T-Squared: The Texas Tribune’s free Open Congress event is Saturday

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

As we count down to the start of our 13th Texas Tribune Festival (see you this Thursday, Sept. 21!) we’re thrilled to welcome back the many Texans who have made TribFest an annual tradition. And just as our mission calls us to reach new audiences with our journalism, so, too, do we hope the Festival is a place of discovery for first-timers.

That’s why Open Congress — our full day of free programming happening on Saturday, Sept. 23 — is so important. On the third day of our Festival, we close down a few blocks of Austin’s iconic Congress Avenue for a free daylong street fest that includes some of our event’s most enticing conversations right alongside fun interactive experiences from TribFest partners and supporters.

Under four tents on Congress Avenue, between 7th and 11th streets, we’ll host a series of conversations that take on the most pressing issues facing Texans, including “The War Over School Choice” — on the likely special legislative session focused on school vouchers and teacher pay raises — and “Generation Next” — on what Texas’ energy future looks like. We’ve designed the Open Congress program to go beyond what’s happening under Austin’s Pink Dome. For example, we’ll also host “The Meat of the Matter” on all things barbecue, with Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn and barbecue legend Aaron Franklin. And there are loads of additional activities in and around the tents throughout the day.

If you’ve already purchased your TribFest ticket, you’ve likely already perused the Open Congress schedule and charted out how you’ll work the street fest into an itinerary that’s already jam-packed. But if you’ve always wanted to introduce a friend or colleague to this one-of-a-kind Festival of big ideas, make plans to meet up with them at Open Congress this Saturday. There’s no better introduction to TribFest, and all that’s needed is an RSVP. They can stop in for a program or two, or spend the whole day immersed in conversation.

Whether it’s your 13th or your first TribFest, we look forward to seeing you at Open Congress this Saturday.

Flip through the program, see the Open Congress speakers and make plans to join us. RSVP today.

Disclosure: Texas Monthly has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.