While “family-friendly” isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when we think of SXSW, there are always a handful of all-ages events at this massive ATX festival.  The bulk of SXSW events require a paid badge, but we’ve rounded up the free and low-cost concerts and exhibits for families to attend.  SWSW is March 8-16, 2024 and if you’re interested in attending sans kiddos, check out the content our friends at Do512 are slingin’ about the festival here.

Save this page and circle back as SXSW draws closer as more events may come in!  Find more festival events here.  

SXSW Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake via sxsw.com

SXSW Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake via sxsw.com

— SXSW Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake |March 14 | 3-7 pm
For more than 25 years, the SXSW Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake has hosted free concerts for the community. The concerts are free and family-friendly. Attendees can bring a picnic or purchase food from local food trucks. Doors open at 2 pm.

Here’s the Lineup from SXSW.com:

Spurs Night at the SXSW Community Concerts at Lady Bird Lake
Thursday, March 14 | Celebration of STEAMBOAT 1874 Austin – Legendary club on 6th Street

The San Antonio Spurs are teaming up with SXSW for this free community concert at Lady Bird Lake. Fans can help raise $100,000 for PlayATX and Austin Parks Foundation by participating in the on-site raffle. There will also be games, photo ops, and free swag.

Funk Not Fight
Friday, March 15

KUTX Rocks the Shores
Saturday, March 16
KUTX’s Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child brings “indie music for indie kids” every Sunday evening, plus at their Mueller concert series, Rock the Park. Now, KUTX goes big for SXSW with a free, family-friendly afternoon at Auditorium Shores, with Rock the Shores. Performers range from local heroes SaulPaul, Parker Woodland, and Sabrina Ellis & Andrew Cashen (A Giant Dog) to alt-country legends Waco Brothers, to Taiwanese dinosaur-themed duo The Dinosaur’s Skin.

Lineups are subject to change

Flatstock SXSW 2023 via sxsw.com. Photo by Tiro Mendoza

— Flatstock 92 | March 13-15 |  10 am – 5 pm
Flatstock 92 displays the works of the world’s top gig poster artists. The show features posters of varying styles, colors, and techniques for sale by the talented artists who created them. Flatstock 92 is free and open to the public as well as SXSW registrants. Check here for more info.

More FREE events (badge holders given priority)

 

Check here for all the SXSW event updates.  

Know of more family-friendly events?  Let us know in the comments below!