After living in Austin for over ten years, I finally made it to ACL fest. I hadn't been to a music festival in almost 20 years and I was a bit worried that I wouldn't like it after all this time. Let me tell you - I loved it! I had so much fun and can't wait to go again this year. Here is a quick guide to those over 40 who are on the fence about music festivals like ACL.
What is ACL Fest?
ACL Fest stands for Austin City Limits festival. Most locals just call it ACL. It is a music festival that covers two weekends every October. Most of the acts play both weekends so most people chose only one weekend to attend, which makes sense since a three day general admission ticket is $260. That is a lot of cash but you really do get bang for your buck. There are 7 or 8 stages, tons of food and drink stalls, and lots of merchandise. The acts are as diverse as the people who attend ACL. This past lineup included old school acts such as Guns & Roses and The Cure as well as new acts Lizzo and Billie Eilish. Many genres are represented from rock to country to electonica.
Who goes to ACL?
Anyone who likes music! The crowd is made up of a lot of young people, but don't let that deter you. There are plenty of older people as well as little kids. ACL has an area just for kids called Kiddie Limits. Kids 10 years old and younger are free at ACL and there are acts geared toward them. So entire families go to ACL every year.
Should I go to ACL?
Well, that depends. Do you like music? Do you mind being outdoors all day in possible heat and humidity? Do you like crowds? ACL is a huge festival with over 400,000 people attending every year. It is also in Austin, Texas where the weather is most likely hot and humid. The weather the last few years has been a bit crazy. A few years in a row we had rain. Last year the first weekend was typical (humid and in the high 90's,) but the second weekend was cold (overcast and in the 40's.) The weather you can't do much about, but the crowds can be dealt with easier. Zilker Park, where the festival is held, is rather large. You can walk away from the crowd and find a small space for yourself rather easily.
What should I bring?
First, you need to decide what type of concert goer you are. Do you prefer to sit or stand? Do you like to be far back or right in the front?
You can bring lawn chairs and blankets in. Coolers and large backpacks are not allowed in the festival. No liquid is allowed either. You can bring containers for water and fill them up at the designated water stations around the park. Many people like to bring in camelbaks for water since the water lines can be long during peak hours (Saturday afternoon/evening.)
I highly suggest packing light. My first day at ACL I brought a boho type bag with a microfiber towel to sit on and a large water bottle. I ended up not using the towel at all and found I could have gotten away with a smaller water bottle. It was bulky and cumbersome when I tried to move through the crowd to the front (I'm a stand at the front kind of girl.) The next two days I opted for a fanny pack (yes, they are back in style) and a small water bottle that I refilled. That was much easier to handle.
Items you may need:
(I am an Amazon affiliate)
Microfiber towel:
Fanny Pack:
Hydration pack:
Tips for going to ACL
*Pack light but don't forget sunscreen or water
*Hydration stations further from the main stages are always less busy
*There are two different food areas - the one by the entrance is usually less busy
*Parking is non-existent so plan ahead - ride the free shuttle from downtown, park down Lamar street and take the bus, or use uber or lyft
*Be courteous to others. Remember concert etiquette - we are all in this together
*USE EARPLUGS!
This year's lineup hasn't been released yet - it's usually out sometime in April or May. I can't wait to see who's playing and I hope to see you there!
Commentaires