrates Jerry Garcia with Red Roses Green Gold ft. The Texas Gentlemen and special guests. There are also badge-only night shows; you can enter to win passes to those at the main link above. RSVP separately for each of the day shows: Wednesday / Thursday / Friday

StubHub at SXSW 2018 Wed. 3/14 and Thu. 3/15 • 1–7pm + badge-only night shows • Banger’s, 79 Rainey St. • RSVP required Wednesday afternoon lineup includes lovelytheband (2pm), Morgxn (3pm), Lola Marsh (4pm), Lawrence (5pm), and Joey Dosik (6pm). Thursday’s performers include Hembree (2pm), Durand Jones & The Indications (3pm), Liza Anne (4pm), Field Report (5pm), and Mt. Joy (6pm).

Quantum Collective Southwest Invasion Thu. 3/15 through Sat. 3/17 • 11am–7pm • Whole Foods Rooftop, 525 North Lamar Boulevard • RSVP required This three-day rooftop mini-fest is a great place to hang out and bask in the glorious March weather, slightly away from the madness of Dirty Sixth. There are usually some freebies from a bunch of cool sponsors.

Friday, March 9

Open Door Showcase 2018 4pm–midnight • Dogwood, 715 W 6th Street • RSVP required Live music by: MIEARS, Primo, MIDDLESPOON, OH MY LOVE, Light Wheel, The Ghost Wolves, Young Tongue, Vockah Redu and DJ Fredster.

Beef Loving Texans Presents BBQuest Secret Taping Party 6–9pm • Coopers BBQ, 217 Congress Ave. • RSVP required Free beer, BBQ, and live music.

Hardware House Opening Party 7–10pm • Canopy / KUBE HQ, 916 Springdale Rd., Building 4 Suite 104 • RSVP required Free Lagunitas beer and tech-related festivities.

Hippobottomless Album Release Show 7–10pm • The Lodge, 411 East 6th Street • RSVP requested “Enjoy food, drinks, special merch giveaways and a full night of edgy hard-rock. The Bottomless will be joined by grungy punk-rock group The Ellen Degenerates and progressive rock band Oreja.”

Michigan House: Neighborhood Health Panel 7–9pm • 700 Trinity St. • RSVP requested Healthcare panel with food from Bento Picnic, juice from Juice Austin, and Michigan-made beer and wine. Check out the Michigan House site for more details on this and their other events.

Saturday, March 10

Johnny Cupcakes SXSW Cake Dealer Pop-Up 1–5pm • Hops & Grain, 507 Calles St. • RSVP requested Music by Fierce Kelly, plus cupcakes and good local beers for sale.

MoPub at SXSW 2018 4–7pm • #TwitterHouse at Lustre Pearl, 94 Rainey Street • RSVP required Free food and drinks.

Shopify Meetup Austin: SXSW Edition 4–7pm • Ordoro HQ, 106 East 6th St., Suite 710 • RSVP required (waitlist only as of 3/6) Free drinks, appetizers, and networking.

Nerd Nite: A National Geographic Future of Food Event 5:30–7pm •  Trinity Hall, 311 East 5th St. • RSVP required Free beer + discussions about the future of food.

The Awesomest Journalism Party. Ever. VIII. 6–9pm • Shiners Saloon, 422 Congress Ave. Great party with free food, usually a drink ticket or two, and cool journalism panels.

Sunday, March 11

5th Annual Amazon Seller & Alexa Enthusiast SXSW Hangover Brunch with Agent Zebra 11am–3pm • Russia House, 307 East 5th Street • RSVP required; waitlist only as of 3/6 Hangover brunch with some free drinks and food.

The Afternoon Brew by Brain+Trust Partners Noon–5pm • Mort Subite Belgian Beer Bar, 308 Congress Ave. • RSVP required Free beer and tech discussions.

AI, IOT, Bots and Brews 4–6pm • ClearBlade, Inc., 103 East 5th Street • RSVP requested Free drinks and networking.

SXSW Cities Summit Opening Reception 6–8:30pm • Palm Door on Sixth, 508 East 6th Street • RSVP required “Meet and mingle over European food and drink before diving into two days of dynamic programming, performance, pop-up exhibits,” and other fun stuff.

Tumblr presents: Show Up 7pm–2am • Mohawk, 912 Red River St. • RSVP required Music by Kelela, Shamir, Duckwrth, and Sudan Archives. Likely to hit capacity early.

