The 10-day SXSW conference and festivals welcomed fans, artists, creatives, marketers, filmmakers and exhibitors to Austin, TX, for a deep dive into the state of the entertainment, music and tech industries. EM was on the ground March 13-18 (in unseasonably chilly weather for the city) and visited expansive brand activations that served as catalysts for conversation about upcoming shows and movies, automotive innovations, technology, skincare trends and the latest from the grocery store aisle. Check out 18 immersive experiences that got our attention, from kaleidoscopic photo ops to themed snacks to hands-on creator labs.
More SXSW 2023 Coverage:
- Nuns Invade SXSW 2023 in a Guerrilla Marketing Stunt for Peacock’s AI Drama ‘Mrs. Davis’
- SXSW 2023: White Claw’s Marketing VP Talks Activating for Music Fans at the ‘Shore Club’
Avocados From Mexico brought its digital House of Goodness pop-up to life at SXSW with an avocado-themed living room and kitchen space featuring the GuacBot Fortune Teller, who danced and read attendees their fortunes.
The indoor-outdoor LaCroix House featured brightly colored décor, a bar serving mocktails, a dj spinning lounge music, multiple photo ops, a wall of free merch and a spacious outdoor lounge area.
Lush House displayed its latest bath bombs and cosmetic products and used interactive exhibits to highlight its sustainability practices and emerging tech trends. Outside, Lush hosted panels on the future of tech and skincare.
The Lodge: A Paramount+ Experience presented the streaming service’s collection of shows with dedicated vignettes, including a drive-in area with a T-birds car photo op and free popcorn for “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies,” a 1923 speakeasy bar for “Yellowstone” and spy-themed “Rabbit Hole” control room.
Piazza Sanpellegrino brought a taste of Italy to festivalgoers through a variety of unique activities, including a bouquet-building station, caricatures drawn by an artist, free poems (on any topic), a wine class and more.
The University of Arizona’s Wonder House showed off animation, film, audio, art and virtual projects created by its professors and students through multimedia exhibits, VR experiences and speaker presentations.
