Austin City Limits
The Austin City Limits music festival (or ACL to the locals and music biz) stems from the popular television show of the same name. This three-day fiesta attracts visitors from all over the country and features over 130 musicians on eight stages in Zilker Park. Produced by C3 Presents, the 2008 festival anticipated more than 65,000 attendees. Artists in this year’s lineup include Beck, Ingrid Michaelson, N.E.R.D., Gnarls Barkley, Erykah Badu, Tegan and Sara, as well as G. Love and the Special Sauce, just to name a few. Fan favorite performances included John Fogerty, Foo Fighters and the up and coming Band of Horses. Concertgoers each year have experienced all genres of music performances, ranging from Country to Hip Hop, and Indie to Rock.
Purchase ACL tickets early! Three day passes tend to sell out fast; however, individual day passes are usually available up until the start of the festival ($80 a day). For out of town visitors, the Austin Convention and Visitor’s Bureau offers hotel/ ticket packages with discounted weekend-long passes starting at $155.00 (go to www.austintexas.org ) Three-day passes also offer unlimited entrances and exits from the park, as tickets are exchanged for wristbands upon arrival.
Parking spots and cabs are extremely hard to find. Wait times for taxis can be upwards to two hours. Even downtown parking spaces fill up in the early morning hours. The best bet is the Park and Ride festival shuttle, which offers many pick-up and drop-off locations.
With the warm weather extending well into the fall, expect the temperature to hover around 90 degrees. Dress cool and comfortable. Bring hats, plenty of sunscreen, and wear comfortable shoes. Many people sport swimwear to the event. With a convenient “in and out” wristband and the Barton Springs swimming pool nearby, a quick dip to cool off is very tempting. Other things to cart along: portable lawn chairs or blankets to sit on, an umbrella or rain coat (just in case), plenty of cash (ATM lines will be long), and ID. Unfortunately outside food and beverages are not allowed.
Create a plan of action if meeting up with a group. This year text messages were delayed as long as thirty minutes, due to many users overwhelming the cell phone towers. A somewhat loose schedule with a map and specific meet-up locations (food vendors, stages) is a better idea if the group decides to split.
Music isn’t the only highlight during the weekend: many local restaurants set up shop as well. ACL offers more than the typical county fair hot dog. From healthy vegan cuisine to grease-dripping burgers, food vendors are sure to appeal to every appetite. Dine Texas style with some down home barbeque from the Salt Lick or Stubbs, or opt for fish tacos from Wahoos. Amy’s Ice Cream and iced tea from Sweet Tea Leaf are sure to cool anyone off. New additions to the festival cater to a greener cause, making ACL a more earth-friendly production. C3 Presents has banned vendors from using plastic bags, and beer was sold in recyclable cans.
Austin City Limits encompasses the city’s culture at its finest. Bohemian, eclectic, and rockin’: it’s no wonder this concert weekend tops the nation’s outdoor music festival and attracts visitors from around the globe.
For more information about the festival and the 2009 details go to http://www.aclfestival.com/takeover/
Written by Carina Von Son for ExplorerPod.com Looking for more on Austin, click here
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