AUSTIN, Texas — The time is almost upon us. The 2024 Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) will be held Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 11-13 at Zilker Park.
After you activate your wristband but before you head out to the fest, there's a lot of information you'll want to brush up on. Below, we broke down the answers to some frequently asked questions about ACL Fest.
Who's playing ACL Fest?
On both Fridays, the top-billed artists will be Chris Stapleton, Blink-182 and Leon Bridges. Dua Lipa and Pretty Lights will be the top-billed artists for both Saturdays, and the top-billed artists for both Sundays will be Chappell Roan, Sturgill Simpson and Tyler, the Creator.
Here are a few other notable lineup differences between weekends:
- Friday: Carín León, Norah Jones, Foster the People
- Saturday: Khruangbin, Reneé Rapp, Still Woozy (Weekend 1 only), Vince Staples, Remi Wolf (Weekend 2 only)
- Sunday: Kehlani (Weekend 1 only), Orville Peck
Check out the full daily schedules to figure out your game plan.
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How to get to ACL Fest
There are many ways to get to the festival, but there is no parking at Zilker Park or in the surrounding neighborhoods and all roads surrounding the park – including Barton Springs Road, Stratford Drive, Lou Neff Road and Toomey Road – will be closed to traffic.
The lack of parking can make driving to the fest a pain, so you may want to consider one of the following options instead.
Take a shuttle
There are free shuttles that you can board at Republic Square Park at the corner of Fourth and San Antonio streets that will drop you off outside the Barton Springs West festival entrance. When you're ready to leave, you can hop back on for a return trip in the same spot. Shuttles run from Republic Square starting at noon on Friday and starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday of each weekend.
Bike or take the bus
Festival attendees are welcome to walk or bike directly to the festival via the Ann and Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail. Anyone who chooses to walk or bike is encouraged to bring a light source for the return trip once the festival ends.
Bike parking is available on Stratford Drive after crossing the Mopac Pedestrian Bridge, and additional bike and scooter parking will be located on Toomey Road and Sterzing Street.
Capital Metro also offers serval bus routes that operate frequently near Zilker Park.
Check out the ACL Mobility Guide for more on routes around the festival.
Take a rideshare
You can also take a rideshare to the festival. When you're getting ready to go to the fest, type "Austin City Limits Music Festival" or "Zilker Park" into the app as your destination. This will update your drop-off to the nearest drop-off point around the festival.
In order to request a ride to leave the festival, you must first exit the fest and walk away from Zilker Park to get outside of the restricted area. Pickup and drop-off points will be located under the MoPac Pedestrian Bridge at Veterans Drive, at Lee Barton Drive and at Wallingwood Drive.
ACL Fest entrances and bag policies
There are three entrances to the festival, with options to approach Zilker Park from the north, east and west. From the north, you can walk or bike across the pedestrian bridge under MoPac to approach the festival's Lady Bird Entrance. From the east or west, you can approach on Barton Springs Road to reach a festival entrance.
The gates are open noon to 10 p.m. both Fridays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. both Saturdays and Sundays.
The festival has a clear bag policy, and bags allowed in are limited to small purses, totes and drawstring bags only. Clear bags must be no larger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches. You cannot bring backpacks with multiple pockets.
Small clutch purses and fanny packs that are 4.5 inches by 5.5 inches don’t have to be clear but can’t have more than one pocket.
All bags will be searched before entry. You may leave and re-enter the festival up to two times per day, but you will have to scan your wristband and go through security checks each time.
What can you bring inside ACL Fest?
Outside food and drink is not allowed, with some medical exceptions. Hydration packs and reusable water bottles are allowed but must be emptied of all liquid.
You can bring baby strollers, binoculars, blankets/sheets/towels, chairs (with the exception of inflatables, frisbees, point-and-shoot cameras without detachable lenses, personalized hand sanitizer and sunscreen in non-aerosol containers that are 3.4 ounces or less.
You may also bring totems, but they must be less than 7 feet tall and less than 1 inch in diameter. They must also be made of light material such as swim noodles, foam type material, cardboard tubes, fabric, light plastic, balloons, aluminum and/or blow up items.
You cannot bring aerosol containers, coolers, any and all professional audio recording equipment, professional cameras, drones, hammocks, glass containers, illegal substances, outside food and beverage, umbrellas, pets, selfie sticks, skateboards, scooters, bikes, wagons, carts, tents, weapons, explosives, fireworks, large chains or spiked jewelry.
If you would like to store some of your personal items while you're at the festival, you can rent a locker.
Can an ACL Fest wristband be replaced?
Wristband replacement is subject to verification of the order. If you need a replacement, you need to bring your wristband, order confirmation and a government-issued ID to the box office. There is a $25 wristband replacement fee.
What can you get to eat at ACL Fest?
ACL Eats can be found between the Barton Springs Beer Hall and the Tito's Handmade Vodka Stage. ACL Sweets can be found near the T-Mobile and Bonus Tracks stages, not too far from the Barton Springs East entrance.
Check out the full list of food vendors.
How to find a lost item
Before the festival starts, you can register your information here and ACL will contact you if your item is turned into the lost and found during the festival.
Once the festival is underway, you can go to the main guest services booth during festival hours, or check here to search for missing items or post an alert so the festival can contact you when your lost item arrives.
What is ACL Fest Nights?
The festival experience continues away from Zilker Park during ACL Fest Nights! From Oct. 9 through Oct. 14, music lovers can check out artists at different music venues around Austin.
Tips for your best ACL Fest
Many of us here at KVUE have been attending ACL Fests for years. Here are some tips we swear by to make the most of your time at the festival:
- Be smart about shoes. The ground can be uneven and often muddy – and however much walking you think you'll be doing, there will be more. Sneakers are the best choice and preferably ones you don't mind getting dirty
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! And don't forget your sunscreen. Even though it's technically fall, you can definitely still get a sunburn
- Have a loose plan of where you want to be and when, but know that things happen! Sometimes what you're not planning to do is the coolest thing you do
- Be aware that it takes longer to get to the stage you're trying to get to than you probably think it does. If you want a closer spot for a set, head over at least 30 minutes beforehand
- Keep a screenshot of the lineup in your phone for easy access
- For most wristbands, the bathroom situation is using a Porta Potty. Hand sanitizer is encouraged
- Keep your phone in your front pocket or in a bag you plan to keep very close to you. Phone theft is no joke during ACL Fest
- If you want merch, make that one of the first things you do. Things will sell out, and they'll sell out fast. The bigger the artist, the more this is true