Austin Area Festivals – Music and More
What do music, chili peppers, bamboo, wine, watermelon, ice cream and Eeyore the donkey from Winnie the Pooh have in common?
They all have festivals devoted to them in Austin or nearby towns. In fact, there are so many festivals of all kinds in the Austin area that it is difficult to keep track of them. The Austin American-Statesman apparently gave up trying to keep count back in 2004, judging by a recent visit to the festivals page on their current website a quick count there reveals there were more than 50 festivals in existence then, and the compilers of the list noted that those were just some of the festivals.
Other festivals have appeared since then. The first-ever Pachanga Latino Music Festival, for instance, was held on May 31st of this year. The second annual Ice Cream Festival will take place on August 9.
The Twin Rivers Media Festival is Not Your Typical Film Festival
The Twin Rivers Media Festival is the first weekend in May every year in Asheville, NC. All proceeds from the festival, after promotional and other expenses, go back to the film makers and media artists. Next year is Twin Rivers Media Festival’s 15th season.
The festivals judges begin selecting films in March and April and continue right through the festival’s official dates, during the first weekend in May, where the finalists are screened in two hour intervals throughout the weekend. The independent media festival typically draws around 150 viewers at each screening or so, for a total of over a thousand or so visitors overall. “The Twin Rivers audience really appreciates the media arts, and this festival gives them a chance to see stuff that might not otherwise be available. We get entries from all across Europe and Asia, as well as all over the Americas, and it’s some of the best in the world,” says Carlos Steward, the festivals founder and driving force.
Fair And Festival Calendar
Organizing Your Fair And Festival Calendar
When you reach the level where you are setting up at many different festivals, fairs, and flea markets than you need to plan well to make sure that you get into the events that you want to get into and that you choose the best fairs for your product. If you plan on participating in several shows as a vendor or performer than you need to get organized. Participating in more than one festival, flea market, or fair can be a great opportunity if you are a vendor to have a chance to test out new markets. For a performer or event vendor you’ll have the chance to win over new fans and build your base. Planning ahead and choosing your festivals wisely is key in organizing your festival calendar. Follow these organizational tips to set up your fair and festival calendar and increase your chances of success on the festival circuit.
Plan Ahead
Presenting – Lido Chilelli – Founder of the Toronto International Beaches Jazz Festival
Every year one entertainment event in Toronto’s Beach neighbourhood attracts huge worldwide attention: the Toronto International Beaches Jazz Festival. Lido Chilelli, a local entrepreneur, is the person who came up with the idea and who keeps organizing the event year after year, and he definitely had to be included in the Beach article series.
I met Lido at his private home / office located on Queen Street East. The office was buzzing, mail was just being delivered, and important news from sponsors was just coming in. I realized I had to be speedy to catch this busy man in a few free moments.