Texas: Austin Music Festivals

Austin has adopted the slogan "The Live Music Capital of the World" and they couldn't have made a better choice. The city offers festivals for music lovers of every genre. Here is just a sampling of what this vibrant city has to offer.

South by Southwest

For over twenty years the South by Southwest music festival has been bringing music and so much more to Austin every March. This isn't just a one-weekend event; it's an 11-day event that makes the whole city throb with crowds of music and cinema lovers.

This is not a one venue festival; it takes place all over town. It is more than just a festival it is a convention. Artists come to share both their knowledge and their talent. You will be able to hear the various artists at many locations around the city.

Even Superman couldn't do them all so you will need to find out where and when your favorites are going to be performing and make sure that you don't miss your favorites. This is as much about making connections for the artists as it is for the audiences to enjoy the performances.

Old Settlers Music Festival

In April Austin offers American music at its finest and the bluebonnets are at their finest this time of year as well. Come to listen to great music, eat delicious food and if you want to sleep in your tent that is available too. This is a family event with lots of activities geared toward the kids and runs Thursday to Sunday.

Austin City Limits Festival

The Austin City Limits Festival is a six-day event which takes place every October. Zilker Park comes alive as eight stages host hundreds of bands with such well-known groups as Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band and Beastie Boys headlining in years past.

You can purchase a three-day pass or a single day for whichever day you might want to attend. They are on sale at the official website for the festival along with parking passes.

While music is the main theme of the weekend it doesn't end there. The Austin Eats Food Court will introduce you to a variety of local restaurants and cuisines. It is a great way to try out a variety of eateries all at one central location.

The SoCo Art Market will offer local arts and crafts and other very interesting items. It is different every year so you can never be sure who and what will be here.

For the kids, the Austin Kiddie Limits is the place to be. Kids under 10 get in free with a ticket-bearing adult. You can never start too young to introduce your kids to music and this is the perfect way to do it. They can learn how to be and look like a rock star or just enjoy the sights and sounds of the festivals, kid's style.

The Austin City Limits Festival offers activities and fun for the whole family to enjoy.

Celtic Music Festival

November brings the sounds of the British Isles to Austin. You don't have to have Celtic roots to enjoy the highland games, the dancing, the storytelling and the music of Ireland and Scotland. The sounds of the bagpipes and the flute will make you feel roots you never knew you had.

Austin is indeed the live music capital of the world and it has the festivals to back that title up. No matter what type of music you prefer, you will find it in Austin's music festivals.

More information:
http://www.aclfestival.com
http://www.austincelticfestival.com

An Emotional Visit to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Dallas

For me, the one reason I had for visiting Dallas was to visit the 6th Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. I don ‘t think that there is anyone who was alive on November 22, 1963, who doesn’t remember exactly where he was when he heard the news. A whole nation was stunned. It was as if time stopped as if our innocence was shattered. As far as impact goes it ranks right up there with September 11, 2001. 

In our family, this was a date we could never forget because it was also my fathers birthday. I was in 8th grade in 1963. We were all called back to our homerooms and told that the president had been shot and killed. We were let out of school early and for days just sat home glued to the television.

This museum brought this all back with a vengeance but though I cried several times while going through it was also cathartic, as if finally it could be put to rest. I am so glad that we went even though we all admitted that we left with a very heavy heart.

NO photography is allowed in the museum. You enter through the lobby and take the elevator to the 6th floor. The displays are chronological and include pictures, lots to read and some memorabilia. We start by learning about John F Kennedy, his family, his political life, the campaign and the years of his presidency. We work our way slowly into November 1963. We followed the President and Mrs. Kennedy through the other cities in Texas to that fateful noon in Dallas.

As we work our way to the sixth-floor window where Lee Harvey Oswald had created a barricade, it becomes more and more emotional. I find myself wanting the ending to change. I think everybody there was hoping the same thing.

On the 7th floor, there is an exhibit from the Dallas Police Department detailing the day from their perspective. It was a difficult time, they were prepared for some protesters but no one had any idea that this type of plan was afoot. After shooting President Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald killed a Dallas Police Officer and for a while, no one knew that it was the same man who had committed both crimes. The door that was on the precinct on that particular day is in this exhibit.
Entrance to the museum is $16. There is also a 45-minute audio tour for an additional $4.00.  

There are several other video exhibits that last a few minutes each along the way and then there is a small theater where a 10-minute video entitled “The Nation and World Responds” is shown.

You end your tour by passing through the proverbial gift shop. The museum has it’s own parking lot with paid parking.