AUSTIN - Reggae music, assorted vendors and a diverse audience are the essential ingredients to a truly Austin experience.
Saturday and Sunday, thousands of people gathered to celebrate the 14th Annual Austin Reggae Fest at Auditorium Shores in downtown Austin. The event, benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, is described on the Web site http://myspace.com/austinreggaefest, as an event that "celebrates positive vibrations, peace, tolerance and the miracle of spring" by featuring "amazing world music, ethnic food, exotic arts and crafts and premium people-watching."
About 15 musical guests played at the fest, including Mystic Bowie of Jamaica, New York's Easy Star All Stars and Jah Roots of Springfield, Mo.
Stephen Hernandez, a junior mathematics major at the University of Texas, said he has attended the Austin Reggae Fest for about four years and comes to have a good time with his friends.
"It's a nice musical event," Hernandez said. "I'm a musician myself; I enjoy all different types of music, and I'm enjoying my new privilege of being 21 (years old) and drinking beer."
Hernandez said he enjoys the atmosphere the fest produces.
"It's the music, it's the environment, it's the people, it's everything," Hernandez said. "Everyone here has been so friendly; it's purely Austin."
Frankie Ruiz, a junior radio, television and film major at UT, said he used to host a local television show called "Frankie Goes to High School" that provided an outlet for high school students to promote their music. This was his fifth year to attend the festival.
"It is a celebration of life and music," Ruiz said, "and everyone just feeling good and celebrating the spirit of Bob Marley."
Ruiz said he still refers to the fest as "Marley Fest," although the name was changed years ago. He said he wishes it was still known as "Marley Fest," but he does not let the name ruin his experience.
"It's hard to be bitter towards something that celebrates something good," Ruiz said. "It's very rare that you get so many people that come together and are happy and peaceful."
Leslie Cochran, a former mayoral candidate and a cross-dressing celebrity, said he attends the event annually to mingle with the local ladies.
"I'm drinking and partying with all of the beautiful women of Austin," said Cochran, who was dressed in high heels, a bikini thong and a cowboy hat.
Michael Randell, a sophomore economics and finance major from Austin, said he took the six-hour journey from Lubbock to Austin to attend the festival to re-immerse himself in the local culture.
"I go every year; I think it is a fun cultural thing to do for Austin," Randell said. "It brings a lot of people who really appreciate the Austin culture together and reminds people about what Austin is all about."
Randell said this was his fourth year attending the event, and he plans to attend future fests.
Rachel Flores, an Austin native, said this was her first year to attend the event, and she thoroughly enjoyed the ambience.
"I come because of the environment, people are chill and it has good food," Flores said. "It is a laid-back, kind of Reggae environment."
Ruiz said this is an event he looks forward to every year.
"It's a unique Austin event owned by Austin, but it is open to anybody," he said.
Be the first to comment on this article!