South by Southwest
SXSW (mid-Mar)
Started in the '80s, SXSW became a national phenomenon almost immediately.
A conference for those in the music, film, and multimedia industries, including gaming and comedy, SXSW is now a massive undertaking lasting 10 days, featuring hundreds of events all over Austin, and attracting performers, speakers, and attendees from all over the world.
It's also one big party.