March 13, 2017: Immigration Issues Will Be a Major Part of SXSW Music Festival, How Unusually Cold Weather May Affect National Cherry Blossom Festival, Planned Parenthood Rally One of the Hottest SXSW Events

1. IMMIGRATION ISSUES WILL BE A MAJOR PART OF SXSW MUSIC FESTIVAL: The current political climate, specifically immigration tensions, is slated to be one of the biggest headliners at South by Southwest's music festival. Associated Press: "It's more than just promises of bands using SXSW as a stage for politically-charged performances in the wake of President Donald Trump's executive orders on immigration: The festival has come under fire itself for warning international artists that bad behavior could result in it making a call to U.S. immigration agents. Unrelated, but still stoking concerns, was the Italian band Soviet Soviet posting on Facebook on Friday that it was denied entry into the U.S. Soviet Soviet claimed U.S. customs officials in Seattle said the band members needed work visas, but the band says it didn't believe work visas were required for a promotional and unpaid tour. Trump's revised travel ban blocks new visas for people from six predominantly Muslim countries including Somalia, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya and Yemen. It also temporarily shuts down the U.S. refugee program. Unlike the original order, the new one says current visa holders won't be affected, and it removes language that would give priority to religious minorities. Matthew Covey, a New York-based immigration attorney who helps international performers obtain visas to enter the U.S., said the travel ban has unsettled artists who are not even from the impacted countries. Covey is helping put on a SXSW showcase of artists exclusively from the list of banned countries in response to Trump's order, although none of the performers currently live in those nations." http://apne.ws/2mgvWjJ

2. HOW UNUSUALLY COLD WEATHER MAY AFFECT NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL: In the past, the National Cherry Blossom Festival has attracted more than a million visitors to Washington. But thanks to a recent spike in cold weather, the annual event may end up lacking its main highlight. Washington Post: "The cold snap could harm plants that already have buds on the brink of bursting out, resulting in up to 90 percent of these never reaching full bloom. The National Park Service said this week that 70 percent of the buds are in this stage, known as peduncle elongation. The Park Service predicted last week that Washington’s unseasonably warm February would usher the blossoms to peak bloom at a possibly record-early date, between March 14 and March 17. That was before a bout with unseasonably cold weather this weekend that could drop temperatures into the low 20s, with snow possible Monday night and Tuesday. ... Diana Mayhew, president of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, said the month-long event that begins March 15 attracts tourists on its own. It features a Japanese street festival, musical performances, a kite festival and a fireworks show. The flagship parade is scheduled for April 8 along Constitution Avenue before the festival wraps up April 16. Mayhew said the weather poses uncertainty for the cherry blossoms each year, but the show always goes on. Organizers will wait out the current cold spell to determine what information to relay to the public about the state of the blossoms. Elliott Ferguson, president of Destination D.C.—the nonprofit organization behind the city’s tourism and convention marketing—said hotel bookings for the month of the Cherry Blossom Festival are on pace with last year’s bookings. Hotel bookings also are boosted by spring break, Congress being in session and a busy convention season." http://wapo.st/2miuvB3

3. PLANNED PARENTHOOD RALLY ONE OF THE HOTTEST SXSW EVENTS: A Planned Parenthood-Tumblr rally on Sunday turned out to be one of the most popular events at South by Southwest so far. USA Today: "But 2,000 hardy souls braved unusually cold Austin weather Sunday night to wait in line for a venue that holds 1,200—and 13,000 had RSVP'd for more than six hours of bands and political speeches at the venerable Mohawk night club, according to the event's organizers. Lines wound up and down blocks. The long lines illustrated how Planned Parenthood has emerged as one of the rallying cries for the tech industry's frustration with the new Trump Administration. Tumblr on Friday announced an initiative to gather support in the tech community for Planned Parenthood, which faces the possibility of de-funding under Trump. Tumblr, which is part of Yahoo, donated $80,000 to the organization last month. At Google, its annual giving week in December raised $800,000  for Planned Parenthood. Tumblr CEO David Karp, a Planned Parenthood board member for three years, and Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards told USA TODAY on Saturday that the partnership underscores a growing movement in tech of political consciousness at a time when President Trump could unleash programs that hinder its workforce and operations worldwide." http://usat.ly/2mBgiAn

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  Cask 'n Flagon—Fenway and Cask 'n Flagon—South Shore will serve on-theme specials for St. Patrick's day today through Sunday, including a Green Flagon cocktail from bartender Eric Hecht.

LOS ANGELES:  The inaugural Audience Awards Film Festival is slated for April 6-9 at the Laemmle Noho and El Portal theaters. The event will showcase 110 award-winning short films.

For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The second annual Ciclovía biking event will take place March 19 at North Miami Beach City Hall. Presented by the City of North Miami Beach Recreation Committee, Bike 305, and Sapoznik Insurance, the event will donate 30 bicycles to kids in the community.

NEW YORK:  The 12th annual Coffee & Tea Festival will take place March 18-19 at the Brooklyn Expo Center. The event will offer samples from more than 60 vendors including Wandering Bear Coffee and Brooklyn's Tea Dealers.

For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Star Wars Celebration fan experience returns to the Orange County Convention Center April 13-16. The event was last held in Orlando in 2012; since that time it has been held in Germany, Anaheim, and London. The event is produced by Lucasfilm in cooperation with ReedPOP.

TORONTO:  The world's largest rubber duck will come to Canada for the first time as part of the Ontario 150 Tour, which kicks off this summer with the Redpath Waterfront Festival on July 1. The tour will travel to six ports and finish in Brockville on August 13.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Events DC has announced its first-ever eSports sponsorship of NRG Esports. The sponsorship was highlighted at the WeDC House at SXSW on Sunday.

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 

JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job: http://jobs.bizbash.com

With contributions from Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

Feed the Sheet: [email protected]

Subscribe: www.bizbash.com/bizbashdaily

Advertise with BizBash: [email protected]