One of Austin’s favorite festivals, the Pecan Street Festival, celebrates its 50th event this weekend, September 13 and 14. Though the festival has recently changed locations from its home on Sixth Street to the Hill Country Galleria, its goal remains the same: to celebrate local artists and support downtown Austin.
It all started in the late 70s when David and Gene Graber decided they wanted to model an arts and crafts fair after one in San Antonio. Soon after, Emma Lou Linn from City Council joined in on the project, followed by Shannon Sedwick, who is still the festival president today.
For the first several years, the Pecan Street Festival – so named after Sixth Street’s historical name – was a small affair; just a couple of blocks of Sixth Street dedicated to artists’ booths and a few food vendors here and there. But soon the festival became a biannual tradition. As Austin grew, says Sedwick, so did the festival…