Dazed & Confused, the Austin-made classic, gets a 30th anniversary birthday celebration with a themed night at the Round Rock Express and a special AFS outdoor screening Credit: Image courtesy of Focus Features

It’s been 30 years since Richard Linklater first proved there was more to him than the rough-hewn Slacker.

Yes, 30 years since the world was given a view of 1970s American high schools that was both nostalgic and anti-romantic. Thirty years since Top Notch on Burnet became a must-see location for film lovers and burger fiends alike. Thirty years since “Alright, alright, alright” transformed from a song by Mungo Jerry into the short phrase you hear every time that you see a picture of Matthew McConaughey.

That means it’s 30 years since the release of Dazed & Confused, Linklater’s critically-acclaimed sophomore film and launching pad for a roster of careers: not just McConaughey but Joey Lauren Adams, Milla Jovovich, Renée Zellweger, and Ben Affleck. So, to celebrate that anniversary, Austin Film Society, Focus Features, and Waterloo Greenway are coming together this September for a weekend of celebrations of the antics on the last day before summer vacation for the graduating class of ’76 at fictional Lee High School in Austin.

New poster for the 30th anniversary AFS screening of Dazed & Confused designed by Telepath Design Co.
The weekend kicks off Sept. 16 with a special Dazed & Confused night at Dell Diamond as the Round Rock Express don special themed uniforms and take on the Las Vegas Aviators. Not only that, but there will be a special pre-game Q&A with members of the cast, exclusive merch, a bobblehead giveaway, fireworks accompanied by music from the film, and a chance to see if former Sam Houston State Bearkat outfielder Linklater still has any fire left in that shoulder as he throws out the first pitch. The night will also be a special fundraiser for the Austin Film Society (the nonprofit co-founded by Linklater) and the Nolan Ryan Foundation, with the players’ signed jerseys, as well as a jersey signed by the attending cast, and a #34 jersey signed by legendary pitcher Ryan himself, all going up for auction.

But the film itself comes home on the night of Sept. 17, with a special screening presented by Waterloo Greenway at the Moody Amphitheater (1401 Trinity) followed by a Q&A with Linklater and cast members. GA lawn tickets are available, but VIP Premium Lawn seats will come with an exclusive 30th anniversary Dazed & Confused print.

Tickets for Dazed & Confused night at the Dell Diamond are available now at mlb.tickets.com. Tickets for the Sunday night screening are available to Focus First and AFS members now, and will be available to the general public on July 13 at austinfilm.org/dazed.

This article appears in July 14 • 2023 and July 7 • 2023.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.