It’s time to turn it up — Austin City Limits Music Festival is just over a week away. Grab your hydration pack, bring your closest pals, and get excited for a weekend full of music.
Whether it’s a yearly tradition to attend, or this is your first appearance, expect to have a good time.
The festival opens at noon on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday of both weekends. Here’s all the info you need to know before you go.
What to wear
You’ll want to be well-dressed on the festival grounds, because ACL is almost as much a fashion show as it is a music festival.
The trick is to balance style and comfort because it’s going to be hot. Get functional with your accessories — think manual fans and stylish sunglasses — wear breathable fabrics, stick to closed-toed shoes, and lean into your personal aesthetics. Don’t be afraid to go bold while you plan your ACL ‘fits.
Stay tuned for a guide to festival fashion, or read last year’s fashion guide.
How to beat the heat
Be like Titus and bring a fan to beat the heat.
Gif via Giphy
Weekend one is calling for temperature highs from 86º-94º — so make peace with the fact that you’re going to sweat. It’s important to stay hydrated, bring sunglasses or a floppy hat, and take frequent breaks from the sun. Bringing along some baby wipes or misters may help you feel fresh throughout the day.
Bag policy
No matter the size, expect for your bag to be searched before you enter festival grounds.
- Small bags + fanny packs smaller than 6" x 9" do not need to be clear, but can only have one pocket.
- All other bags must be clear and no larger than 12" x 6" x 12". Backpacks and bags with multiple pockets are prohibited.
- Hydration packs are allowed and do not need to be clear, but must be empty and have no more than two pockets in addition to the one holding the water reservoir.
View the full policy here.
What to bring
You’re going to be walking all day, so packing light should be top-of-mind. However, you’ll want to have all the essentials.
- A reusable water bottle | The festival provides free water stations all around the park so all you need is a receptacle, but it must be empty when you arrive.
- Sunscreen | The Texas sun is unforgiving so bring a bottle (3.4 ounces or less) for reapplications. You’ll thank us later.
- A fan, hat, or bandanna | You might want to pack all three to fend off those extra rays.
- A charger | Bring an extra battery — between the scorching heat and social media posts, your phone will be drained.
- A seat | Whether it’s a foldable chair, a stool, or a picnic blanket, a place to rest will come in handy while you’re waiting for sets or grabbing some grub.
If you end up over-packing, the festival offers locker rentals.
What not to bring
The following are prohibited on festival grounds:
- Coolers or glass containers
- Hammocks or tents
- Cameras with a detachable lens or photography equipment
- Pets
- Selfie sticks
- Bicycles
Read the full list of illegal items here.
Transportation
ACL is notoriously hard to get to and from, so make sure you have a plan for transportation.
Via shuttle: Each year, ACL provides free shuttles from Republic Square Park to festival grounds starting at noon on Friday and11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday until the end of the fest both weekends.
Via ride share: Know that many of the streets surrounding the festival will be shut down, so you’ll still have to do a little walking. Typing “Austin City Limits Music Festival” into navigation will take you to the nearest drop off point — usually along South Lamar Boulevard — and you will need to return there to request a ride home.
By bike or on foot: If you take a bike or electric scooter, parking will be available on Stratford Drive after crossing the Mopac Pedestrian Bridge. MetroBike will host a bike valet on Barton Springs Road & Sterzing St. For walkers, here’s a map of the trails.
Via car: There is no parking at Zilker Park, but if driving is your best option, the festival has partnered with Pavemint to find paid parking in the area.
Via CapMetro: Several bus routes that operate frequently near Zilker Park. Check out the MetroRapid Route 803 or other options here.
ACL Eats
This festival is a foodie’s fantasy with 50 local eateries posting up and nine newcomers.
New vendors include:
- Brotherton’s Barbecue
- Hawk’s Hot Chicken
- Huckleberry
- RedFin Seafood Kitchen
- Salt & Time
- Show Me Pizza
- Steamies Dumplings
- Underdog
View the full list of food vendors here.
Maximizing your time
The best way to stay up-to-date on festival goings on is to download the app — which will be available on the app store closer to festival opening — where you can view a map of the grounds, hourly performing schedule, alerts + schedule changes, a guide to finding freebies, quizzes, and FAQs.
If you’re a lucky holder of a GA+, VIP, or Platinum wristband, don’t forget to read up on specialty offerings for your ticket.
And don’t forget to review our list of all the Austinites taking the stage before you head out.
We’ll see you at the flags. ⛳️