Important Facts and Features of the 2018 ACL Festival
(Austin, TX – October 2, 2018) With one of the most exceptional lineups of this year’s festival season, the 17th annual Austin City Limits Music Festival will keep Zilker Park rocking for two back to back weekends, October 5-7 and October 12-14. On Friday of both weekends, fans will be flocking to PAUL MCCARTNEY’s first-ever ACL Fest performances and only scheduled North American festival performances, along with incredible sets from ODESZA, The National, Khalid, Hozier, David Byrne, FATHER JOHN MISTY, BROCKHAMPTON and more. Metallica will deliver their first-ever ACL Fest performances and only North American festival performances on both Saturdays, along with extraordinary sets from CHVRCHES, Justice, ST. VINCENT, Brandi Carlile and more. Each Sunday fans will enjoy high energy sets from Travis Scott, as well as Arctic Monkeys, Sylvan Esso, ILLENIUM, REZZ, Janelle Monáe, Shaky Graves and many more.
With so much to see, hear and taste, here are the important logistics and tidbits to keep festival-goers in the know!
TICKETS
General Admission 3-Day Tickets for both weekends are sold out. General Admission 1-Day Tickets for Sunday are still available for Weekend Two at www.aclfestival.com/tickets, or at the Pre-Festival or Festival Box Office during the hours listed below. 3-Day & 1-Day VIP Tickets, 1-Day Platinum Tickets Weekend One and 1-Day & 3-Day Platinum Tickets for both weekends are also available. Music fans ages 10 and under will be admitted free of charge accompanied by a ticketed adult.
BOX OFFICE
Pre-Festival and Festival Box Office locations & hours are below.
Wednesday, Oct. 3rd – Thursday, Oct. 4th: Native Hostel (807 E 4th Street)
12pm – 7pm
Friday, Oct. 5th – Sunday, Oct. 7th: Zilker Park
Box Office West: 10am – 9pm
Box Office East: 10am – 8pm
Thursday, Oct. 11th: Native Hostel (807 E 4th Street)
12pm – 7pm
Friday, Oct. 12th – Sunday, Oct. 14th: Zilker Park
Box Office West: 10am – 9pm
Box Office East: 10am – 8pm
GETTING TO ZILKER
There are plenty of ways to get to ACL Fest! Check out our Getting Here page, or read on to see a list of the best ways to get to Zilker Park during ACL Festival. For more information, check out this helpful guide of transportation options from the City of Austin.
There is no parking at Zilker Park for the ACL Festival, so take advantage of the Complimentary Official Festival Shuttles provided by ACL Fest instead! Board at Republic Square Park at the corner of 4th & Guadalupe streets and you’ll be dropped off on Barton Springs Road outside the Barton Springs West Entrance. When you’re finished rocking, hop back on for a return trip from the same spot, outside the Barton Springs West Entrance. The shuttles begin at Republic Square at 10:30AM and make their final return from the park at 11PM each day of the Festival.
We’ve partnered with Uber to make your experience getting to and from the festival as easy as possible. Ride with Uber for access to dedicated pick-up and drop off points, as well as exclusive surprises just for Uber riders throughout the festival. Visit Uber’s ACL Music Festival page for the latest updates, pick up and drop off information, and other rider pro tips.
Cap Metro has ramped up its service this year and now offers more than a dozen bus routes that operate every 15 minutes, 7 days a week. Your best bet to get to ACL is MetroRapid Route 803. Use the CapMetro App or click here to plan your trip to the festival.
We encourage all of our fans to bike to the festival! New this year, we’ve added Bike parking locations near the Barton Springs East entrance! 3 Bike Parking options will be located on Stratford Drive near the Mopac Pedestrian Bridge, Toomey Road at Sterzing Street, and on Azie Morton Rd.
Scooter & Dockless Mobility Parking is available at the corner of Sterzing Drive and Toomey Road. Additionally, Austin B-Cycle will have a station at the corner of Sterzing Drive and Barton Springs.
Consider taking a taxi to enjoy the festival. The Taxi pick up and drop off location is at William Barton Drive in front of the Barton Springs Pool.
Take the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail for a quick walk downtown and easy access to the festival grounds. Extra lighting is provided for your safety, and there are also user amenities along different spots of the Trail including water fountains, restrooms, and trash cans. View the interactive Trail map here. If you are using the Trail, be mindful of the burn-ban and responsibly discard cigarette butts.
ENTERING THE FESTIVAL
Want to get into ACL Fest as quick as possible? Leave your bag at home! If you DO NOT have a bag, please enter through the No Bag Express Lane. If you DO have a bag, please enter through the Bag Lane and expect delays as bags are open for inspection. ALL bags will be searched before entry. Bags will be restricted to small purses, totes and drawstring bags only. Bag size may not exceed 14″ x 11″ x 5″ (35cm x 28cm x 12cm), or 30 linear inches (75cm) in total, and must have no more than one singular pocket or opening. Backpacks and bags with multiple pockets are prohibited.
