Austin City Limits Festival

October 4, 2010 8:45 AM

Looking for tips on attending the Austin City Limits Festival, especially what to take.
posted by Lone_Wolf to Travel & Transportation around Austin, TX (8 answers total)

I think this depends on whether you're going alone or with a group (or if you're planning on meeting up with a group), and whether you want to be up close to the stage with a bunch of standing people or further back with the opportunity to sit and relax. Also, how experienced you are with festivals in general - ACL is probably one of the more relaxed festivals when it comes to bringing in things like backpacks and chairs.

Of their list of "Items Allowed", I would make a special point of bringing:

* Blanket (or at least a towel) for sitting on when you need to sit (like when you're getting food and it gets really crowed)
* Umbrella if it looks like it might rain, or if you are sensitive to the sun
* Two factory sealed water bottles up to 1 liter each
* Empty plastic or aluminum water bottle (ie, Nalgene, Klean Kanteen or Sigg)

Not on their list
* A handkerchief or dust mask - this might not be as necessary this year since Texas has gotten a lot of rain, but it can get dusty
* Money
posted by muddgirl at 9:32 AM on October 4, 2010

Um.. you don't need BOTH a factory-sealed 1-liter and an empty Nalgene - one or the other will work to utilize the free potable water refills.
posted by muddgirl at 10:24 AM on October 4, 2010

The empty water bottle makes it easier to carry more beer (sold only in pre-opened containers which can be poured into the bottle to help you through those long sets).
posted by Seamus at 11:48 AM on October 4, 2010

Regarding an umbrella: Please bring a raincoat instead. People with umbrellas unwittingly poke the rest of us in the eyes. We try to be nice about it and realize that it is an accident, but when you are the 200th person to poke us that day, we may snap at you a little.
posted by Seamus at 11:56 AM on October 4, 2010

In addition to the above, I'd suggest sunscreen and a small flashlight. It can get pretty dark in some areas of the park.

Also, we're planning a meet-up on Sunday, if you'd like to meet some Austinites.
posted by donajo at 1:31 PM on October 4, 2010

Designate some landmark in the park as a rendezvous point in case you get separated. Cell networks can become overloaded making it impossible to complete a call or send a text.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 4:24 PM on October 4, 2010

Wear something you can also swim in. At 1:30 or 2 walk out the entrance, across the street down the hill, pay $3 and jump into the BEST DAMN SWIMMIN HOLE around. Or, walk up Barton creek about a half mile and jump into the BEST DAMN SWIMMIN CREEK around.
The rains have been good to us this year and Barton creek is flowing strong and clear. Likewise Barton Springs. When your hot and tired it will rejuvenate you like nothing else. Also the south bank on the hill at Bartons is a pretty good place to take a quick siesta and still hear music from a couple of the stages.
posted by Pecantree at 9:48 PM on October 4, 2010

Response by poster: Followup: We went on Sunday and got there about 2:30 p.m. It was unbearably hot, there was no unoccupied shade, way too crowded, way too loud, the lines for everything were outrageous. We were back in a cool bar on 6th street by 4:30.
posted by Lone_Wolf at 10:55 AM on November 22, 2010