Annual music festival held in Zilker Park in Austin on two consecutive three-day weekends
General Information
1-Day GA+: Starting at $345
1-Day VIP: Starting at $710
Children 8 and under: Free with a ticketed adult
How to Get There
From Austin (3 mi): Travel to Zilker Park via Barton Springs Road and follow event signage to the Austin City Limits Music Festival entrance at 2100 Barton Springs Rd.
The Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival takes over Zilker Park each October for two consecutive three-day weekends, drawing roughly 450,000 fans across eight stages of rock, indie, country, folk, electronic, and hip hop. Named for the long-running PBS concert series filmed in Austin, the festival is produced by Austin-based C3 Presents, which also produces Chicago's Lollapalooza.
About Austin City Limits
The TV show that lent the festival its name has taped live performances in Austin since 1974 and helped cement the city's reputation as the "Live Music Capital of the World." It remains the only television program to receive the National Medal of Arts and won a Peabody Award for more than three decades of showcasing American musical genres.
Popular Festival Experiences
Beyond the headline sets, the festival grounds offer plenty to fill a full day in the park.
- Eight stages spread throughout Zilker Park, spanning rock, indie, country, folk, electronic, and hip hop.
- Art market featuring local and regional artists.
- Kids area with family-friendly activities.
- Food and drink vendors throughout the park.
Visitor Highlights
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Live Music | See major and emerging acts across eight stages over two festival weekends. |
| Art Market | Browse work from local and regional artists. |
| Food & Drink | Sample a wide variety of vendors throughout Zilker Park. |
| Kids Area | Family-friendly activities for younger festivalgoers. |
Best Time to Visit
| Time | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Midday | Smaller crowds and easier access to stages before headliners take over. |
| Evening | Peak crowds as headline acts play the main stages. |
| Either Festival Weekend | The festival spans two consecutive three-day weekends in October, so travelers can pick whichever dates fit their trip. |
Why Visit ACL Music Festival?
- See major and emerging artists across eight stages of rock, indie, country, folk, electronic, and hip hop.
- Experience Austin's live music heritage tied to the iconic PBS television series.
- Explore Zilker Park while enjoying an art market, food vendors, and family activities.
- Choose your weekend for flexibility around a fall Austin trip.
This article is based on publicly available information about the Austin City Limits Music Festival, as well as material from the Wikipedia articles "Austin City Limits" and "Austin City Limits Music Festival", used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.