Fall is in the air and just outside of Austin, TX at Apache Pass in Rockdale, TX the crews are in their last week of preparations to get the annual Art Outside festival underway!  Art Outside is a unique three day festival combining visual and interactive art, performance, film, as well as a wide range of music bridging genres, from bluegrass to experimental, hip-hop to dance music.  What started as an idea to get art out of the galleries and into nature has over the last 10 years turned into the best fall festival in Central Texas with something to do for everyone!

Held over three days, this year the festival will run from October 24th through the 26th with campers leaving on the 27th.  The festival will feature 75+ Musicians, 50+ Visual Artists, 30+ Workshops, 30+ Performance Acts, 10 Years, 4 stages.  Attendance peaks around a few thousand people so there is plenty of room to roam on the 100 acre property. All 3 day passes include primitive camping with RV and Car camping options available.  As a family friendly event, there is even a family camping area where things get a little quieter a little earlier and plenty of activities for your kids.

Attendees of the festival can expect a day filled with workshops.  Ever want to learn how to make those cool crystal pendants that are wrapped with wire, go to the Introduction to Wire Wrapping.  Feeling Stressed about being at a killer festival (NOT!) then you could try Stress Relief through Aromatherapy.  If you always get jelly when you see a hooper at a show and wish you could control that hoop then you have to check out How to Hoop Dance.  If you need to get re-grounded then you can attend the Sound Immersion workshop. And if you are tired of the downward dog or posing like a cat and you want to take your yoga to the next level then Acro Yoga is where you need to be.  There are over 30 workshops to choose from, there will certainly be something for you.

If partying with shiny happy people get’s you down then make sure you check out the comedy acts, they are sure to put you in a better mood.  This year the comedy is being run by Austin’s New Movement Theater and will include close to 20 acts! 

In addition to all the workshops and laughter the festival has in store for attendees, they have also lined up over 30 performance acts that usually take the to the stage between musical sets.  Get your freak on with 999 EYES Freakshow, be mesmerized by Amanda Warren’s Aerial Silk acrobatics or watch an amazing performance by Lulu Deadly.  By far though, the performance you won’t want to miss is from the troop known as Crash Alchemy.   Their stage shows are a true multi-disciplinary masterpiece that includes, dance, arielists, performance artists and multimedia interactions.  They are scheduled for two shows.  Friday/Saturday at 2am and Saturday night at 11pm.  Last year’s performance was spectacular and this years should top it!

If workshops and performances are not your thing that’s ok!  Art Outside also boasts over 75 musical acts.  With headliners including Emancipator, Papadosio, Conspirator and the Motet to name a few, the festival is worth the price of admission but what really makes the music at Art Outside awesome are the 60+ other musical acts featuring a range of styles from hip-hop to EDM to bluegrass to funk.  This festival has it all. In addition to the headliners, festival goers will have a chance to get down with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, be soothed by the sounds of Sea At Last, get funky with Henry + the Invisibles and share the love with the Nth Power!  With music going all day and into the night at the Dome (yes, they have a Dome!), there is something sure to catch your ear.

Finally, Art Outside wouldn’t be a festival worthy of it’s name without world class art installations.  Anyone that follows burning man is sure to recognize some of the artists.  A new steel sculpture from Everman, a return for the Cathedral of Celestial Mathgic and even an installation or two from none other than Michael Christian.  In addition to all the major installation one will find all kinds of personal expression throughout the 100 acre festival grounds. 

It’s not too late to go to Art Outside.  You can find out more information and get tickets by going to their website at http://www.artoutside.org/.  They still have 3 day passes for $135 and 2 day Saturday and Sunday for $100.  Hope to see you out and about enjoying all that Art Outside has to offer.