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Austin, Texas / Event Venue

Austin City Limits Festival Grounds

Located in South Austin's Zilker Park, the Austin City Limits Festival Grounds host one of the nation's premier music festivals. Spanning two weekends, this iconic venue features nine stages, local food vendors, and vibrant art.

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Austin City Limits Festival Grounds
www.aclfestival.com, og_image_www.aclfestival.com

Where is the Austin City Limits Festival Grounds located?

The festival grounds are located at Zilker Park in South Austin, Texas.

How many stages and performances does the festival feature?

The festival features nine stages and more than 100 performances spread over two weekends.

Is there parking available at the festival grounds?

No, there is no parking at Zilker Park or in the surrounding neighborhoods for the festival. However, you can take festival shuttles from Republic Square starting at 12 pm each day, or use bike parking on Stratford Drive after crossing the Mopac Pedestrian Bridge.

What food and drink options are available on-site?

You can purchase food from local chefs and restaurants, which includes vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Bars throughout the park offer cocktails, mixed drinks, beer, wine, seltzers, and mocktails, and there are also free water stations available.

How many entrances are there to access the festival?

There are three different entrances into Zilker Park for the festival: East Barton Springs, West Barton Springs, and the Lady Bird Entrance.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

What to know

The Austin City Limits Festival Grounds, located in South Austin's Zilker Park, serve as the home to one of the largest and most recognized music festivals in the United States. The festival began in 2002 and was named after the legendary PBS television series "Austin City Limits," which is the longest-running music television show in history and is filmed in downtown Austin at ACL Live at the Moody Theater. Over the years, the festival grounds have evolved into a massive cultural hub, hosting 75,000 music lovers per day from Austin and around the globe. During the festival, the grounds feature nine stages and host more than 100 performances over two weekends. Attendees can enjoy a diverse lineup of acts, with 100+ bands performing over three days each weekend. Beyond the music, the festival grounds offer a rich culinary and artistic experience. Visitors can purchase food from local chefs and restaurants, including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Bars are scattered throughout Zilker Park, serving cocktails, mixed drinks, beer, wine, seltzers, and mocktails. Additionally, the grounds feature specialty items from local art vendors and free water stations to keep attendees hydrated. The festival is produced in partnership with the Austin Parks Foundation. This collaboration has had a massive positive impact on the local community. For more than 20 years, the festival and the foundation have worked together to improve Austin's nearly 400 parks, trails, and green spaces. Since 2006, the festival has generated nearly $71 million specifically for improvements to Zilker Park and other parks across Austin. Furthermore, the event is a massive economic driver; in 2024 alone, the festival contributed $534.8 million to the Austin economy, supporting the equivalent of 3,607 full-time jobs.

Visitor tips

  • There is no parking available at Zilker Park or in the surrounding neighborhoods during the festival.
  • You can access the festival grounds through three different entrances: East Barton Springs, West Barton Springs, and the Lady Bird Entrance.
  • Take advantage of the free festival shuttles that run from Republic Square starting at 12 PM each day of the event.
  • If you ride a bicycle, designated bike parking is available on Stratford Drive after crossing the Mopac Pedestrian Bridge.

Nearby context

The festival grounds are located directly within Zilker Park in South Austin, adjacent to the Zilker Park Great Lawn Festival Grounds. This sprawling green space serves as a year-round recreational haven for locals, offering scenic views and outdoor activities, before transforming into a bustling musical city during the autumn weekends.

Sources

Evidence and links