It’s that time of the year again when Austin is packed with thousands of people from all over the country who are looking to experience the best in film, music and interactive. The fun of South by Southwest does not stop there; plenty of other exciting events will be accompanying the festival this year.

American Apparel

American Apparel lovers will be ecstatic to hear that the American Apparel Flea Market will once again allow people to purchase their favorite items for up to 70 percent off. Prices start at only two dollars, so it will be a great chance to stock up. Inventory will be replenished throughout the sale, so it would be a good idea to check it out more than once. It’s free, open to the public and, thankfully, will be held inside this year. It will take place on Friday, March 18, from 2-8 p.m. and Saturday, March 19, from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on the first floor SXSW Convention Center on Cesar Chavez. RSVP to the Facebook event for updates and more details.

Etsy

Etsy, the website dedicated to handmade and vintage items, is coming to Austin. Etsy will be stopping by SXSW for a full two days and nights of DIY, handmade items and music. They will be at Venue 222 on Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13 from noon until close. They will have some of their classic items from the site as well as a lot of exciting craft projects. The craft labs will have activities such as: “up cycling tees into bags, painting shot glasses, screen-printing, handmade music, buttons, DJs, bands and more.” At night the venue will feature live music from Neighbors, The Black Angels, O Quintron & Miss Pussycat, DJ Rana June (the iPad DJ), plus a DIY fashion show of Etsy and BurdaStyle members from across the USA. The events will all be free and open to the public. For more details about the event and updates check out their blog at: http://etsyaustin.blogspot.com.

Running Group

What better way to recover from all the parties and shows at South by Southwest than an early morning run? A running group is being organized for South by Southwest meeting at 8 a.m. sharp on the weekends during the festival. They will meet outside the Susanna Dickinson House, near the convention center at 5th and Trinity, and then run around Ladybird Lake. They will be running three to six miles in two groups. It’s free and a fantastic way to enjoy the beautiful Austin weather with a few fellow running enthusiasts. For more information, you can email the creator of this group, Jared Gorlanick, at [email protected] or check out the event on Facebook called SXSW Runners.

ScreenBurn

Video gamers can get their fill at SXSW ScreenBurn, sponsored by Marvel. It is an interactive festival that combines new media, music, film and video game industries all in one place. There will be the latest video game announcements, product demos and game tournaments. The ScreenBurn Arcade is all ages and open to the public. It will be at the Austin Convention Center from March 11-13. For more information check out sxsw.com/interactive/screenburn.