SXSW-Adjacent Food and Drink Events That Are Still Happening in Austin

South by Southwest (SXSW) is canceled because of concerns over the global coronavirus pandemic. Usually, Austin hosts so many events — official and otherwise — during the festival that it can feel impossible to keep track of them all. With the cancellation, many have been called off, like Willie Nelson’s music and food festival, Luck Reunion, and its potluck dinner, while some are still going forward, SXSW or no.

However, in light of the city’s ban of public and private gatherings with more than 250 people and social distancing has been recommended as of this time, many of the following events are now canceled. Right now, the risk of novel coronavirus to the public is considered elevated in Texas, and there are three presumptive positive cases in the city.

Here’s a rundown of the SXSW-related food and drink events that are still happening in Austin. For more events, scope out website #Stranded in Austin, Twitter account CanceledSXSW, and music showcase site The Cosmic Clash. Double-check to make sure your event of choice is still happening.

Know of other unofficial SXSW food- and drink-events still happening? Let Eater know via austin@eater.com or through the tipline.

Friday, March 13 through Friday, March 20

TacoS-X-Tech Summit
The SXSW-adjacent event by Grit Daily is still on, featuring panels (including food-focused ones), concerts, film screenings, booze, demos by a kombucha company, Imperfect food, and Beyond Meats barbecue.
Where: 206 San Marcos Street, East Austin
Access: General admission tickets are free.

Friday, March 13 through Sunday, March 22

Vedge by Vedgewest
A vegan and vegetarian food festival is taking place in Austin through in-person food specials and online cooking demonstrations. Participating places include Bouldin Creek, Rebel Cheese, Vegan Nom, and others.
Where: Varies
Access: Free to attend/view

Sunday, March 15

Austin Anthem Presents: A Celebration of the Beautiful Game
Austin Anthem, the supporting group for the city’s forthcoming Major League Soccer team Austin FC is hosting a party with game screenings and more. On deck are Vaquero Taquero tacos, Pluckers’s chicken wings, and LeverCraft coffee. It begins at 8:30 a.m.
Where: Empire Control Room, 606 East Seventh Street, Red River
When: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Access: Free to attend

The event has been canceled.

Taster’s Table
Private dining club series Taster’s Table is hosting an Indian-Mexican dinner timed to what had been SXSW. Helming the dinner are chefs Deepa Shridhar of Indian-Texas supper club series 33 Tigers and Daniel Brooks of Mexican restaurant Licha’s Cantina. The dinner, called Mi Casa Es Tu Makhaan, will feature four-courses full of dishes like crispy masa empanadas, bison samosas, and fish with mango mole. Entry comes with a bag of goods, and there is a cash bar.
Where: Licha’s Cantina, 1306 East Sixth Street, East Austin
When: Dinner begins at 6 p.m.
Access: General tickets are Tickets for $100 and tickets for members of Taster’s are $75.

The dinner has been postponed to Monday, April 20.

Monday, March 16

The Paella Project
Austin-based cookware company Made In is still throwing its paella party. Cooking will be Top Chef-winning Los Angeles chef Mei Lin of Eater LA restaurant of the year Nightshade, and Eater Austin chef of the year Fermín Núñez of host restaurant Suerte. The two will make two paella, one with chicken and curry and the other with rabbit and chorizo, plus there are appetizers and drinks. (This event is still happening as of Friday, March 6 according to a rep.)
Where: Suerte, 1800 East Sixth Street, East Austin
When: Noon to 3 p.m.
Access: General admission tickets are $75.

The paella event has been postponed.

Monday, March 16 through Sunday, March 22

We Can Do Magic
SXSW-related music showcases at several Austin venues and bars were meant to still go on this week, but due to the event ban, many locations have dropped out, including Mohawk, Hotel Vegas, Cosmic Coffee, Native Hostel, Swan Dive (all five venues are still opening to the public for bar/food service), Antone’s, Barracuda, and North Door. Check each venue to make sure it’s still hosting its respective music showcase. It’s being organized by the Red River Cultural District, along with other event promoters.
Where: Participating venues include Beerland, Cheer Up Charlies, , Elysium, Empire Control Room, Malverde, Pershing, Scratchouse, Stubb’s, North Door, and Parish
When: Varies
Access: Varies

Tuesday, March 17 through Sunday, March 22

Smokes, Sounds, and Suds
Up-north barbecue restaurant Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew is throwing its multi-day music showcase, which means there’s easy access to smoked meats and beers during the concerts. The restaurant is also asking attendees to donate to the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM).
Where: Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew, 6610 N Lamar Boulevard,, Brentwood
When: Begins at noon each day
Access: Free to attend

It’s being postponed to Memorial Day weekend.

