This weekend, college students from around the country will flock to Austin, Texas, to take part in the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL). With more than 130 acts from around the world performing in a variety of genres, it is no surprise that ACL remains one of the top music festivals in the U.S.
The festival, now celebrating its 10th Anniversary, is located at Zilker Park in the heart of Austin. Among the artists headlining ACL this year are Stevie Wonder, Arcade Fire, Coldplay, Kanye West, My Morning Jacket, Alison Krauss & Union Station, and Cee Lo Green. Additional performers include popular artists such as Pretty Lights, Jack Ingram, Empire of the Sun, Ray LaMontagne, and Foster the People, to name a few.
From how to find last minute tickets to what to take with you, here is everything you need to know about Austin City Limits.
LAST MINUTE TICKETS: As you probably know by now, ACL tickets sell out months in advance. If you are looking for last minute tickets, you can find individual day tickets or three-day passes on http://www.stubhub.com, as well as in the Facebook Marketplace. For a cheaper alternative, you can find tickets on http://www.craigslist.com, but take caution, as the site is often breeding ground for potential scams. If you purchase a three-day pass, make sure you exchange your ticket for a wristband upon your arrival to the Festival.
GETTING THERE: The easiest way to get from Norman to Austin is to take I-35 South. After you cross the Oklahoma-Texas border, make sure you stay on I-35 South through Ft. Worth. You stay on the interstate all the way to Austin. Remember, it’s roughly a six or seven hour drive, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time, since many stretches of the interstate are easily congested and often backed up with traffic.
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PARKING:
Zilker Park is located at 2100 Barton Springs Road and there is no parking available at the festival site. Parking is available in some of the surrounding areas and neighborhoods, but with many parking restrictions, this is strongly discouraged. The easiest way to get to the park is to take the free shuttle service from downtown Austin. You can leave your car in a parking garage or a lot, then board the shuttle at Republic Square on the corner of 4th & Guadalupe. The shuttles begin each day at Republic Square at 10a.m. and the last shuttles leave the park at 11p.m.
WEATHER:
Every year, the festival takes place rain or shine. Some years, it has rained the entire week or two leading up to ACL. Although the weekend is bound to be mostly hot and sunny, festival goers usually anticipate rain at some point in the weekend. The park doesn’t need much rain in order for the ground to get saturated and muddy. Check the weather each day leading up to the event, and if there is even a slight chance of rain, pack some rainboots just in case. A definite way to ruin your ACL experience is to spend the weekend covered in mud.
VENUE INFORMATION:
The 46-acre park has two entrances. If you have a three-day pass, you can leave and re-enter the park as necessary; however, if you have single day tickets, you are not allowed to leave and re-enter the park. The performances will take place on eight stages, located in various locations throughout the park. Before you leave home, you can print a copy of the map here: http://www.aclfestival.com/experience/.
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WHAT TO TAKE: For sitting, the best option is to bring a folding or collapsible chair with you. If you don’t mind spending the day on the ground, a blanket will work. Large umbrellas are prohibited, but you are allowed to bring in small hand-held umbrellas. Even if it is not raining outside, an umbrella
is a good item to use for blocking the sun. Make sure you bring your camera, as you won’t want to miss the chance to capture images of your favorite stars. Binoculars are also a good item to bring along in your regular-size backpack or small tote bag. A small, soft-sided cooler can come in handy, but hard-sided or large coolers are also prohibited. Lastly, bug spray and tubes of sunscreen can help you survive long days in the sun.
FOOD AND DRINKS:
Although most outside food and drinks are prohibited in the park, you are allowed to take up to two factory sealed water bottles inside. Security will check your bags upon entry, but it’s possible to sneak in crackers or a few small snacks. The park offers CamelBak and hydrating water stations, so you can also bring empty CamelBaks or personal water bottles. Security will not let you enter the park with alcohol, but alcohol is available for purchase once you’re inside. The food at ACL is some of the best Austin has to offer, including Amy’s Ice Creams, Boomerang’s Pie, Freebirds World Burrito, Mangia Pizza, Olivia, Pureheart, Stubb’s BBQ, The Best Worst, Tiff’s Treats, and many more. The lineup of good eats nearly rivals that of the performers.
MONEY:
As with nearly every major music or sporting event, the costs of regular items, such as water bottles, increase exponentially when you get inside. There are ATMs at various locations inside the park, and some vendors do accept credit cards. However, you never know when your card might not work or when the machine might have a glitch, so it is important to bring plenty of cash along. For safety reasons, don’t flaunt your cash, but if you plan on staying at the Festival for long periods of time, make sure you bring enough for a full day. Between the art markets, food and drink vendors, and memorabilia, the expenses can add up quickly.
Ultimately, your trip to Texas for Austin City Limits should be one of the top weekends of your college experience and who knows, maybe you’ll win the heart, or at least a guitar pick, of Coldplay’s Chris Martin. For more information, visit the ACL website at http://www.aclfestival.com.