From SXSW to NASCAR, There’s Lots Going on in Austin This Month

Your guide to things to do in Austin every weekend in March.

SXSW Hermanos Gutierrez
Hermanos Gutiérrez at SXSW 2023 | Photo by Tim Strauss
Hermanos Gutiérrez at SXSW 2023 | Photo by Tim Strauss

Austin may be hailed as a live music paradise—and it very much is—but the central Texas city bursts with oh so much more. Just look at the variety: cool indie bookstores, vintage shops for days, produce-packed farmers markets, bar arcades and gaming hotspots, impressive restaurants, eclectic bars, stellar record stores (of course), coffee shops, elite barbecue, and the list goes on.

Austinites, lest you forget, love the great outdoors. Such nature-basking recreation come in the form of hiking, getting into spring pools or swimming holes, paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake, or—and, yes, this absolutely counts—chilling on a patio.

When romance is in the air, discover plenty of places for a great date (the dating scene itself, however, is another story entirely). There’s also Austin’s rich AAPI and Latinx cultures and a welcoming LGBTQIA+ community that make this Texas capitol feel like home to so many people.

With all this in mind, our monthly events guide will help keep your calendar full with a variety of fun things to do in March 2024. Stay tuned here to discover the best things to do in Austin, updated monthly.

James Petralli of White Denim performs at the Brooklyn Bowl Family Reunion during 2023 SXSW Conference and Festivals on March 17, 2023 in Austin, Texas. | Photo by Stephen Olker/Getty Images for SXSW

Special Events in Austin

March 8–16
Various locations, $945 and up
Ladies and gentleman, the time is finally upon us: South by Southwest returns like a beacon of
hope or an annoyance worth avoiding — depending on which local you ask. Regardless of your involvement and/or wristband-status however, you can guarantee unique experiences, long Uber wait times, and at least two texts from people you haven’t seen since high school asking if you have a couch to crash on. While you can’t go wrong popping into any showcase, some highlights this year include a screening of the new Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt film, The Fall Guy, as well as a performance by Spanish indie rockers, Hinds.

March 14
Luck, Texas
Without question, there is no one more beloved in Austin than the exalted Willie Nelson. Should you have any doubt that this is true, just visit the massive sculpture of him that sits at the corner of West 2nd Street and Lavaca. And his signature SXSW adjacent-event, the Luck Reunion, is the perfect chance to see why Willie is king. The whole she-bang goes down about a 45-minute drive from Austin at Willie’s ranch in Luck, which in itself is set up like an old Western film set. There, you can catch live music sets from Tyler Childers, Lucius, Zella Day & Chaparelle, and, of course, the Red Headed Stranger himself. Just be sure to keep an eye on Luck’s social media and sign up for their mailing list, as tickets are only released in certain quantities on special days.

March 8–23
Travis County Exposition Center, $30 and up 
Considering all the out-of-state visitors and various degrees of celebrity that invade the city limits during SXSW, it is sometimes hard to forget that you are, indeed, still in Texas. For those who need a return to their Lone Star roots, there’s no better antidote to the festival craziness than hitting up the bucking bronco celebration that is Rodeo Austin. Not only do you get to see the main event—cowboys holding on for dear life to some seriously perturbed cattle—but there’s also live music, a stock show, and a full-out carnival for you to take in between the man-and-animal takedowns.

austin fc soccer match
Courtesy Austin FC

Sports in Austin

March 9, 16 and 28
Q2 Stadium, $59 and up 
Root on our beloved home-team, the Austin Football Club, as they take to the field for three home games this month. On the 9th, they kick off March playing St. Louis City SC, then on the 16th they take on Philadelphia Union, and, finally, they go for the goal against FC Dallas on the 28th. As soon as you hear the energetic sounds blasting from the all-volunteer, all-star brass band that plays during games, you're sure to be swept up in love for the green and the black. During half-time, you can grab delicious local food and beverages from the stadium’s vendors — just be sure to get back to your seat on time to cheer on “Verde Listos.”

March 15, 17
Moody Center, $48
With March Madness kicking off, basketball fever is in full swing. And, this month, court-side craziness comes to Austin with the San Antonio Spurs playing two special home games at the Moody Center. Show your Lone Star loyalty, and cheer on the Silver and Black, as they take on the Denver Nuggets and the Brooklyn Nets. Even if your experience with the sport starts and ends with “Space Jam,” you should still take advantage of this rare opportunity to catch the NBA in our own backyard. Witness one slam-dunk in-person, and you may just get caught up in the net of fandom yourself.

