Fun Fun Fun Fest kicks off

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Ready for some fun fun fun? 

The Fun Fun Fun Festival kicks off at Auditorium Shores Friday, promising to be its biggest year yet.

The event focuses on independent music labels and underground acts--and some throwback favorites.

As many as 160 bands are set to play on four stages at Auditorium Shores. Organizers expect crowds of up to 15,000 people each day of the Fest.

The banner headline this year is that Run-DMC is reuniting for a show.

Among other big name acts, like Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Santigold , will be some local stars. Residual Kid is an Austin band gaining popularity, and the members are all younger than 15 years old.

New to Fun Fun Fun Fest in 2012 is a BMX and skateboarding feature called "Ride The Plank." Project Loop built the skate/bike ramps and loops, and the group hosting that section.

Ticket sales confirm that 2011 was the biggest year for the festival so far. Overall attendance almost doubled from the previous year, forcing a move to Auditorium Shores.

More than half of the people at the festival traveled from outside Austin. Plus, they hung in there, despite very dusty conditions kicked up by the drought.

The park opens at 11 a.m. each day through Sunday, with music until 10 p.m.

The festival is not sold out. Day passes run you $75, and you can still get a 3-day pass for $175.