Monday, March 12

Drupal Drop In, Presented by Four Kitchens 2–6pm • Brew & Brew, 500 San Marcos Street • RSVP requested Free beer and coffee.

Rooftop Escape 5:30–8:30pm • Green Light Social, 720 W 6th Street • RSVP required; waitlist only as of 3/6 “Craft cocktails,  savory snacks, and meaningful conversations in a refreshing atmosphere.”

Michigan House: Back To Michigan Mixer 6–8pm • 700 Trinity St. • RSVP requested Free food, beer from Founders Brewing Co., and wine from L. Mawby Winery, plus music, prizes, and other Michigan-themed festivities. Check out the Michigan House site for more details on this and their other events.

Local Luau 6–9pm • Kitty Cohen's, 2211 Webberville Rd. • RSVP requested Tiki drinks, bites by VEGG, and beach vibes.

MobileMonday SXSW #Nordicmade @ EUatSXSW 6–11pm • Palm Door on Sixth, 508 East 6th Street • RSVP required Free finger food (including Finnish mini-burgers!) and an open/cash bar combo (?). Official event, so you may or may not have issues getting in without a badge.

Wednesday, March 14

YETI Presents: BMI SXSW Showcase Noon–7pm • Yeti Flagship, 220 South Congress Ave. • RSVP required Free drinks, food, and music.

AdHoc Unofficial SXSW Showcase Noon–6pm • Cheer Up Charlie’s, 900 Red River St. • RSVP requested Music by Snail Mail, Sudan Archives, U.S. Girls, Bad Gyal, Palm, Combo Chimbita, Hatchie, Crumb, Shame, Hovvdy, Flasher, Stella Donnelly, Ought, Cut Worms, Suburban Living, and Sun Seeker.

Nochebuena IN SPACE 2018 1pm–1am • Stay Gold, 1910 E. Cesar Chavez • RSVP requested Music by Tall Juan, Kino Kimino, Fruit & Flowers, Ex-Girlfriends, and others.

Thursday, March 15

Twangfest Noon–5pm • Broken Spoke, 3201 S. Lamar • RSVP requested Featured artists include James McMurtry, Waco Brothers, The Weather Station, Whitney Rose, Joe Purdy and Amber Rubarth, John Paul Keith, Jeff Plankenhorn, and more. Sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka. RSVP on Facebook or email sxsw(at)twangfest(dot)com.

Levitation Day Party 1pm-? • Hotel Vegas, 1500 East 6th St. • RSVP requested Four stages of live music; lineup TBA but should be solid.

Budweiser Country Club 6pm–? • Fair Market, 1100 E 5th St. • RSVP required Free beer and music by Old Crow Medicine Show, Kane Brown, Elle King, and others. Open to the public, priority entrance given to SXSW music + platinum badge holders. This should be very crowded so line up early if you want a shot at getting in.

Friday, March 16

The Austin Chronicle Presents: Hair of the 3-Legged Dog: Volume 5 1–5pm • Hotel Vegas, 1500 East 6th St. • RSVP required Bloody Revolution Bloody Marys, free Taco Deli tacos, and music by Yonatan Gat, Blackillac, Drakulas, and The Deer.

SXSW 2018: Free Party RSVP Roundup, Part 1

South by Southwest 2018 is just around the corner, and to help you keep your eyes on the party prize, we’re rounding up the RSVP details for the best of the free parties that you might actually want to go to.

All of the events below ask you to RSVP, and we anticipate that they’ll all most likely be open to people without badges or wristbands. However, some of these parties do give priority entry to badge and wristband holders, and some become badge-only at night — we’ve identified those in the listings.

We’ll be posting batches of new parties right here in the days ahead and compiling the full list on the “SXSW” tab at the top of this page — so keep checking back for updates!

A few tips for maximum enjoyment:

1) SHOW UP EARLY. Parties sometimes hit capacity very soon after they open, so there’s a good chance that you’ll be dealing with some pretty serious lines by mid-afternoon, especially on the weekends and double-especially on Music weekend. Plan accordingly and have several backup options just in case. Also be aware that free drinks and free food may not last for the entire event, so try to get there when doors open whenever possible to maximize your chances of getting the good stuff.

2) RSVP for as many events as possible, even if they conflict, and even you’re not sure you’ll actually go. It’s good to have options (see tip #1).

3) If an event page says the party is sold out, check again later (and get on the waitlist if there is one). Some organizers reopen their lists and start accepting more RSVPs closer to the event.

