Austin is a year-round capital of art, music, and theater, but the city pulls out all the creative stops every September when it hosts the Old Pecan Street Festival. On the weekend of September 20-21, 2008, artists and performers from Texas and across the country will descend on venues on Sixth Street (formerly Pecan Street) and throughout downtown Austin to put on one of the wildest shows in the west. Musicians such as Les and the Funk Mob and rock 'n' roll pioneer Roky Erickson will grace the six different stages set up throughout the event, while artists specializing in woodwork, metalwork, oil painting, sculpture, and other media display their wares in the largest art show in central Texas. Not to be left out, a veritable army of poets will be on hand to share their work and (verbally) duke it out in Austin's most highly-charged poetry slam. And for pure, unadulterated fun, take a spin on one of many carnival rides, including a trampoline where you can bounce your way to artistic inspiration. Guests at the nearby Sheraton Austin Hotel might appreciate the high, low, and weird culture of this funky Texas celebration.

[image via Daily Texan Online]