Three-Day Event Set for April 20–22 at Vic Mathias Shores on Lady Bird Lake
Austin, TX, April 11, 2018 – The Austin Reggae Festival returns for its 25th year of celebrating great music and fighting hunger in Central Texas on Friday, April 20th through Sunday, April 22nd, at Vic Mathias Shores. The three day festival benefits the Central Texas Food Bank, allowing the Food Bank to provide meals to thousands of Central Texans facing hunger and helping to close a “hunger gap” that leaves nearly 30 percent of our neighbors who are at risk of hunger without food assistance in their time of need.
Last year alone, the festival raised more than 376,000 meals for Central Texans facing hunger, making it one of the Food Bank’s largest single fund- and food-raising events. Over the last five years, the Austin Reggae Festival has provided nearly 2.3 million meals.
“For 25 years, the Austin Reggae Festival has been so important in helping the Food Bank serve our neighbors in need. The food and funds from the festival allow us to refill our warehouse just before the summer season when so many children, seniors and families struggle with hunger,” said Derrick Chubbs, President and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank. “Thanks to the generosity of festival organizers and attendees, the Food Bank will be able to bring nourishing food to thousands of Central Texans who might otherwise go without.”
The Food Bank serves nearly 46,000 people each week, one third of them children. And despite their best efforts—more than 38million meals provided last year—more people are turning for help to the Central Texas Food Bank and its partners every day.
A portion of the festival ticket price benefits the Food Bank. And although additional donations are not required for entry, patrons are encouraged to bring two cans of food and/or donate cash at the entry gates. The Food Bank can turn every dollar donated into 4 meals, so every donation helps.
“The Austin Reggae Festival believes strongly that helping those in need in our community is a central theme of the music we celebrate each April,” said festival producer Pat Costigan. “We also believe strongly in the Food Bank’s fight against hunger in Central Texas and we are proud of what we’ve accomplished over the years to help Central Texans in need.”
For its 25th anniversary, the Austin Reggae Festival features one of its strongest lineups ever, with headliner performances from the Wailers (Sunday, April 22), as well as Black Uhuru (Saturday, April 21), Collie Buddz (Saturday, April 21) and Kabaka Pyramid and the Bebble Rockers (Friday, April 20). Other big-name acts scheduled for the 25th anniversary of this incredible outdoor event are Sister Nancy, Nattali Rize, New Kingston and Mighty Mystic. This year’s Master of Ceremonies will once again be Jah Ray.
There will also be a large market area offering clothes, jewelry and other great gift ideas from around the world, as well as many food vendors cooking up dishes from around the world and a selection of local craft brews. Please check www.austinreggaefest.com for a list of what can and cannot be brought into the event.
General admission tickets to Austin Reggae Festival are just $15 (Friday and Sunday), $20 (Saturday) per day or $45 for a 3 day wristband if purchased in advance at www.austinreggaefest.com. Single-day tickets will be available at the gate Friday and Sunday for $20 and Saturday for $30. Gates open at 3 p.m. on Friday and at noon on Saturday and Sunday and the park closes at 10 p.m. each night.
On Saturday and Sunday of Reggae Festival weekend, a free shuttle bus will run from the TX DOT Riverside Campus at 150 East Riverside Drive to Vic Mathias Shores. A limited amount of free parking will be available in the TX DOT lots.
For the most current information on the Austin Reggae Festival, go to www.austinreggaefest.com or call the festival hotline at 512-684-2555. And be sure to follow the event’s social media channels:
https://www.facebook.com/AustinReggaeFest/
https://twitter.com/austinreggae
https://www.instagram.com/austinreggaefestival/
Or follow the Central Texas Food Bank at:
https://www.facebook.com/CentralTexasFoodBank/
https://twitter.com/CTXFoodBank
