All your ACL Fest 2022 questions, answered
Read this in the most “Twin Peaks” way possible: It’s happening again.
Austin City Limits Music Festival returns this year for its 20th anniversary year. Our team of experts will be on the ground to bring you the best of the fest — stay tuned to statesman.com for both weekends.
And your friendly neighborhood journalists have been going to ACL Fest for as long as it’s been around. Here’s what you need to know to survive it this year.
When is ACL Fest 2022?
As it has for the past several years, ACL Fest runs over two weekends: Oct. 7-9 and 14-16, when the festival takes over Zilker Park. Gates open at noon on Friday and at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday during both weekends.
Who is playing ACL Fest 2022?
Well … a lot of people. If you ask certain people (me), this year’s ACL Fest lineup is one of the best in recent memory.
On Friday, Texas country titans The Chicks and R&B star SZA will headline. Other major artists include Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, Billy Strings, James Blake (moving to Sunday for Weekend 2), Jazmine Sullivan, Conan Gray (moving to Saturday for Weekend 2) and Carly Rae Jepsen (Weekend 1 only).
More:Who to see at ACL Fest, according to the experts
On Saturday, high-flying pop superstar P!nk and dance music artist Flume will close out the big stages at the end of the night. “Industry Baby” chart-topper Lil Nas X is playing Saturday, too. Also on the schedule: Diplo, Wallows, Death Cab for Cutie (Weekend 2 only), Tobe Nwigwe, The War on Drugs, Big Boi and Boy George & Culture Club (Weekend 2 only).
The fest weekends’ final day, Sunday, stars rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers and country queen Kacey Musgraves. Pop-punk icons Paramore also play, as do Marcus Mumford, Zhu, Spoon, Japanese Breakfast, 6lack and MUNA.
That’s a lot of choices to make. Austin360’s music critics (hello) have written a guide to their picks of who to see, and you can find the full lineup at aclfestival.com.
Where do you enter ACL Fest?
There are two entrances on Barton Springs Road: a west entrance close to Andrew Zilker Road and an east entrance close to Azie Morton Road. Pro-tip: The latter is usually the busiest. There’s also the Lady Bird entrance at Stratford Drive, near Loop 1 (MoPac Boulevard).
What’s it like inside ACL Fest?
You’re gonna get to know the two big stages on opposite ends of the park: The American Express stage is on the east end, and the Honda stage is on the west. You’ll also find some of the bigger artists on the Miller Lite, T-Mobile and Barton Springs stages, the last of which is tucked away across Barton Springs Road. The smaller BMI stage and Tito’s Handmade Vodka tent are great places to see up-and-coming acts.
Back this year: Austin Kiddie Limits, home to family-friendly programming. This year, it’s by the Barton Springs east entrance and the Bonus Tracks stage, which hosts supplementary programming like podcasts.
To the north of the park, you’ll find the ACL Eats food court, with treats for sale from Austin vendors like Taco Bronco, Nervous Charlie’s, Amy’s Ice Creams, Mmmpanadas, Mighty Cone and many more.
There are bars and hydration stations throughout the park, but for shade and lots of brew options, head to the beer hall fittingly next to the Miller Lite stage. That’s also where you’ll find a screen playing the Texas Longhorn and Austin FC games.
Are there COVID policies for ACL Fest?
In the technical sense that there are policies listed on the festival website that mention COVID-19, yes. In the sense that you’re required to do anything, not really.
Unlike 2021, you do not need to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result to enter the fest. Unvaccinated people are encouraged but not required to wear masks, and the fest asks folks to stay home if they don’t feel well.
Ah, and then there’s the other disease making the rounds: monkeypox. ACL Fest refers patrons to the CDC guidelines on monkeypox prevention.
More:The ultimate list of Austin live music for the rest of 2022
What’s the bag policy at ACL Fest?
Your bag's got to be clear and no bigger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches. Stick to purses, totes and drawstring bags; no backpacks or bags with multiple pockets are allowed. Small clutches and fanny packs that are 4 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches don’t need to be clear but have to have one pocket only.
What about water bottles and other items?
Oh, please do bring your empty reusable water bottle. There will be free hydration stations throughout the park. You can also bring a Camelbak-style hydration pack, but it has to be empty.
Crucial: Sunscreen is allowed in non-aerosol containers only, and they have to be 3.4 ounces or less. Find a full list of allowed and banned items on the ACL Fest website.
How do you get to ACL Fest?
You probably don’t drive, I can tell you that much. While some nearby lots sell parking permits, they’re likely sold out by now. There's limited ADA parking near the festival, though; find details on the ACL Fest website.
Complimentary, round-trip festival shuttles board each day at Republic Square Park at the corner of Fourth and San Antonio streets. They’ll drop you off outside the Barton Springs west entrance. Shuttles start at noon on Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
If you’re able to bike, you can lock up your trusty steed on Stratford Drive after crossing the MoPac bridge; on Toomey Road at Sterzing Street; or on Azie Morton Road. You also can drop off a MetroBike at Barton Springs Road and Sterzing Street.
CapMetro buses also are an option for nearby drop-off, especially MetroRapid Route 803. Plan a route on their website.
More:Spoon, Billy Strings, Japanese Breakfast to play ACL Fest Nights club shows
There aren’t designated ride-hailing points by the festival grounds this year. Uber is the official ride-hailing app partner of the festival. Put "Austin City Limits Music Festival" or "Zilker Park" into the Uber app on the way there. For the return trip, you’ll have to walk a bit to get outside of the festival’s restricted area, by crossing the river, South Lamar Boulevard or the MoPac frontage road, according to the fest.
Walk! If you can. The festival is accessible via the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Having someone drop you off and pick you up is also pretty foolproof.
Will there be any street closures during ACL Fest?
Stratford Drive on the west end of the park will be closed daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 5, with more extensive closures beginning Oct. 6, the day before the festival.
Closures along Barton Springs Road, the main road into the park, begin Oct. 3 and run through the first weekend of the festival. Barton Springs Road reopens to traffic on Oct. 10. It will close again for the second weekend of the festival at 7 p.m. Oct. 13. Partial closures will continue until Oct. 19.
The city has released a grid that details street closures during the festival.
More Austin musicHarry Styles tells Austin fans 'take care of each other'
Can I go to Zilker Park if I’m not going to ACL Fest?
The park’s great lawn, where all the music magic happens, will be closed to the public. The parkland south of Barton Springs Road, including Barton Springs Pool, will remain open throughout the festival.
The city has released an interactive map that details park access restrictions and road closures around the park.
Anything else to know?
Cell service can get spotty in the park, so designate meeting times and landmarks with your friends before splitting up. Portable phone batteries are your friend. Wear comfortable shoes, and be ready for any kind of weather. Be nice to everyone you see and sing at the top of your lungs.
Deborah Sengupta Stith contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: ACL Festival 2022 schedule, dates, rules, shuttle, more things to know