Stay tuned to this site, our Twitter feed, and our Facebook page for more RSVP tips, band recs, and other SXSW-related goodness. Heard about any cool events you don’t see on the list yet? Tweet @ us and let us know! Good luck out there!

Multiple Days

Mashable House Fri. 3/9 and Sat. 3/10 from noon–5pm; Sun. 3/11 from 11am–3pm • The Main, 610 East 6th Street • RSVP required Free food early in the day, sometimes free drinks, swag, mingling, product demos, and various other activities. This is an official event so badges will get priority, but you can usually get in without one if you get there early enough. The big MashBash party is Sunday night from 9pm–2am, and that’s most definitely gonna be badge-only. The Deep End by Vox Media Fri. 3/9 through Sun. 3/11 • 11am–8pm • The Belmont, 305 West 6th St. • RSVP required Free food and drinks, cool panels, podcast tapings, arcade games, and more. Sounds like a great time and should be a pretty hot commodity.

The Fast Company Grill at SXSW Interactive Fri. 3/9 through Mon. 3/12 • 11am–4pm • Cedar Door, 201 Brazos St. • RSVP required Free drinks, tech demos, panels. If you’re patient you can probably also get some free food. One of our faves!

Fox Sports House Fri. 3/9 through Mon. 3/12 • 11am–8pm • Hangar Lounge, 318 Colorado St. • RSVP required; may be badge-only at times This is an official SXSW Sports lounge, but they’re taking RSVPs so there’s a chance that parts of it could be open to the public. Sounds like there should be lots of food and drinks to go around, plus some sports panels and special parties throughout the weekend.

Pinterest House Sat. 3/10 and Sun. 3/11 • 10am–2pm • Container Bar, 90 Rainey St. • RSVP required Free drinks, food, and panels. This is technically badge only, but they were somewhat flexible on that last year. Swing by and find out if you’re in the area.

Future of Technology Lounge 2018 Sat. 3/10 through Tue. 3/13 • 11am–5pm • Capital Factory, 701 Brazos St., 5th Floor • RSVP requested Tech demos, panels, and probably some free snacks and drinks at various times during this multi-day lounge hangout.

Texas A&M X '47 Discovery House Sun. 3/11 from 3pm–midnight; Mon. 3/12 from 11am–midnight • RSVP required Free Stiles Switch BBQ, music, and a bunch of other things Aggies like. It’s unclear whether signing up on this event page counts as an RSVP, so look out for a confirmation email.

Playground Pop Up at Alibi Sun. 3/11 from noon–8pm + 9pm–midnight; Mon. 3/12 from 2–7pm + 8pm–midnight • Alibi, 96 Rainey St. • RSVP required Music technology party with demos and DJs. Night events are probably badge-only.

#WeDC @ SXSW Sun. 3/11 and Mon. 3/12 • Easy Tiger, 709 East 6th Street • RSVP requested Most of the details are still TBA for this year’s event, but we loved it last year. Potentially some free drinks, food, and swag in addition to panels and music.

Pandora at SXSW Tue. 3/13 through Thu. 3/15 • 1–6pm • Gatsby, 708 E. 6th St. • RSVP required Three days of good up-and-coming bands. Make sure to pick up your Pandora wristband in advance to avoid standing in line twice.

TWIX House of Duos at Lustre Pearl Wed. 3/14 and Thu. 3/15 • 1–7pm / 8pm–midnight • Lustre Pearl, 94 Rainey St. Nice lineup of duo music acts. Night shows are probably badge-only.

Dr. Martens Presents COLLiDE @ Container Bar 2018 Wed. 3/14 through Fri. 3/16 • Noon–7pm • Container Bar, 90 Rainey St. Three days of live music.

PMA Global Street Farm Wed. 3/14 from 1pm–midnight and Thu. 3/15 from 3pm–midnight • L’Estelle, 88 ½ Rainey St. • RSVP required; badges get priority Food samples, cocktails, live bands. Global street food tastings both nights from 9pm–midnight — these are sure to be in high demand, so it might be difficult to get in without a badge.

FLOODfest Wed. 3/14 through Fri. 3/16 • Times TBA (day + night shows) • Cedar Street Courtyard, 208 W. 4th St. • RSVP required Three days of day and night shows. Badges get priority at night and it’s usually tough to get in without one.

British Music Embassy Wed. 3/14 through Sat. 3/17 • 2–6pm • Latitude 30, 512 San Jacinto Blvd. • RSVP required Brit rock, fun vibes, and occasional free drinks make this four-day event one of our favorites each year. RSVP separately for each day: Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday

BrooklynVegan + Margin Walker Present: Lost Weekend Thu. 3/15 through Sat. 3/18 • Noon–6pm • Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River St. • RSVP requested Lineup info is still TBA, but there’s usually a very good slate of acts. RSVP separately for each day: Thursday / Friday / Saturday

Sound + Color Presented by M&M’s Fri. 3/16 and Sat. 3/17 • 1–7pm / 8pm–midnight • Lustre Pearl Rainey, 94 Rainey St. • RSVP required Great two-day lineup and probably hella M&Ms at this Rainey Street bash. Friday afternoon acts include LovelyTheBand (2pm), Mallrat (3pm), Gothic Tropic (4pm), Flint Eastwood (5pm), and Okkervil River (6pm). The night showcase is very likely badge-only; headliners include R.LUM.R, Billie Eilish, and Sylvan Esso. Saturday afternoon’s lineup includes Warbly Jets (2pm), CYN (3pm), The Shacks (4pm), Ron Gallo (5pm), and The Black Angels (6pm). The night showcase features Night Beats, Albert Hammond Jr., and Cut Copy.

Friday, March 9

Fitvent 10am–6pm; 8pm–2am • 301 Chicon St. • RSVP requested Fitness-focused gathering featuring music, speakers, and giveaways. Free food and nonalcoholic drinks in the evening.

YouEarnedIt @ SXSW 4–8pm • YouEarnedIt, 206 East 9th Street, Suite 1502 • RSVP requested Free food, open bar.

Panoply #DataParty 4–6pm • Ginger Man, 301 Lavaca St. • RSVP requested Free drinks and food at this networking event for data and marketing pros.

ATX Startup Crawl Multiple locations and hours; RSVP to get the map and more details • RSVP requested Free drinks and food hosted by companies all over downtown, starting in the afternoon and continuing into the evening. A classic way to kick off the fest.

Do512 Presents Galactic Interactive 6:30pm–2am • Hotel Vegas, 1500 East 6th Street • RSVP required Free drinks, cool bands, and standup comedy at this outer-space-themed throwdown. Music lineup features Great Good Fine OK, Riverboat Gamblers, SMiiLE, Tamarron, and more.

Saturday, March 10

Spredfast Smart Social Suite Day party (time TBA) • The W Austin, 200 Lavaca St. • RSVP required; must receive confirmation Free food, drinks, and other festivities. This was our favorite party last year, and it’s pared down to just one day this time, so make the most of it! Must request invite and get confirmation email.

Retail Innovation Lounge 9am–5pm; happy hour 5–7pm • Max’s Wine Dive, 207 San Jacinto Blvd. • Must request invite and receive confirmation Free cocktails and food.

Saved By The Brunch 2018 Presented By Natural Light 10am–2pm • Deep Eddy Cabaret, 2315 Lake Austin Blvd. • RSVP required Drinks, burgers, and a DJ. The organizers would like to note that this Natty Light-sponsored event is for “deal closers only.”

Smart Home Open House Hosted by Yonomi 10am–6pm • Yonomi Townhouse, 111 West 8th St. • RSVP required Free wine, beer, snacks, home goods on display from local vendors, and demos of smart home devices.

American Cities House: Startup Celebration Rooftop Lunch 12:30–2:30pm • Maggie Mae’s, 323 East 6th St. • RSVP required Free lunch and libations.

Soundcheck Saturday 1pm–?? • Hotel Vegas, 1500 E. 6th St. • RSVP requested A bunch of bands and multiple booze sponsors, so possibly free or discounted drinks.

#SXsmarketing - The Smart Way to Work with Agencies 2–6pm • Darwin's Pub, 223 East 6th Street • RSVP required Open bar for beer, wine, and well drinks, plus panels and networking.

Connect 2018 6pm–1am • Terrace 59, 412 Congress Ave. • RSVP required Complimentary tacos and open bar. Looks like you’ll need to receive confirmation to be sure you’re on the list.

Startup Night SXSW 2018 Presented by the Kauffman Foundation & TechCo 8pm–12:30am • Maggie Mae’s, 323 East 6th St. • RSVP required (Probably) free drinks; get there early to have a chance of getting in, as badges will get priority.

