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Annual March Madness Is Here
March Madness brings more than 500,000 visitors eager to enjoy basketball, music, golf and more. Their presence represents an estimated economic impact of more than $50 million for Austin. This year, new events including a St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Austin Chocolate Festival add to the busy March calendar that already includes South by Southwest and Rodeo Austin.
The UIL Girls and Boys State Basketball Tournaments at the Frank Erwin Center ignite the March buzz. Girls from 20 high school teams competed March 2-4 for the state title, and 20 boys teams play March 9-11. The championships bring approximately 150,000 players, coaches and fans and an estimated $7.4 million to the city. www.uil.utexas.edu
South by Southwest (SXSW) Music, Film and Interactive Festival, one of the most influential multi-media events in the world, runs March 10-19. The 20-year-old festival generates an estimated $35 million impact on the local economy. SXSW Film Festival features Robert Altman's "A Prairie Home Companion" and Paul Weitz's "American Dreamz," along with 115 other feature films. The SXSW Music Festival showcases more than 1,200 musicians on 60 stages throughout the city. Registrants attend a full range of panels, seminars, interviews with music industry leaders and a tradeshow at the Austin Convention Center. www.sxsw.com
The Canadian Professional Golf Tour returns to Barton Creek Resort & Spa for the fourth consecutive year with two tournaments, March 2-5 and March 9-12. The tournaments are televised on the Golf Channel.
On March 11-12, more than 1,000 national crew team members meet at Town Lake for the 23rd annual Heart of Texas Regatta. www.austinrowing.org
For two weeks in March, Rodeo Austin transforms the Travis County Exposition Center into a veritable entertainment mecca with livestock shows, carnival, bull riding and concerts. Entertainers include Cross Canadian Ragweed, Dwight Yoakam, Ashlee Simpson, Pat Green, Lynyrd Skynyrd, LeAnn Rimes, Bow Wow, Montgomery Gentry and George Jones. www.staroftexas.org
Artists and artisans exhibit their nature-related work at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's An Artisans Festival, March 18-19. Other highlights include family learning activities, walks and talks and entertainment by local musicians. www.wildflower.org
The luck of the Irish is with Austin during the first St. Patrick's Day Parade and Austin ShamRock Festival on March 18. Events include a parade, battle of the bands, food court, beer garden and children's activities. The parade begins at 10 a.m. at Eleventh Street and heads down Congress Avenue to Fourth Street. www.keepaustinfun.com
Green thumbs head to Zilker Botanical Garden for the 49th annual Spring Garden Festival, March 25-26, where more than 100 vendors sell plants and garden-themed crafts. www.zilkergarden.org
Musician Jerry Jeff Walker celebrates his birthday with three shows over three days, March 31-April 2, at the Broken Spoke, the Paramount Theatre and Gruene Hall. www.jerryjeff.com
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