A Guide to Navigating ACL Festival
September 22, 2021
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It’s time for ACL Fest! The annual tradition of welcoming the world’s top music acts to Austin for two weekends in October is back.
This year, Austin City Limits Festival takes place October 1-3 and October 8-10. The 2021 ACL Fest lineup includes headliners Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus, George Strait, Duran Duran and Tyler, the Creator, among many others, and promises to bring vibrant energy to Zilker Park.
Whether you decide to go for one day or all three, one weekend or both, here are our best tips for navigating the festival.
How to Get to ACL Festival in 2021
ACL offers complimentary shuttle rides to and from Zilker park throughout the festival weekends. Simply head over to Republic Square Park located downtown to catch a ride on the shuttle for a convenient trip to and from the festival. The shuttle begins service at noon on Friday and 11:00am on Saturday and Sunday, and drops off at the same location throughout the day and through the evening.
Rideshares are also an option. Uber and Lyft operate in Austin, and Uber is the designated ACL Fest rideshare partner for 2021. This year, there are three designated drop off and pick up locations outside of Zilker Park, each around 0.5 miles from a park entrance or exit. When leaving the festival, ACL Fest requires that you exit the park and leave the restricted area prior to being able to request a ride.
At the Heywood Hotel, we consider ourselves lucky to be just 3 miles from Zilker Park. And for guests attending ACL Fest, traveling from the hotel to the festivities is a breeze. Guests can take advantage of the hotel’s free parking on site, then make their way to the park or to the complimentary shuttle via rideshare. The Heywood team is also more than happy to help coordinate bike rentals. Hop on a bike and take the scenic route to ACL on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.
It’s important to keep in mind that there is no parking available at Zilker park during ACL Fest, and parking in the surrounding neighborhoods is prohibited.
What to Eat at ACL Festival
Austin is a foodie town, so it’s no surprise that some of Austin’s best bites can conveniently be found inside the the ACL Eats Food Court. The Heywood Hotel concierge team recommends these local favorites for ACL Festival 2021: East Side King, Easy Tiger, Micklethwait Barbecue, JuiceLand, Tacodeli and of course you can’t miss cooling down in the afternoon with a handcrafted scoop from Lick Honest Ice Creams. Most restaurants include gluten-free and` vegetarian options, guaranteeing that there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
What are the Covid Safety Requirements for ACL Festival?
For 2021, all ACL Festival attendees will be required to show a printed copy of a negative Covid-19 test obtained within 72 hours of first entering the festival each weekend. Alternately, attendees who are fully vaccinated may show proof of full Covid vaccination instead of proof of negative test and do not need to be tested to enter ACL Festival. Face masks are required on shuttle busses and in some areas of the park where it is difficult to maintain social distancing. Please review the ACL Festival Health Policy prior to arriving at the park.
What to Bring to ACL Fest
In order to make the most of ACL, it’s important to bring a few essentials along that will help you feel your best for each performance. For ACL Festival 2021, there are additional requirements related to health and safety.
- Proof of negative Covid-19 test or proof of Covid-19 vaccination: You must bring a printed copy of your proof of Covid-19 negative test or vaccination to enter the park. Review the ACL Festival Health Policy for more information.
- Face mask: A face mask will be required to ride the ACL Festival shuttle and in some areas of the park where social distancing is more difficult to maintain. Review the ACL Festival Health Policy for more information.
- Clear bag or small clutch or fanny pack: ACL Fest’s bag policy for 2021 requires that bags be clear and not larger than 12″ x 12″ x 6″. The only exception is for a small clutch or fanny pack with only one small pocket. Clutch purses may be no larger than 4.5″ x 5.5″.
- Water bottle: Bring an empty reusable water bottle or hydration pack and fill up at one of the water stations to stay hydrated throughout the day.
- Blanket or chair: With a full weekend of festivities ahead of you, you’ll want to sneak in plenty of moments to recharge. In between sets, find a shady spot to lay down a blanket or set up a chair to relax and give your body a chance to rest. Heywood guests can also borrow one of our beach towels for the weekend.
- Sunscreen: This goes without saying, but attending an outdoor festival means you’ll be getting a lot of sun exposure. Protect yourself by packing non-aerosol sunscreen and re-applying throughout the day. Note that aerosol sunscreen is prohibited for 2021.
Be sure to check the list of allowed and prohibited items on the ACL Festival website before packing for the day.
What Local Austin Bands to See at ACL Festival 2021?
Among the nearly 150 acts playing ACL Fest in 2021, there are some notable local Austin favorites. The Heywood Hotel concierge team is happy to recommend a few not-to-miss local acts.
Nané: This five-piece indie-soul hybrid routinely plays sold-out shows around Austin and has opened for the Black Pumas, Bob Schneider and others. Their stunning debut album was produced by Grammy-award-winning drummer John Speice IV from Brownout. Catch Nané on weekend 1, Friday at 1pm on the Lady Bird stage.
Dayglow: Breakout indie pop star Dayglow has gone from making music in his high school bedroom to performing on the Tonight Show, and continues to gain traction internationally. Expect dancing, clap-alongs, and fun vibes all around as this local star shines brightly. Dayglow performs both weekends on Saturday at 7:20pm on the VRBO stage.
Blk Odyssy: Move over Houston, Austin’s hip hop scene is on the rise! With a wealth of talent from artists like local duo Riders Against the Storm (performing on Friday) and Deezie Brown (performing on Sunday), our city is a hot bed of hip hop. Bursting with creative energy on stage, Sam Houston AKA Blk Odyssy is no exception. Check out why the Austin American-Statesman has deemed Blk Odyssy’s debut album “One of the best albums of the year” and has deemed Blk Odyssy one of Austin’s fastest rising stars. See Blk Odyssy on weekend 2, Sunday at 12pm on the VRBO stage.
The Tender Things: This self proclaimed “Hippie country band from Austin, TX” is definitely worth checking out this year. The Tender Things meld ’60s and ’70s honky tonk with a West Coast sensibility and some cosmic/psychedelic elements thrown in for good measure. They often share the stage with Austin’s Heartless Bastards (a Heywood Hotel favorite). Robert Ellis and Patty Griffin recorded on their latest album. Catch The Tender Things weekend 2, Saturday at 1pm on the Tito’s Handmade Vodka stage.
Where to Stay for ACL Festival
The Heywood Hotel is a great place to stay for ACL Festival. Conveniently located just three miles from Zilker Park, the Heywood Hotel seven intimate rooms, ridiculously comfy beds, and a dedicated concierge team to help you make the most of your ACL Festival weekend. Plus, all ACL Festival reservations receive a free welcome basket of goodies. Get a good night’s rest and recharge for your next day of festin’.
Featured image by Katrina Barber, courtesy of ACL Festival.
Book now for Austin City Limits Festival 2021!
Heywood Hotel provides a free, all-local welcome gift for all ACL reservations.