Save the tech speak and career striving for SXSW, Austin’s other massive festival, Austin City Limits, is all about the music. ACL was inspired by the music television show of the same name, which, since the 1970’s, has highlighted up-and-coming talent and is credited with putting Austin’s music scene on the national map. Likewise, Austin City Limits, the festival, makes room for artists of all different genres and at different points in their careers. The lineup is huge and includes local acts you might not have heard of alongside headliners like SZA, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lil Nas X, and Kasey Musgraves. ACL takes place in Zilker Park, which is essentially just a massive field, and has a relatively minimal set up. There’s the nine stages, the festival’s signature flags, and its enviable food stands, but that’s about it. The hundreds of thousands of attendees dressed in cheeky t-shirts, flare pants, crop tops, cowboy hats, and the music festival version of fringe help create the energy. Everyone dances, vibes, and hydrates to the sounds of Top 40 artists, country singers, hip hop phonemes, and indie bands. Hydrating is crucial, here. In Texas, October still feels summertime and you must drink to beat the heat.
What to know:
- About 75,000 people attend a day
- There are four levels of tickets: General Admission, General Admission Plus, VIP, and Platinum. Tickets are available for single days or the entire weekend. Single day GA tickets start at 145 dollars, but the festival offers layaway plans that lets you pay off the tickets gradually.
- Lineup
2022 festival poster:
