GOTTA KNOW: &nbsp;What to do at SXSW or how to avoid it completely
Despite Austin&amp;#8217;s fourth &amp;#8220;snow day&amp;#8221; of the year, SXSW is about to be here, officially welcoming spring. &nbsp;With thousands of visitors flooding the streets of downtown over the next two weeks, we&amp;#8217;ve compiled everything you need to know to be either in with the crowd, or steer clear entirely.&nbsp;
SXSW badges run hundreds of dollars for each division: music, film or interactive. &nbsp;For those wanting to check it out, without the commitment, there are dozens of official and unofficial performances, parties and exhibits. Here are our faves:
March 13-15&nbsp;debuts&nbsp;SXSW&amp;#8217;s most popular free event, taking place&nbsp;this year at Butler Park, the Outdoor Stage. &nbsp;With performances by Foster the People, Los Lonely Boys, and countless others, be sure not to miss &amp;#8220;A Jimi Hendrix Celebration&amp;#8221; - a somewhat secretive set featuring surprise headlining acts (we&amp;#8217;re hoping Andre 300 who starred in this year&amp;#8217;s debut Hendrix biopic.&nbsp;You can get your free wristband on-site, or ahead of time at any of these locations.
Southbites takes place&nbsp;March 7-15 on Rainey Street with a concentrated collection of Austin&amp;#8217;s best food trucks and vendors. &nbsp;Save room for tastes from each, including:&nbsp;&nbsp;East Side King, Chi&rsquo;Lantro, The Waffle Bus, Gourdough&rsquo;s, and The Peached Tortilla. &nbsp;No wristband required. &nbsp;Don&amp;#8217;t forget to swing by the 604 Driskill for their collection of trailers as well.
No RSVP required for the Waterloo Records Parking Lot Party. &nbsp;Stop by March 12-15th for major names like Talib Kweli, Mobb Deep, Skaters and A Great Big World.
South by San Jose seems to get bigger and bigger every year and between the beautiful landmark hotel as a backdrop, the tasty eats and divine drinks, we&amp;#8217;re starting to think this free party is better than the real thing. &nbsp;Don&amp;#8217;t miss The Black Lips in the lineup.&nbsp;
Banger&amp;#8217;s on Rainey St. is always a go-to for casual, farm to table dining experience, but they&amp;#8217;re opening their doors to some music greats. &nbsp;Get on the guest list and RSVP here. &nbsp;No badge or wristband needed for daytime shows.
For those less interested in the SXSW scene, there are several other fun activities and events happening around town as well.
The Renegade Craft Fair is a staple in places like San Francisco and New York and is quickly gaining traction here in Austin. &nbsp;From local vendors to sought after artists, think &amp;#8220;more artisan than craft&amp;#8221; at this Etsy-in-real-life event at the Palmer Events Center.&nbsp;

The SXSW Eco Light Garden at Republic Square Park is in place&nbsp;Saturday, March 8 through Saturday, March 15 showcasing installations that play with light, sound and geometry. The Light Garden is free and open to the public.


If you&amp;#8217;re looking to get far from downtown, head to Rodeo Austin for their own musical line up, carnival rides and traditional rodeo events.&nbsp;

Wicked is in town at the Bass Concert Hall for an unforgettable, broadway experience, far from the SXSW crowds.
Grab your kite and hope for warmer weather, as the Austin Kite Festival &nbsp;at Zilker Park&nbsp;has been rescheduled for this Sunday, March 9th. &nbsp;Enjoy wide open spaces without rock concerts, tech gadgets or movie premiers.&nbsp;
