6th Street

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When the sun goes down, the sights and sounds of the pubs, restaurants and nightclubs on 6th Street come alive.

6th Street is a historic street in Austin, Texas and is the center of the live music scene of the city.

Originally known as Pecan Street (when east-west streets were named after trees — north-south streets are still named after Texas rivers), 6th Street is the heart of the Austin entertainment district. Many bars, clubs, and music venues are located on 6th Street between Congress Avenue and Interstate 35 and most offer live music at one time or another during the week.

6th Street plays host to a wide variety of events each year, ranging from music and film festivals (such as South by Southwest) to biker rallies (such as The Republic of Texas Biker Rally) and the Pecan Street Festival.

One of the street's most famous fixtures is Leslie Cochran, a homeless cross-dresser in his fifties, known for hanging around the corner of Sixth Street and Congress during business hours wearing nothing more than a thong and a bra.

Traffic is generally blocked on 6th Street and its crossroads from I-35 to Congress Avenue, Thursday through Sunday in the evening (depending on pedestrian traffic), as well as holidays and special events to allow the crowds to walk unfettered to the many venues that line the street. On New Year's Eve, Mardi Gras, and Halloween nights tens of thousands of revelers can walk only one way depending on the side of the street they are on.

The area of 6th Street roughly bounded by 5th Street, 7th Street, Lavaca Street and Interstate 35 is known as the 6th Street Historic District and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 30, 1975.