Sunday, March 11

Create + Cultivate: Women to Watch 11am–5:30pm • The Refinery, 612 Brazos St. • RSVP required Panels, mentoring sessions, and other events, plus some free food and beverages at certain times while they last. This one was packed last year and there are some more big-name speakers this time, so it would be smart to get there super early.

SXSW BBQ Brunch and Brands Noon–6pm • Secret location • Must request invite and get confirmation Free BBQ and networking.

Startup Sunday with SendGrid & Friends Noon–6pm • Key Bar, 617 West 6th Street • RSVP requested “Startup shenanigans, live music & open bar all day.” Mimosas and samosas available when doors open at noon!

On Vinyl & Human Influence Present: South Austin Local Showcase 3–7pm • Location TBA • RSVP required / suggested donation (see below) Sponsored by Austin Eastciders, Guayakí Yerba Mate, Tito's Handmade Vodka, and Deep Eddy Vodka. Local line-up featuring Rachel Lieberman, Torino Black, The Mammoths, Blynd Birds, Coattails, SMiiLE, and Swimming with Bears. This is a benefit for SIMS Foundation, and people who donate to the GoFundMe get in automatically. Or, if you’re a local Austin artist, you can apply for an invite here.

Splash Presents: Magic Hours 7pm–1am • Sidewinder, 715 Red River St. • RSVP required Music by Glassio, Rick Feds, Miears, Yellow Shoots, Mobley, and The Disfunction.

SocialHaus SXSW 2018 8:30pm–?? • “Justine's Secret House,” 1303 East 7th St. • Must request invite and be confirmed “An exclusive night of secret art exhibitions, live installations, and performances.” Probably lots of free stuff.

Amplify Philly House Party 9:30pm–2am • Pour Choices, 401 East 6th St. • RSVP required; technically badge-only Open bar til midnight, plus music by DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Aktive, and Fuegomayo. This is an official event so it might be tough to get into without a badge.

Monday, March 12

Do512 and COVERT CURIOSITY Present Strange Brew 7 1pm–late • Hotel Vegas, 1500 E. 6th Street • RSVP required Big slate of bands and possibly some free/cheap drinks from sponsors Deep Eddy Vodka and Karbach Brewing.

A.V. Club and The Onion Present: Just Another Manic Monday 3:30–11:30pm • Mohawk, 912 Red River St. • RSVP required Nice lineup featuring Superchunk, Wye Oak, Bully, Shamir, and others. Possibly some free drinks from sponsor Wild Turkey American Honey. Badges and wristbands get priority.

Lafayette Live Crawfish Boil @ SXSW: A True Cajun Experience 5–9pm • C-Boy's Heart & Soul, 2008 South Congress Ave. • RSVP requested Free Cajun food while it lasts, one free drink, live music, and networking.

Big Fat VR Party 6–9pm • Capital Factory, 701 Brazos St. • RSVP requested VR, booze, and food.

Amplify Philly Music Showcase 8pm–2am • Pour Choices, 401 East 6th St. • RSVP required; technically badge-only Official SX showcase with music by Low Cut Connie, Son Little, Vita & The Woolf, and others. This is an official event so it might be tough to get into without a badge, but we’ve heard it’s possible if you get there early.

Tuesday, March 13

The ShipStation Lounge Experience Noon–8pm • Vuka Gather, 411 West Monroe St. • RSVP requested Free food and drinks, networking, and panels. Open bar and music 6–8pm.

She Shreds Noon–8pm • Kinda Tropical, 3501 East 7th Street • RSVP requested Music by La Luz, Speedy Ortiz, Hinds, Shamir, and others.

SXSW Boot Scootin’ BBQ 5–8pm • The Vaughn, 310 Colorado St. • RSVP required; must request invite and get confirmation Live country music, Salt Lick BBQ, and an open bar.

Media Temple's SXSW Interactive Bash 8:30pm–late • Stubb's BBQ, 801 Red River St. • RSVP required (see below) Giant official closing party for SX Interactive. Usually very tough to get into without a badge, but the site suggests that it’s possible: “entry is first-come, first-served but priority is given to SXSW Interactive and Platinum badge holders.” RSVPing also gives you a chance to win VIP access and a meet-and-greet with the closing act.

Wednesday, March 14

Day Drinking with DistroKid at SXSW 2018 1–3pm • The Jackalope, 404 E 6th St. • RSVP requested (but probably not required) Possibly some free drinks at this music industry meetup.

CxBB — Celebration by Beardbrand 6–11pm • The Rattle Inn, 610 Nueces St. • RSVP requested Live music and free drinks while they last.

