SXSW and Austin Schools Spring Break to be on Different Weeks in 2025
For residents and visitors in Austin, the March of 2025 is anticipating an especially chaotic calendar. The popular South by Southwest (SXSW) festival and the area schools’ spring break are scheduled to fall on different weeks for the upcoming year. This will be the first year such a discrepancy has occurred since 2019.
A Busy Month in March 2025
The multitude of events and influx of individuals in the city will make March 2025 an extremely busy month. The SXSW festival is due to run from March 7th to 15th. At the same time, the spring break for key institutions such as University of Texas in Austin, St. Edward’s University, Austin Community College, and Austin ISD schools is earmarked from March 17th to 21st.
Impact on Population Control and Volunteer Availability
The issue of these misaligned schedules goes beyond mere confusion. It poses significant challenges in terms of population control and volunteer availability. Traditionally, with spring break and SXSW unfolding at the same time, Austin could maintain a less crowded city atmosphere. But now, with students expected to be in school through the SXSW, the festival is likely to lose the vital support of student volunteers.
Options for Adjusting Schedules
The stated schedules are a result of lengthy planning from both the festival organizers and the academic institutions. A spokesperson for South by Southwest shared that the festival locks its dates numerous years in advance and even deals with vendors up to three years ahead. But possible adjustments to this alignment are reportedly being discussed with outside partners, stakeholders, and the schools.
Strengths of the Current Schedule
However, Austin Community College has intimated that there are no plans of altering its spring break schedule. The current timing in the center of the spring semester aligns with Austin ISD for students pursuing dual credit. Additionally, the University of Texas in Austin strongly recommended “aligning with area school districts and ACC because of the number of students who need their spring break to coincide with other schools.”
As such, March 2025 threatens to be a whirlwind month in Austin with contrasts in spring break and SXSW schedules, conflicting needs of students and the festival, and the need for adjustments to aid in population management and optimal volunteer resource availability.