South By Southwest (SXSW) is just 5 days away and the city of Austin is bustling around preparing for the 10 day international festival that features music, film, tech, comedy and gaming. As your unofficial SXSW guru we wanted to inform you all of new bag policy, weapon policy and badge pick up for the festival.
SXSW 2019 Bag Policy:
Most venue for SXSW will do a quick bag check when entering however Paramount Theatre and Stateside Theatre are enforcing a new bag policy for their venues.
If you are attending screenings at these venues, please note that bags over 14″ x 12″ x 6″ in size will not be allowed inside these venues. Bags smaller than 14″ x 12″ x 6″, diaper bags (when a child is present), medically necessary items (including breast pumps), jackets and coats are permitted, but subject to inspection. SXSW Registrant bags will be allowed. Further information on bag and personal item restrictions at these venues can be found here.
ACL Live: Backpacks and large bags that exceed 11”x17” are not allowed. Necessary diaper bags and medical bags are subject to inspection before entry. All bags and purses are subject to inspection. Further information on this venue can be found here.
Please note, all bags under the size limit as well as jackets and coats are permitted and subject to inspection for most SXSW events. SXSW Registrant bags, received at Registration badge pickup, will be allowed.
Traveling to Austin/SXSW With Promotional Materials:
Some departing passengers’ luggage has reportedly been singled out for hand-searches because bags were densely packed with promotional materials and heavy publications, including SXSW Registrants’ Directories. TSA’s official suggestion is that “large or bulky conference promotional materials be packed in carry-on bags and placed in a bin at the security checkpoint for faster screening.”
SXSW has a Strict Weapons-Free Policy:
SXSW is a private event and attending Participants are prohibited from carrying weapons of any kind, including concealed or displayed firearms. Participants are not permitted to bring weapons onto the premises of any official SXSW event. SXSW reserves the right to require such Participants to immediately leave the premises of
Badge Pick Up and Hours
New badge pickup location for 2019: Badges can be collected in the main registration area at the Austin Convention Center (500 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701) in Ballroom B (at the corner of Cesar Chavez Street and Red River Street) beginning on Wednesday, March 6 at 8am. View registration hours listed below by day.
- Thursday, March 8, 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
- Friday, March 9, 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
- Saturday March 10, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Sunday, March 11, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Monday, March 12, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Tuesday, March 13, 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Wednesday, March 14, 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Thursday, March 15, 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Friday, March 16, 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Saturday, March 17, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
There will be an additional Registration Annex from Thursday, March 7 – Saturday, March 9 in Exhibit Hall 1 that will house both badge pickup and Filmmaker Check-In. Starting on Sunday, March 10 all services will be located at Ballroom B. Speakers, Sponsors, Filmmakers, Artists, Sales Clients and Media must go to this location for badge pickup.
Please note that SXSW badge pickup at the Austin Convention Center will be busiest on Thursday, March 7 between 5pm – 9pm; Friday, March 8 between 9am – 1pm; and Saturday, March 9 between 9am – 11am. Other times will usually be less crowded.
If you want to register for SXSW 2019 you still have time and can be done here: https://www.sxsw.com/attend/. You may also register onsite at the Austin Convention Center the week of SXSW.
All SXSW registrants also receive complimentary access to SXSW Gaming as well as the Registrants Lounge, Flatstock Poster Show, SXSW Marketplace, Startup Spotlight, SXSW Wellness Expo, SXSW Community Service Awards, and SXSW Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake concerts. Other available networking events including BBQ Crash Course and Taco Meet Upsare sold* separately at the SXSW Cart checkout (*Subject to availability).
To buy a SXSW 2019 Badge or to learn more about the festival please visit: https://www.sxsw.com/attend/. We will be covering SXSW Interactive and Gaming as press along with a few music and film events as a guest. Keep checking back on Hi-Tech Chic till day one for more SXSW updates and see you all there! To learn more about SXSW please visit: www.sxsw.com.
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Source: SXSW
