There are plenty of transport options available to ferry you swiftly to Austin City Limits from hotels. Avoid driving if you can, since traffic clogs the arteries of major routes to the festival over the weekend. Consider traveling green and renting a bike, one of the most pleasurable ways to travel here.
From 10 AM every day during the festival, you can catch a complimentary shuttle bus from Austin City Limits vacation rentals to the festival grounds in Zilker Park. Board the bus at the corner of 4th and Guadalupe in downtown Austin. Buses are also on hand to bring you back to Republic Square after the festival each night, with the last departing at 11 PM.
A special illuminated "hike and bike" trail runs from the city to the festival grounds. As there are extensive bike racks at the park, you just need to bring your bike lock with you to enjoy one of the most efficient ways to get to Austin City Limits. Instead of sitting in the traffic that tends to move at a glacial pace during the festival, festival veterans often opt to bike.
If you must drive, there is paid parking available at One Texas Center and the Palmer Event Center, both around a mile from the park. While taxis will be on hand for pick up and drop off at the park entrance, you may have to wait along with the crowds. Ride Austin can be a useful alternative to hailing a cab.
With more than 130 performing artists and some 225,000 patrons annually, Austin City Limits is a crowded, bustling event. From what to pack to which outfit to rock, here are the handiest hints to equip you for your optimal Austin City Limits experience.
There are several tickets to Austin City Limits available. Choose from one-day passes or three-day weekend tickets to Zilker Park. Group bookings give you the chance to win exciting prizes such as merchandise and guest lounge access. VIP and Platinum passes are also available, offering ticket bearers access to luxurious and exclusive facilities.
Texas's October weather is still warm during the day, but cools off during the night, meaning you'll need a combination of T-shirts and shorts plus warm weather gear and cover-ups. Bring jackets and be sure to wear comfortable shoes so you can dance all day to your favorite sounds. Extra socks will come in handy if it rains.
Festival-goers are welcome to bring a backpack stocked with necessities to Austin City Limits. Two unopened plastic water bottles and a refillable bottle or pouch are allowed, and the festival organizers will make sure you're following the rules at the gate's bag check. Be sure to bring cash if you wish to purchase merchandise, but make sure to keep it in a safe place. Non-spray sunscreen and a phone charger are also strong choices.
Headliners at Austin City Limits have ranged from Stevie Wonder to Kanye West. Here are some of the best in the bunch:
Besides being credited with one of the best band names you've ever heard, this headliner entertained some 20,000 visitors in 2002. One of the festival's defining performances, the String Cheese Incident struck such a chord with audiences that the two-day event grew dramatically afterward.
Treading the same boards as country legend and fellow Austin City Limits veteran Willie Nelson, Tom Petty put on one of the festival's most impassioned performances. Even Bob Dylan's headline performance the following year couldn't match the electricity.
Bluegrass brothers Seth and Scott command a vast following, even while performing alongside giants such as Eminem and Iggy Azalea. Their 2014 performance united music fans of all denominations.