Austin, Texas, may be known as “The Capital of Live Music,” but to many of us in the meetings and hospitality industry, Austin is one great gathering place for all types of events, large and small. For instance, at the city’s Palmer Events Center, a wide variety of conventions and trade shows are scheduled for September, which are most entertaining and beneficial to selected causes or charities.
For starters, the Austin Lowriding Supershow, which already took place at the Palmer last Sunday, was hugely entertaining for the whole family. It featured a car show, live music, dance contests, vendors, and more—just the thing to do as summer breaks.
The International Design Conference 2024 will take place September 11-13. The design fest will feature an immersive industrial design innovation experience where designers, innovators, and thought leaders converge to propel the future of design. The event provides education, conversation, and networking opportunities for those in the industrial design industry, and you can be sure the eyes of the world will be on it.
The design show will be followed on a more lighthearted note by a huge sneaker convention on September 14. This convention will allow sneaker traders and collectors to buy, sell, and trade sneakers with vendors from all over the country.
Then, things turn nostalgic at The City-Wide Vintage Sale, which returns to the Palmer September 14-15. This event allows treasure hunters to strike gold among dozens of vendors selling vintage clothing, furniture, and more. Also, the 10th Annual Beautifully Loved Fashion Show hits “the runway” on September 15, celebrating teens with cancer and other chronic illnesses through a fashion show and fundraiser featuring them on the runway. Ticket sales will directly support families in need.
That’s a lot of activity for the first two weeks of September, but there’s much more to come for the rest of the month, including the 2024 WSL Jewel Ball hosted by the Women’s Symphony League of Austin. As always, the gala features a dazzling black-tie evening, entertaining over 1,000 guests with live and silent auctions, live music, casino games, and more.
On a more practical scale and in the spirit of DEI, The City of Austin Minority and Small Business Connection will promote access and equity on the City of Austin contracts while providing economic opportunities to small, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses. That will be offset colorfully by the Austin Area Quilt Guild’s 2024 Quiltfest, featuring more than 400 quilts on display, live demonstrations, a silent auction, vendors, and more.
Then, it’s “move over Seattle” for the new coffee capital of the nation when the Austin Coffee Festival, scheduled for the end of the month, convenes. The kava convention will feature the best specialty roasters and coffee shops and offer opportunities to enjoy unique beans, delicious snacks, and live entertainment.
Finally, regarding entertainment, Austin Princess Day also takes place at the Palmer Events Center. It allows families to meet classic fairytale princesses in full costume. Photo opportunities, autographs, activities, and more will abound. Between the coffee and the princesses, what a great way to end the summer and start the fall.
So, many good things are happening in Austin at The Palmer Events Center as summer turns into autumn – and most of them benefit various charities and causes, too. The Palmer Events Center is a multi-purpose venue beside Butler Park with a gorgeous view of downtown Austin. It is near a strong cluster of hotels with 11,000 guest rooms. The venue features a flexible floor plan with 125,000 gross square feet. Its two column-free exhibit halls provide 70,000 square feet of space, and its covered outdoor canopies offer an additional 50,000 square feet.
For other upcoming events or more information on how the center can host your event, visit www.palmereventscenter.com.
