We are pretty pumped about joining in on the fun at Sound On Sound Fest this weekend as it takes over the site of the Sherwood Forest Faire with an amazing lineup of bands, comedy, skating & camping on Friday, November 4 through Sunday, November 6. We’ll be in the forest presenting the Kids Kingdom, an area of the festival designed just for families! In the Kids Kingdom, you can join us for faerie tea parties, jousting games, a reptile show, fake tattoos & nose rings, crafts — AND music for the little ones on the Come & Tyke It Stage.
As this is the first year of this music fest-meets-Renaissance-themed-craziness, we can’t claim to be experts about what to expect. But we do want to help prep you as much as possible so that your experience is the very best it can be. Below you’ll find some useful info for planning an awesome time with your kids in tow.
Tips for Taking the Kids to Sound On Sound Fest:
–> Know the Lineup & Schedule: From November 4-6, you can enter the fest as early as 1 p.m., with programming beginning at 1:30 p.m. and ending by 1 a.m. The 3-day line-up features a wide variety of music acts such as Run the Jewels, Descendents, Explosions in the Sky, Courtney Barnett, Beach House, Phantogram, Mac DeMarco, Guided By Voices and so many more. Plus there’s stand-up comedy and panel sessions, too. So map out a schedule before you go. Cick here to view the full lineup and set times.
The Kids Kingdom will be open on Friday, November 4 from 4-8 p.m., as well as Saturday, November 5 & Sunday, November 6 from 1-7 p.m. Access to Kids Kingdom is included with your Sound On Sound Fest admission and features a variety of free activities for children. Click here to read ALL about Kids Kingdom and to view set times of the musicians scheduled to rock tiny faces off at the Come & Tyke It Stage, presented by KUTX’s Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child radio show.
PRO TIP–> Download the SOS Fest app to have the 411 on festing at your fingertips. Click here for the iPhone app. Click here for the Google Play app.
–> Get Your Tickets in Advance: Children under 10 years of age will be allowed in with ticketed grown-ups FREE of charge! Tickets range from $85 for single-day to $169 for 3-day. But you can also opt for the Treat Thy Self VIP tickets for $445 that include expedited entry, a chill-out lounge, private bathrooms, bag & coat check, special up-close viewing on all stages. Camping passes are also available starting at $75. Click here to view ALL of your ticket options and to purchase online. The box office and will call table will be open from 12 p.m. – 12 a.m. on festival days for wristband pickup or ticket purchasing.
–> Map Out Your Transportation Options for Getting to the Sherwood Forest: If you haven’t been to the grounds of the Sherwood Forest Faire, expect a Medieval-themed forest and 23-acre wooded village equipped with a castle! Located in McDade, Texas, this venue is 35 miles east of central Austin. Here’s a look at your travel options:
- Camping: Forget about driving to and from, and just plan to sleep at the fest! Click here to read all about the camping options. (There will be a family/quiet in the camping area.)
- Shuttles: Let the bus driver get you safely to the fest and back. Shuttles will run between Mohawk on Red River and the Sherwood Forest every 30 minutes on the half hour, departing Austin each day from 12 p.m. – 11 p.m. and returns from the Sherwood Forest each day between 4:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. A single-day shuttle pass is $5 and a weekend pass is $10 if you purchase before the Festival weekend. (Prices double if you wait ’til the weekend.) Click here to get all of the shuttle details.
- Parking: There will be paid parking on-site at the festival. Parking passes will be available for $15 daily or $30 for the weekend. Get those parking passes in advance here.
PRO TIP–> Beat Friday rush hour traffic by arriving at the fest before 3 p.m. on Nov 4th. And use Google Maps. Some GPS systems aren’t giving accurate directions, but Google Maps will get you there, and you can also click here for exact directions.
–> Don’t Let the Kids get Hangry at the Fest: While you can’t bring in your own food, don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of delicious food options to choose from including BBQ from Micklethwait Craft Meats, North African bites from Cazamance, burritos from Vegan Yacht, and more. Little picky eaters will be happy with Austin’s Pizza and grilled cheese sandwiches from Burro Cheese Kitchen. Click here for the full list. Beer halls featuring Austin Eastciders, Dark Horse Wine, Karbach Brewing, and Big Bend Brewing will also be scattered around the forest, and all will accept credit cards.
PRO TIP –> Bring an empty water bottle with you to help stay hydrated & save on buying waters. (No glass bottles, naturally).
–> Don’t Forget to Pack…
Obviously, you don’t want to drag a lot of stuff around, but you’ll want to be sure to have everything that the kids will need for a successful experience (read: less-whining). Here’s what we suggest:
- comfy, closed-toe shoes. The grounds of the Sherwood Forest are pretty expansive which means lots of walking around on dirt paths. Keep those tootsies happy.
- ear plugs or sound-blocking headphones in case the noise gets to be too much for the kids (or you)
- sunscreen/hats & bug spray
- antibacterial wipes & tissues
- mini first aid kit/band-aids, because you never know when a boo boo will happen
–> Know the Lay of the Land: Take a peek at the Festival Map before you arrive so you know the layout of the Sherwood Forest. Notice water filling stations, bathrooms, the location of the Kids Kingdom and where to track down snacks.
While you’re there, always feel free to come hang with us in Kids Kingdom for some chill time. We’ll be so happy to see you and your sweet little angel babies!
For more info about the weekend festivities, be sure to visit the Sound On Sound website.
See you out there!