NO LIQUIDS WILL BE ALLOWED THROUGH SECURITY CHECKPOINTS. Empty water bottles (plastic or aluminum) or hydration packs are allowed but must be emptied of all liquid and have no more than two pockets in addition to the one holding the water reservoir.
Please check the list of prohibited items in advance, listen for the audio announcements and dispose of any item that is not allowed inside the festival.
Families can expedite entry into the festival using our Family Friendly Entrance to the right of the Barton Springs East Entrance, or the dedicated Family Friendly Lanes at all three of the Main Entrances. Each entrance also has dedicated Accessibility Lanes. For more on ADA Accommodations, check out our Information page.
Whenever possible, patrons should avoid arriving during peak hours from 3-5pm to ensure the quickest entry into the park.
LOCKERS & CHAIR CHECK
Do you want a safe and secure place to store your things while you enjoy ACL Fest and keep your phone charged? We offer 3-Day, 2-Day and 1-Day rental lockers available near the Barton Springs entrances so you can free up your hands and avoid losing any personal items during the show. Click here to reserve your locker in advance and secure the best available pricing.
Bringing a chair with you? No problem, a complimentary chair check offered by U.S. Fund for UNICEF, putting children first all over the world, will be available near the lockers! Speaking of which, as you explore different parts of the park, please be mindful of the No Chair Zones. Help us help you enjoy more of the show by keeping these pathways and areas free of obstacles.
INFO/LOST & FOUND
Visit a Guest Services booth for all event related questions while on site. Festival programs, lost and found, and other event services are offered. Guest Services booths are located in the main field off Barton Springs Road, and near the Lady Bird and Family entrances. If you lose something at the festival, you can also visit ACL Fest’s virtual lost and found at www.aclfestival.com/lostfound. Here you can view found inventory, submit a claim, and be more easily connected with your item(s). If you find something, please turn it into a Guest Services booth.
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP
From creating your own Custom Schedule to mapping out Zilker Park before the fest, the Official ACL Festival Mobile App presented by Miller Lite gives you everything you need to know right in the palm of your hand. New this year, fans can filter ACL Eats restaurants by Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten Free options right in the mobile app! Also, remember to Opt-In for Push Notifications to stay in the loop on schedule changes, important updates and emergency information all weekend long! Get the app at: www.aclfestival.com/app
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
ACL Festival is dedicated to keeping patrons safe. In the event of an emergency, safety messaging will come from the stage video screens, announcements from the loud speakers, push notifications on the Official ACL Festival Mobile App, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and instructions from festival staff and security. Anyone in need of medical or security assistance throughout the weekend may approach any festival security or staff member for the appropriate support
ACL CASHLESS PRESENTED BY AMERICAN EXPRESS
Cashless is back! Fans can use their wristbands to make on-site purchases including food, art, lockers, beverages and festival merchandise. After activating their wristbands at www.aclfestival.com/wristband patrons can securely connect a credit or debit card, create a unique 4-digit pin to make safe, cashless transactions throughout the park. They can visit the ACL Cashless tent on-site for activation help.
CAMELBAK HYDRATION STATIONS
ACL Fest continues to offer free freshly filtered water at CamelBak Hydration Stations located throughout the festival. This year, there are now 25% more CamelBak Hydration Stations in the park. Fans are encouraged to bring empty water bottles (plastic or aluminum) to fill once inside the park. For CamelBak-type water bottles, the maximum size is 36 oz.
FOOD
ACL Eats continues to feature fantastic local restaurants putting their spin on festival fare. Fan favorites such as the famous Torchy’s Tacos, The Mighty Cone, The Peached Tortilla, Micklethwait Craft Meats and many more will be there to cure all your Festival cravings.
We’ll have even more ACL Eats locations around the park! Amy’s Ice Creams, Burro Grilled Cheese, GoodPop, mmmpanadas, Southside Flying Pizza, The Salt Lick, Tinos Greek Café, and Wholly Cow Burgers will all have a second location near the Barton Springs Stage (south of Barton Springs Road). Central Market will also have a booth inside Austin Kiddie Limits offering box lunches and beverages.
BODEGAS
The ACL Bodega is a one-stop shop where you can buy quick snacks, like fresh fruit, and festival survival necessities, like sunscreen and ponchos. Stop by the Bodega near ACL Eats and the ACL Wine Lounge.
BARTON SPRINGS BEER HALL
Stay on top of your game! Don’t miss out on the Barton Springs Beer Hall, where you can choose from different craft brews and catch the weekend’s biggest MLB, NFL and College Football games on the jumbo screen in between sets.
ACL WINE LOUNGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY CAMPO VIEJO
Wine down at the ACL Wine Lounge, brought to you by Campo Viejo! Located in a beautiful shady grove, the lounge features a wine shop and has something for every wine enthusiast from classic varietals to frosé, spritzes and other specialties. Come sip, relax and stay for a while in the shade!
