At the Roadhouse

Lone Star Beer hosts country music, food, and market pop-up in Austin

Austin band Silverada will play at Lone Star Roadhouse on Saturday, March 14.

Photo by Eric Cain

No one has to ask what state the iconic Lone Star Beer is from, and it's bringing that heavy-handed symbolism to an Austin venue for a fun pop-up during South by Southwest (SXSW). Called Lone Star Roadhouse, the temporary Texas haven will take over East End Ballroom from March 13-15. Folks can stop by for free for live country and roots music, beers, and a vendor market daily from 2-8 pm.

This is not an official SXSW event, but it appears to be taking advantage of the crowds who will be wandering around during the festival and conference's only weekend. SXSW runs from March 12-18.

A press release promises "classic Texas dancehall energy," in large part thanks to 12 musical artists and Honkey Tonk Vinyl sets by Rhinestone Record Club. About half of the performers are based in Austin and other Texas towns, and most of those who aren't are visiting from Nashville.

The full musical lineup is:

Emily Nenni (Nashville, Tennessee)
Silverada (Austin)
Rattlesnake Milk (Austin)
The Pink Stones (Athens, Georgia)
Valley Flower (Austin/Central Texas)
Christopher Seymore (Houston)
Chasen Wayne (Austin)
Kristina Murray (Nashville)
Eliza Thorn (Nashville)
Hunter Cox (Austin)
Mac Cornish (Nashville)
Marley Hale (Brooklyn, New York)

Locals who miss Elementary can take this as an excuse to catch up with Chef Colter Peck, who is now the culinary director at East End Ballroom, a swanky bar that usually serves Asian-inspired dishes. At the roadhouse, Peck will be manning a ceviche station while friends from Rossler’s Blue Cord Barbecue and Gotham Burger Social Club fill out the rest of the menu.

Of course, there will be plenty of Lone Star Beer (which will bring some merch to give away), plus samples from Carabuena Tequila, Still Austin Whiskey Co., and Momo’s Michelada Mix. Rambler Sparkling Water is also joining the party.

Finally, the vendor market will be called the Outpost, and it'll welcome Allen's Boots for boot fittings, FM Western for custom hat shaping, Morgan Mercantile for live screen printing, Holliday Tin Type for tintype portraits (an early type of photograph), Zach Armentor for flash tattoos, Vaquero Leather for leather goods, and Smilebooth for vintage photos.

Lone Star Roadhouse is open to people of all ages. A daily musical lineup is available on Instagram. East End Ballroom is located at 4715 E. 5th St.

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Faire Friends Return

Sherwood Forest Faire sparks more medieval magic in Austin area for '26

Photo courtesy of Sherwood Forest Faire Facebook.

Festival goers in an early Sherwood Forest Faire Parade.

Austin, prepare your pirate, fae, and peasant looks: Sherwood Forest Faire is opening its gates for 2026. Festivities commence with special opening weekend events Saturday and Sunday, February 28 and March 1, and the fair runs every weekend through April 19, plus one extra day on March 20.

Although Texas is home to the massive Texas Renaissance Festival, the 25-acre Sherwood Forest in McDade is closer to home for Austinites (about an hour's drive) and equally worth a visit. In fact, it is still the 15th biggest Renaissance fair in the United States, and in 2025 it won Best Medieval Festival in the Renaissance Festival Awards, which allowed fair-goers around the country to vote for winners. The two events don't overlap — TRF is held in the fall.

According to a press release from Sherwood Forest Faire, the crew of vendors, performers, and more expect 175,000 visitors this season, which marks the fair's 17th year.

An average day at Sherwood Forest includes 150 shows — things like full-contact jousting, falconry, live music, and a castle siege — and 170 artisans. The town is permanent even though it isn't always open, with more than 100 buildings and plenty of pubs, food vendors, and stages. There are even three wedding venues.

George Appling is the event’s co-founder and will be performing in a 25-minute retelling of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream three times a day during the duration of the faire.He said: “I'm the only fair owner that does acting, sword fighting and horse riding.

“We’ve had pirate weddings, Viking weddings, fairy weddings, anything you can think of," said the fair's co-founder George Appling in a press release; he also performs at the festival. He'll put on three 25-minute versions of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream per day, and he also does sword fighting and horseback riding performances.

“I built this business because I love it," Appling said. "I already loved castles, swords, medieval history and the music you hear at Renaissance festivals. I didn’t want to be the owner walking around in a polo shirt with a clipboard. I wanted to be in the middle of it.”

To help visitors plan their day in anachronistic fashion, Sherwood maintains a weekly calendar online. Users can select the events they're interested in and add them to their personal calendars, both on the site and exported to calendar apps. There are plenty of ways to celebrate the opening weekend, but organizers are especially eager to welcome The Wellermen, a vocal group whose sea shanty performances have gone viral on TikTok.

Other special events are scheduled for American Sign Language and Deaf-Blind Weekend on March 28 and 29. Volunteers from across the country will attend to interpret shows and activities, and some staff and cast members will also be signing.

Tickets ($16.59-33.48 for one day) to Sherwood Forest Faire are available now. Add-on options for camping and special activities are also available.

sherwood forest faire renaissance faire