The Sound Release SXSW 8:30pm–2am • Peckerheads, 402 East 6th Street • RSVP requested Emerging hip-hop acts.

Thursday, March 15

Dutch Impact Party SXSW 2018 Noon–6pm • Waller Ballroom, 700 East 6th Street • RSVP required Free drinks and food for “delegates”; we’re not really sure that that means, but last year you got a drink ticket and a tasty grilled sandwich with your RSVP. Also good music and nice people. Fun times!

SMILF at The Showtime House 1–7pm • Clive Bar, 609 Davis St. • RSVP required Day show lineup includes US Girls (2pm), Stella Donnelly (3pm), Natalie Prass (4pm), Sudan Archives (5pm), and Sunflower Bean (6pm). The night party runs from 9pm–midnight and is very likely badge-only.

Precision, Olympus & For Spite present Turn Your Camera On 1:30–7pm • Precision Camera & Video, 2438 W. Anderson Ln., Suite B4 • RSVP requested Good local bands and free drinks provided by Tito's Handmade Vodka and Big Swig. This is a 10-minute drive north of downtown so plan to get a ride.

Brew Music 5–8pm • Zilker Brewing Company, 1701 East 6th St. • RSVP requested Free beers for the first 100 people, followed by spirited discussions about synth music. We highly recommend Zilker’s Marco IPA, by the way.

South by South Wildfox Party 9pm–1am • Pop, 620 West 6th Street #1 • RSVP requested Open bar.

Friday, March 16

11A Records, Northern Spy Records and Wharf Cat Records Present: Romancing the Wax 11am–6pm • Hotel Vegas, 1500 East 6th St. • RSVP requested Music by Golden Dawn Arkestra, Odetta Hartman, A Place to Bury Strangers, and others.

Cinderblock's Block Party presented by Pacifico Noon–late • The Cabana, 5416 North FM 973 • RSVP required (paid ticket options available; see below) Free drinks at a mansion pool party, with performances by Rayland Baxter, David Ramirez, Medicine Man Revival, Mathew McNeal, Mitchell Ferguson, and Suzanna Choffel. It’s pretty deep east of Austin, so it may be wise to shell out the $10 for guaranteed admission (or $45 for VIP, which includes food and other perks).

Fun On the Run Tour Noon–?? • The ABGB, 1305 W. Oltorf St. • RSVP requested Day show at a cool venue south of downtown.

Cocoa Butter Radio LIVE at SXSW Noon–5pm • The Townsend, 718 Congress Ave. #100 • RSVP requested Live interviews followed by artist performances and showcasing DJs in between sets.

Beats x Beers Festival 4 Noon–8pm • Lone Star Hookahs, 301 Chicon St., Unit G • RSVP requested Music and fun surprises. More details TBA.

The Chi at The Showtime House 1–6pm • Clive Bar, 609 Davis St. • RSVP required Day show lineup includes Melo Makes Music (2pm), Air Credits (3pm), Knox Fortune (4pm), and Joey Purp (5pm). The night party runs from 8pm–midnight and is very likely badge-only.

4theculture Pop-Up Party 6–10pm • 1408 East 13th St. • RSVP required Free drinks, music, vendors. More details TBA.

Saturday, March 17

Do512 Presents: The Big One 11:30am–6pm • Barracuda, 611 East 7th Street • RSVP required Performances by Ron Gallo, Hinds, Michael Rault, Speedy Ortiz, and others. Beverages from Deep Eddy Vodka, Mike's Harder, Austin Eastciders, and Karbach Beer. This will get crazy as the day goes on so try to get there close to doors.

Hip Hop Weekly SX St. Patty Party Noon–5pm • 501 Brushy St. • RSVP requested Free green beer and jello shots. This one just might get rowdy.

You Made 4 It? Industry Panel & Artist Showcase Noon–6pm • 217 East 6th St. • RSVP required Hip-hop panels, performances, and free food. The organizers are also hosting an invite-only mansion party at a private location from 11pm–4am, so keep an eye out for more info on that.

Shameless at The Showtime House 1–7pm • Clive Bar, 609 Davis St. • RSVP required Day show lineup includes The Nude Party (2pm), Post Animal (3pm), Shamir (4pm), Tank and the Bangas (5pm), and WAVVES (6pm). Expect a pretty large crowd, seeing as how this is a pretty small venue on Music Saturday. The night party runs from 8pm–1am and is very likely badge-only.

Sunday, March 18