Wednesday, March 18

Luck Reunion Potluck
Ahead of Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion (see below), there’s another potluck dinner benefitting the Austin Food and Wine Alliance and FarmAid, led by chefs Bruce Kalman (James Beard Award nominated-chef of Los Angeles restaurant Knead & Co.) and Ben Runkle (Austin’s Salt & Time). The menu theme is Mediterranean live fire. Participating chefs include Austin names like Sarah Heard (Foreign & Domestic), Evan LeRoy (LeRoy & Lewis), as well as others like Keris Kuwana of Las Vegas restaurant Slanted Door and John Tesar of Dallas.
Where: Willie Nelson’s Ranch, 1100 Bee Creek Road, Spicewood
When: It begins at 5 p.m.
Access: Tickets are $500

Both Luck events have been canceled.

Mr. Birthday’s Unofficial SX
The East Austin bar is showing an unofficial SXSW music showcase.
Where: Drinks Lounge, 2001 East Cesar Chavez Street, Holly
When: 3 to 11 p.m.
Access: Free to attend

The event has been canceled.

Wednesday, March 18 through Saturday, March 21

Art + Music Spring Fest
Newcomer event and coworking space The Cathedral is hosting a three-day event with art, music, and an open bar.
Where: The Cathedral, 2403 East 16th Street, East Austin
Access: Tickets begin at $25

The event has been postponed to Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31

Wednesday, March 18 through Sunday, March 22

Lucy’s South by South Austin Fried Chicken Revival
The fried chicken restaurant is still throwing its yearly mini-music festival off South Congress. Expect five days of concerts, beer, and chicken.
Where: Lucy’s Fried Chicken, 2218 College Avenue, Travis Heights
When: Noon to 6 p.m. each day
Access: Free to attend

The event has been canceled.

Thursday, March 19

Luck Reunion
As the website states, “If you don’t know how this works, ask around.” For one day, Willie Nelson’s ranch plays host to a lineup of notable folk and Americana artists, with complimentary beverages (even the adult ones) and a dedicated food area featuring Austin trucks.
Where: Willie Nelson’s Ranch, 1100 Bee Creek Road, Spicewood
When: 11 a.m. to late
Access: Tickets required

Both Luck events have been canceled.

Thursday, March 19 through Saturday, March 21

Utopia Sessions
Texas music festival UtopiaFest is still hosting its SXSW-adjacent music showcases at the East Sixth brewery. Expect three days of concerts and beers.
Where: Zilker Brewing Company, 1701 East Sixth St, East Austin
When: Noon to 10 p.m. each day
Access: Free

The festival has been canceled.

Friday, March 20

Hair of the Three-Legged Dog Day Party
Chronicle is still hosting its annual SXSW party showcase with concerts and free tacos from Tacodeli and coffee from Black Rock Coffee. In light of mitigating novel coronavirus, host site Hotel Vegas notes that it will offer extra hand-sanitizing stations throughout the space, that there is a dedicated cleaning crew, and that the staff will wash their hands every 20 minutes.
Where: Hotel Vegas, 1502 East Sixth Street, East Austin
When: 1 to 5 p.m.
Access: RSVP

Saturday, March 21

Panels: Fostering Local Food Entrepreneurship
Originally intended for SXSW, these two panels are taking place at Antonelli’s Cheese House instead. The first, Empowering Minority Leaders in the Food Revolution, panel gathers several entrepreneurs: Joi Chevalier (owner of Austin food incubator The Cook’s Nook), along with Tam Hawkins (the CEO of the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce), Edwin Marty (the city of Austin’s food policy manager), and Roman Gonzalez, (founder of food gardening startup Gardenio). The group will talk about how minorities can create successful food businesses while facing inequality. The second, Won’t You Be My Ethical Neighbor?, features Killa Wasi owner and chef Kati Grant-Leudecke and Neighbors’ Lamar Bowman. The two will talk about creating neighborhood vibes with their businesses and also contributing to their neighborhoods.
Where: Antonelli’s Cheese Shop, 4220 Duval Street, Hyde Park
When: The first panel is at 11 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m.
Access: $5 per panel

The panels have been postponed.

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