Beyond Seguin Borders is a column written by Seguin Daily News staff members. We all love Seguin, but we also know it’s normal to travel outside Guadalupe County. This is a lifestyle feature column exploring adventures Beyond Seguin Borders.
Column by Lizz Daniels
(Austin) — The second weekend of March, ILLfest came to Austin, bringing EDM, art, and Texas style together for an unforgettable experience. I was invited on behalf of Seguin Daily News and Seguin Today to check out the two-day festival, so I dug out my hydro-pack, grabbed my earplugs and donned my trusty Doc Martens as I headed up the road from Seguin for the event.
On arrival, I picked up my media pass from will-call, headed through security and entered the festival.
Bustling crowds moved around the grounds, wearing their most colorful festival attire as nearby friends traded trinkets and bracelets to spread positivity. Artwork was everywhere, and food and shopping vendors were tucked in a convenient corner just off the main festival area.
Massive murals could be seen everywhere inside the gates, and artists were actively working on pieces throughout the two-day festival. One artist named Mez Data told me he’s been painting most of his life and looks forward to the festival each year.
“I was part of the first ILLfest,” he said. “And I’ve been able to be here every year. This character, I just made up when I got here. I’m known for my characicatures so I already kind of have a direction, but they don’t have a personality or develop until I’m on the wall. It’s not pre-planned. I just show up and start painting.”
The fact that the artists were actively working on pieces during the event gave it a more interactive feeling than just showing up and observing completed pieces. Being able to talk to the artists was another bonus.
The murals became a backdrop for festival attendees who posed for selfies and group photos and also just took pictures of the art before heading to one of two stages to check out the music.
With many big names on the lineup for ILLfest this year, I spent most of my time at the outdoor stage, making friends and enjoying the music. I watched people spin flowstars, hula hoops, and poi while everybody danced and generally had a great time.
As the sun went down, ILLfest’s atmosphere became even more immersive. Murals that were static earlier glowed under blacklights and with the help of glow-in-the-dark paint. The artwork came alive with projectors, some of which provided interactive responses to movement. It was pretty incredible, and honestly I did not expect that level of production quality on the art side of the event.
Rezz closed out day one with the bass and lasers. EDM music is heavily male-dominated, so seeing crowds go wild for a female headliner was pretty empowering –– especially during Women’s History Month.
On day two of the event, the artwork transformed even more, with the piece I’d spoken to Mez Data about finally being completed as an homage to drum and bass music. That day, I caught artists I didn’t know and spent my time talking to festival-goers about their experiences. There were people from all around Texas in attendance, with even more people flying in from out of state for the event.
People reported having a great time but with one common complaint about the price of alcoholic beverages. While a premium was definitely tacked on to the drinks, it aligned with other similar events, which also typically have higher prices on these items.
After all was said and done, my biggest takeaway from the festival was the positivity of every single person I spoke to. On day two, while enjoying a set on the lawn, a random man approached me and introduced himself –– much to my surprise, I was meeting Jason Millsap, the owner of Illfest. He stayed and chatted for a while, sharing with me that his dream for the festival was to be a place where different forms of creativity could come together, creating an environment for people from all walks of life to enjoy. I believe he and the ILLfest team accomplished this goal.
ILLfest was a place where creativity thrived and was celebrated in all forms, from music to art and even fashion. It was a weekend escape from everyday life where people could just be themselves, and I’m so glad I got to be there and experience it for myself.
