A Tale of Two SXSWs: An Austin Transplant Reflects on the Festival’s Return
When writer Jillian Anthony visited Austin, Texas, for her first SXSW in 2019, she loved it so much she eventually moved there. In 2022, she tells us what SXSW — back in person after three long years — looks like from the eyes of a local. In March 2019, I visited Austin, Texas, for the first time, on a work trip. My company, a UK-based travel site, set up a weekend-long SXSW activation at the Austin Motel on South Congress. We offered aura readings, a night market mirroring the bites of Hong Kong’s Soho neighborhood, a DJ spinning poolside, and bingo led by RuPaul’s Drag Race stars. In my free time, I hit downtown to explore. The hotels were packed with people looking for networking opportunities and free drinks. The streets were swollen with badge holders whizzing by on rented scooters. I loved the energy of the city, the beauty of Lady Bird Lake, and how easy it was to roam. When I flew home to New York City, Austin stayed on my mind. Twenty-seven months later, I moved to Austin for good. One of the ~180 people (and many New Yorkers) relocating to the city daily. And I was...