AUSTIN KIDDIE LIMITS PRESENTED BY LIFEWAY
Kids 10 and under are welcome to attend ACL Fest for free with a ticketed adult (limit 2 children per ticketed adult), and can enjoy their very own lineup of music and activities at Austin Kiddie Limits presented by Lifeway.
Once you’re in the park visit the Tag-a-Kid kiosk at the Family Friendly Entrance directly to the right of the Barton Springs East entrance or Info Tent where parents can register their kids with the festival and receive an RFID wristband. In the event that a child gets lost, we have a reliable and fast way to reunite them with their parent.
SHOP AT ACL
The beloved mega-sized ACL Festival Store is back again, located south of Barton Springs Road. Take your favorite festival home with a wide selection of limited-edition ACL Fest gear. From hats and hoodies to socks and stickers, we’ve got all your festival keepsakes in store. Don’t miss our special collaborations with Howler Bros, Camp Collection, Alternative Apparel, Ubuntu, Aviator Nation, YETI and CamelBak. The full line of Festival goods will also be available at our Satellite Store at Rock Island just across from ACL Eats. As always, shop early for the best selection! Find your faves 24/7 at store.aclfestival.com
ACL MARKET
The ACL Market is a terrific place to discover Austin’s artists and artisans. From paintings to jewelry and hats to leather goods, we’ll have your next festival find at the ACL Market. Attendees don’t have to worry about lugging their purchases through the Fest by stashing them in a locker by Barton Springs Road between the East and West entrance.
SILENT DISCO
For those looking to dance the night away, a Silent Disco powered by Quiet Events returns to the schedule for both weekends. Each night from 8pm-10pm at the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage, fans can slip on a pair of ACL Fest-supplied headphones and quietly groove to tunes from live DJs.
IN BETWEEN SETS
Each year ACL Festival engages sponsors to create interactive activities that enhance the patron experience. From to lounges to artist appearances, there is plenty to do in between acts. Check out the full list of this year’s activities at www.aclfestival.com/activities.
SUSTAINABILITY
ACL Festival is committed to sustainable festival practices in the field, behind the scenes and through the preservation of the ever-beautiful Zilker Park. This commitment is integrated into every area of the park, from recycling and composting, to eco-friendly service items at ACL Eats and CamelBak Hydration Stations that provide patrons free, filtered water, while diverting thousands of plastic bottles from the landfill. Even more, festival producers offset the carbon dioxide emissions of festival vehicles, generators, staff and artist travel, by purchasing certified carbon offsets.
We invite attendees to join our sustainability efforts by participating in the Rock & Recycle Program, presented by Austin Parks Foundation. Fans are rewarded for filling one bag of recyclables from the festival grounds with a commemorative ACL Festival T-shirt, all designed by local artists! Each participant earns a chance to win a Fairdale bike and two 3-day Tickets to ACL Festival 2019! Help keep the festival clean by using provided waste, recycling, and compost bins and check out the Recycling Tour to learn about fun Austin parks facts.
ACL CARES
Go beyond the music at ACL Cares where you can get involved with a variety of causes, including art, the environment, and organizations committed to improving the quality of life for their community and future generations. While you’re there, check out the new ACL Cares Academy Stage to learn from and engage with organizations and causes involved with CARES through interactive panels, meet and greets, and fun activities! Hosted by local comedian Lisa Friedrich. Check out the schedule here!
ACL IS SMOKE FREE
Just a reminder: Zilker Park, along with all of Austin’s parks, is a non-smoking venue. In observance of the smoking ordinance, all patrons will be directed to smoke outside the festival gates in the street. Patrons will be allowed to exit and re-enter the festival grounds three times during the event, but they need to scan out upon exiting.
ACL FEST WEEKEND ONE IS LIVE ON RED BULL TV
Fans worldwide who can’t make it to Zilker Park can watch The Official 2018 Austin City Limits Music Festival Live Broadcast on Red Bull TV, which is distributed digitally for free on the web at redbull.tv/aclfest, connected TVs, smartphones and tablets as well as ACLFestival.com. This year’s lineup includes PAUL MCCARTNEY, Metallica, Arctic Monkeys, Camila Cabello, CHRVCHES, St. Vincent, Sylvan Esso, FATHER JOHN MISTY, Brandi Carlile, ILLENIUM, Greta Van Fleet. Shakey Graves, Manchester Orchestra, X Ambassadors, Blood Orange, Elle King, A R I Z O N A and more.
GETTING HOME FROM THE FEST
There are several options for getting home after the fest. For a quick ride downtown, jump on the free Official Festival Shuttle from outside the Barton Springs West Entrance to head to Republic Square Park at 4th and Guadalupe.
Catching an Uber home? Use the Barton Springs East exit to head east on Barton Springs Rd. and cross Lamar Blvd. Walking further away from traffic will make it easier to reach your driver. When the music stops, Uber doesn’t.
Fans can sign up for the E-List to be the first to get new information at www.aclfestival.com, and follow social media to stay in the loop for all festival announcements. Facebook || Instagram || Twitter.