March 22–24
Circuit of the Americas, $25
Should “If you ain’t first, you’re last” be your lifelong motto, head to Circuit of the Americas to see the real-life Ricky Bobby action of NASCAR’s weekend take-over of the venue. Depending on how big of a NASCAR fanatic you are, you can either get individual day passes or go all-in for the whole three-day celebration of fast cars. The big kahuna goes down on Sunday with the marquee Cup Series race, the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, an event surely worthy of a pair of noise-blocking headphones and a Budweiser toast or two.

Alvin Ailey’s for bird dancers
Y. Lebrun, P. Coker, X. Mack, R. Maurice in Alvin Ailey's For 'Bird' - With Love. | Photo by Dario Calmese

Performances in Austin

March 2–3
Bass Concert Hall, $19
Renowned modern dance company, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, was the one of the first acts to ever perform at the Bass Concert Hall when the venue opened in 1981. And, this month, they return to the theater for what will surely be another awe-inspiring production. Prepare for a show featuring new works by some of the most gifted choreographers out there, as well as a performance of Alvin Ailey’s signature piece, Revelations. Drawing on African-American history, blues music, and his own memories of growing up in Texas, Revelations is still as powerful today as it was when Ailey premiered it in 1960.

March 13–31
Bass Concert Hall, $53
Before Ariana Grande’s big screen version hits theaters, check out the long-running, award-winning musical, Wicked, right here in Austin. The alternative telling of The Wizard of Oz hits the stage at the Bass Concert Hall this month as part of the venue’s popular Broadway in Austin series. In this musical, you’ll learn the backstory of the characters who become known to Dorothy as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. And it all unfolds alongside some seriously stellar songs that could make even a heartless tin man feel emotional.

Exhibits in Austin

All month 
LBJ Presidential Library, $13
After catching the next big names in music at SXSW, head to a new exhibit at the LBJ Presidential Library for a dive into the past. Music America: Iconic Objects from America's Music History is an impressive showcase of major artists whose sounds have defined decades. On display are instruments, hand-written lyrics, costumes, and other memorabilia from icons such as Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Tupac, and, even, the current queen of pop herself: Taylor Swift. And, since no exhibit about music would be complete without some actual music, you can jam out to the tunes of the legendary performers at the library’s interactive sound bar.

sound bath in the park
Sound Bath in the Tree House | Courtesy Cynthia Bernard

Outdoor Events in Austin

March 2
Various locations, Free
In Austin, we truly love our parks. Whether it’s Zilker, Walnut Creek, or everything in between, we certainly are a city with A+ green space. You can show your appreciation (and even get some freebies in return) at the Austin Parks Foundation’s It’s My Park Day. Register to volunteer at the park of your choice and spend the day giving back some much needed TLC to the land. In return, a bunch of local businesses will give you discount cards for your time. So, wrangle the whole crew to sign up as a group and, after your good deed is complete, you can all reward yourselves with a coupon for a free beer at Radio Coffee & Beer.

March 29, 7:30 pm
Pease Park, Free
Does the thought of dealing with the onslaught of people descending upon the city for SXSW give you heart palpitations? Relax, and destress your body and mind, with a calming sound bath in the peaceful setting of Pease Park. Taking place in the park’s very vibey, two-story, open air space known as the treehouse, you can lay down, get comfortable, and embark on a meditative journey filled with sound. Bruised Sinatra, a local musician duo, will be providing the acoustics to help you relax from dealing with the festival and its torrent of tech bros.

Food and Drink Events in Austin

March 3
Secret location, $85
Break out the Gryffindor scarf, and your best Harry Potter-inspired British accent, for a magical meal at the Wizards Brunch event. This one-day only dining and entertainment adventure is taking place at a secret location that we can only delusionally hope is Hogwarts itself. In addition to grubbing down on a feast worthy of being served in the Great Hall, you’ll also participate in a variety of spell-binding activities. And we mean that literally, as the experience’s agenda includes learning spells. You’ll also learn to mix your own potions and, if you're confident enough that you prepared your Polyjuice perfectly, you can even drink them.

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Molly Moltzen is a writer living in Austin, TX. You can find her on Instagram at @molsquared.