Austin City Limits Music Festival: A Logistical Guide For Attendees

AUSTIN, TX — Ahead of the Austin City Limits Music Festival, City of Austin officials outlined something of a primer for attendees, detailing the full range of attendance.

The concert series runs this weekend and next for three straight days apiece, bringing a wide variety of bands headlined by Jay Z and Red Hot Chili Peppers. From Oct. 6-8, and Oct. 13-15, the 16th version of the annual ACL Music Festival takes place on a 46-acre portion of Zilker Metropolitan Park, considered the crown jewel of Austin’s public green spaces.

Yet as enjoyable an event it will be for music lovers — some 75,000 attendees each day for this ginormous concert venue — there are a number of guidelines that should be followed to ensure unfettered fun. To accomplish this, you might want to read the guidelines below to learn how to avoid $250 parking violations. If you smoke or even just vape, you won't be able to do it inside the grounds, which is another thing you'll learn by just taking a few moments to read through this.

It's important, my music-loving people. In the way of some background mainly for the out-of-towners, here's a video that may explain how much we love this place upon which you will soon descend:

But back to ACL Music Fest.

First, it's worth noting the northern portion of Zilker Metropolitan Park, known to Austinites as the Great Lawn, is closed through Oct. 27 for the duration of the festival. The closure that began Sept. 25 accommodates 11 days of festival set up, two event weekends, a week to remove staging and typically at least one week for the annual Parks and Recreation Department's post-event maintenance, dependent upon weather conditions, city officials said.

Citywide and Festival Attendee Reminders

Festival Attendees

• There is NO parking at the park, and extensive restricted parking areas in outlying areas. Festival attendees should not drive to the park instead seek alternative modes of transportation.
• Per city code, a $250 violation fine is in effect for parking in a designated “no parking” area in Zilker Park.
• Official festival Shuttles from Republic Square Park to the festival are FREE and have a dedicated entrance into the event.
• Bike parking is available at the park.
• For information on Austin City Limits Music Festival street closures, affected area maps, shuttle routes, and parking and transportation options, visit:
  • http://www.austintexas.gov/citystage
  • www.austintexas.gov/parkevents
  • http://www.aclfestival.com/

Zilker Park Access

• Most of Zilker Metropolitan Park will be accessible prior to the festival, and between event weekends.
  • Zilker Polo Field, Zilker Playscape, Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Botanical Garden and Austin Nature and Science Center.
• Barton Springs Pool- will be open via the Southgate Parking Lot, during the festival weekends and is reserved for pool users only.
• Access to Barton Springs Pool will be via Barton Hills Drive, Rabb Road or Bluebonnet Road to Robert E. Lee.
• There is NO ACCESS to the Southgate parking lot using Barton Springs Road and Robert E. Lee on event days.
• ADA pool parking is available in the Barton Springs Pool-Southgate Parking Lot, or first-come first-served on the north side via the northbound MoPac frontage at Andrew Zilker Road. Proper ADA tags must be displayed prior to approaching the area.
• View the city's interactive map to plan your trip.

Alternative Park Use Areas

• During the festival period, Vic Mathias Auditorium Shores east lawn, middle lawn, and off leash area will be open for public use.
• Butler Park will remain open for public use.
• View a directory of the City of Austin parks for additional options.

Parking and Traffic:

• Barton Springs Road closures will be implemented to help reduce the number of vehicles impacting and causing safety concerns for pedestrian foot traffic.
• Barton Springs Road will be open to local access only for residents, business staff and patrons, and festival attendees from Lamar to Sterzing.
• All non-local traffic will be directed one way out of the area at Sterzing to Toomey and Toomey to Lamar.
• There is NO vehicular ACCESS further west from Sterzing to Robert E. Lee.
• Public safety personnel will be routinely patrolling, ticketing and towing in the affected areas around the park on event days.
• Per City Code a $250 violation fine is in effect for parking in a designated “no parking” area in Zilker Park.

Approved Drop-off Areas

• The following areas have been identified and approved for pickups and drop offs on event days:
  • Sterzing Street between Barton Springs and Toomey Road.
  • Stephen F. Austin Drive under MoPac Bridge.
  • Lee Barton Drive between Lamar Boulevard and Riverside Drive.
  • Citations will be actively issued to transportation networking companies, and other drop offs in unapproved areas.

Road Closures

• During event days (October 6-8 and Oct. 13-15) the following road closures are in effect:
  • Street closures will begin at 12:01am Friday through early Monday morning on each of the festival weekends.
  • Barton Springs Road from Sterzing Street to Rollingwood Drive.
  • Stratford Drive from Barton Springs Road to Nature Center Trail.
  • Barton Springs Road from Robert E. Lee to Mopac.
  • Robert E. Lee at Barton Hills Drive (12 p.m. to midnight).
  • Sterzing at Barton Springs Road.

• Motorists should expect delays around the Zilker Park/Barton Springs Road area and throughout downtown. Commuters should expect higher volume of traffic in the general park area during the overall festival period.
• For a complete list of road closures, visit www.austintexas.gov/ace.
• For safety during load-in Stratford Drive will be closed on selected days. To view the details visit: www.austintexas.gov/ace.

Health and Safety Reminders:

• The festival is a smoke and vape free event site and patrons may only smoke outside the event grounds.
• Know your location, where you enter the festival, and plan ahead to get home. Use the free official festival shuttle from Republic Square Park to ensure a quick and safe ride to and from downtown.
• Wear comfortable shoes, clothing, and bring personal protective items such as hats and sunglasses.
• Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated, there are water filling stations throughout the festival.
• Read all of the festival information/FAQs.

Oh, and newly approved fines for parking on parkland during special events and illegal vending on parkland will be in effect. For information on the fines please visit the city's website.

But don't let all these rules and regulations dampen your fun, kids. Have fun and be safe!

>>> Image via City of Austin