Fall Festival Season Returns to Austin

The 25th Austin City Limits Music Festival returns to Zilker Park this October 2-4 and October 9-11. The City of Austin looks forward to welcoming music fans from across the country to partake in a unique festival spanning two weekends and the culture that makes Austin the Live Music Capital of the World. 

Before the festival begins, attendees should review guidance from the City and take precautions to ensure a safe and fun experience during fall festival season. Visit the ACL Fest website to learn about the bag policy, water bottles, and other allowed/prohibited items.  

Austin Parks and Recreation 

• Festival setup, which includes safety fencing, is underway. Use the City’s Austin City Limits Mobility Guide to see impacts on the park grounds.

• Review park availability and access to avoid the construction zones on William Barton Drive.

• Pack an empty refillable water bottle and stay hydrated throughout the event. The festival will have free water bottle refilling stations available. 

• Wear shoes, clothes, and hats that are appropriate for the outdoor environment and weather conditions. 

• Communicate your anticipated whereabouts ahead of time and set a meeting place in case cell phone coverage is intermittent at the festival.   

• Ensure your phone is fully charged when you arrive.

• Please follow Leave No Trace principles, such as disposing of waste properly and being considerate of other visitors.

• Glass and Styrofoam are not allowed on park grounds.

• No outside alcohol is allowed on site. 

• Swimming in Lady Bird Lake is prohibited by law. 

• Smoking and vaping are prohibited in City of Austin parks. Violators are subject to a Class C misdemeanor.  

• Unpermitted vending in and around the festival grounds is prohibited and will result in a minimum $200 fine, a Class C misdemeanor.  

Austin Transportation and Public Works 

• A shuttle service provided by ACL Fest will board at Sand Beach Park at the corner of Walter Seaholm Drive and Electric Drive and drop riders off at the Barton Springs west entrance to the festival. Attendees can also ride the shuttle back each evening of the festival.  

• CapMetro: Use the CapMetro trip planner to map out your ride to and from the park. MetroRapid 803 is the best route to get to ACL Fest — it drops attendees near the intersection of South Lamar Boulevard and Barton Springs Road.  

• Hike & Bike Trail: Walk or bike directly to the festival. Bring a light and remember motorized vehicles are not permitted on the trail. 

• Bicycle: The interactive Austin City Limits Mobility Guide provides routes around the festival.  

• Micromobility: If you are taking a shared scooter or bike to the event, drop off the device in a designated area before entering the grounds.  

• Rideshare: Pickup and drop-off points will be located under the MoPac Pedestrian Bridge at Veterans Drive, Lee Barton Drive and Wallingwood Drive. 

• There is no parking at Zilker Park or in the surrounding neighborhoods. Parking on the grass or on unauthorized park grounds will result in a large fine during special events. 

• The interactive City of Austin, Austin City Limits Mobility Guide  provides a full preview of the road closure schedule.  

Austin Police Department (APD) 

• APD will conduct a No Refusal Initiative that will coincide with the upcoming ACL Fest. This initiative will be in effect from October 3 through October 12 and will run daily from 9:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. 

• No Refusal Initiatives are an effort to enforce DWI laws, keep the public safe by encouraging drivers to make responsible decisions, and to apply for blood search warrants on suspects who refuse to provide a breath or blood specimen as required by law. 

• Pay attention to your surroundings, especially in crowds.  

• Keep your phone and ID/credit cards/cash in separate places on your person.  

• Do not keep your phone in your back pocket — phones sticking out of back pockets or backpacks are not secure.  

• Keep property in a secure location (front pocket, fanny pack) or leave at home. 

• Record serial number information for your device and store it separately.  

• Notify on-site security/APD immediately for assistance.  

• Utilize APD’s online reporting site (non-emergency) to report theft. If you see something, say something.

• Check the ACL Fest lost and found site to report or attempt to locate a lost cell phone.  

Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) 

• ATCEMS will provide on-site medical resources at the festival. 

• If you or someone you are with experiences a medical emergency and can make it to the medical tent, please do so. If unable, call 9-1-1 and provide as many details about where the medics need to go to reach the patient as quickly as possible. 

• Download and use the What3Words App both during emergencies and for personal use at the festival.

• Consume alcohol in moderation and avoid using illicit substances. 

• Do not take pills that have not been prescribed to you and legally dispensed from a licensed pharmacy.  

Austin Fire (AFD) 

• Be aware of a large volume of pedestrians sharing the roadway in the area around the festival. 

• If there is an emergency response to the area, please give right-of-way to allow emergency vehicles access.  

• Dispose of smoking materials safely.   

• AFD will be on-site to ensure all fire code requirements are met.  

Austin Emergency Management 

• Plan ahead before heading to the festival. Know how you will get to and from the event safely.

• Practice the buddy system and establish a meeting point with your group in case you become separated or cell service is limited.

• Stay weather aware before and throughout the festival. Check the forecast, dress appropriately for outdoor conditions and be prepared for changing weather.

• Stay hydrated throughout the day. Drink water regularly and take breaks in shaded or cool areas, especially during the hottest parts of the day.

• Know the signs of heat-related illness. Heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness or muscle cramps can be signs your body is getting too hot. Move to a cool or shaded area and seek medical assistance if needed.

• During an emergency, follow instructions from festival staff and public safety officials and monitor official City and ACL Fest channels for updates. 

Austin Public Health (APH) 

APH recommends attendees be up-to-date on their vaccinations, use hand sanitizer, wash hands often, and stay home if you feel sick.    

Communication During the Festival 

The City of Austin will utilize its official social media channels to push out relevant information. The Austin Police Department, Austin-Travis County EMS, Austin Fire, and Austin Emergency Management will also employ their official social media channels for time-sensitive notifications.   

ACL Fest will utilize its website, Facebook, X, Instagram, and the ACL Music Fest app to share information with festival goers.   

A Message from ACL Fest and C3 Presents

We strive to continually update and evolve our safety and security protocols, which include education and preventative measures to keep people safe. With this in mind, we are partnering with This Must Be the Place, an overdose prevention nonprofit, who will educate music fans about the dangers of Fentanyl and supply them with the life-saving opioid reversal medicine, Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan. We encourage attendees to stop by their booth at the festival and learn more. 

About Austin Center for Events (ACE)  

The Austin Center for Events (ACE) is a collaborative assembly of City of Austin departments and agencies designed to streamline special event permitting on public and private property. ACE is anchored by teams from Austin Public Health, Austin Transportation and Public Works, Parks, Music, Police, Fire, EMS, Austin Resource Recovery, Development Services, and partner agencies, and works closely with event organizers to guide them through the special event permitting process. 

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