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Music to our ears — Austin City Limits Music Festival is barreling around the corner. Whether it's a yearly tradition to attend or this is your first appearance, expect to have a good time.

But you won't want to go unprepared. Before you pack up and head to the flags, we're here to arm you with knowledge on how to maximize your time.

The festival opens at noon on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday of both weekends. Here's all the info you need to know before you go.

ACL is just as much a fashion show as it is a festival. | Photo by Alison Narro

Beat the heat in style

ACL is almost as much a fashion show as it is a music festival, so you'll want to dress to impress. Weather during the festival tends to be hot and this year, AccuWeather predicts that Austinites should expect high temperatures ranging from 77 to 87 degrees.

The best bet is to make peace with the fact that you're going to sweat. It's important to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and take frequent breaks from the sun. Bringing along some baby wipes or misters may help you feel fresh throughout the day.

We like to balance style and comfort. Get functional with your accessories (think manual fans and stylish sunglasses), wear breathable fabrics, stick to closed-toed shoes, and lean into your personal aesthetics.

Psst — stay tuned for a guide to festival fashion. We're predicting an overarching Western theme this year.

Bag policy

No matter the size, expect for your bag to be searched before you enter festival grounds.

Small bags + fanny packs smaller than 6" x 9" do not need to be clear, but can only have one pocket.
All other bags must be clear and no larger than 12" x 6" x 12". Backpacks and bags with multiple pockets are prohibited.
Hydration packs are allowed and do not need to be clear, but must be empty and have no more than two pockets in addition to the one holding the water reservoir.

View the full policy here.

What to bring

You'll cool off once the sun goes down, but until then, bring some supplies to beat the heat. | Photo by Ismael Quintanilla III

You're going to be walking, dancing, and sweating all day, so packing light should be top-of-mind. However, you'll want to have all the essentials.

A reusable water bottle | The festival provides free water stations all around the park so all you need is a receptacle, but it must be empty when you arrive.
Sunscreen | The Texas sun is unforgiving, so bring a bottle (3.4 ounces or less) for reapplications. You'll thank us later.
A fan, hat, or bandanna | You might want to pack all three to fend off those extra rays.
A charger | Bring an extra battery. Between the scorching heat and social media posts, your phone drain quickly.
A seat | Whether it's a foldable chair, a stool, or a picnic blanket, a place to rest will come in handy while you're waiting for sets or grabbing some grub.

If you end up over-packing, the festival offers locker rentals.

What not to bring

The following are prohibited on festival grounds:

Coolers or glass containers
Hammocks or tents
Cameras with a detachable lens or photography equipment
Pets
Selfie sticks
Bicycles

Read the full list of illegal items here.

Transportation

Make getting to the festival easier by walking, taking the bus, or hopping on a shuttle. | Photo by @transit_scenes

ACL is notoriously hard to get to and from, so having a solid plan for transportation will make the festival that much more enjoyable.

Via shuttle: Each year, ACL provides free shuttles from Republic Square Park to festival grounds starting at noon on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday until the end of the fest both weekends.

Via ride share: Know that many of the streets surrounding the festival will be shut down, so you'll still have to do a little walking. Typing "Austin City Limits Music Festival" into navigation will take you to the nearest drop off point — usually along South Lamar Boulevard — and you'll need to return there to request a ride home.

By bike or on foot: If you take a bike or electric scooter, parking will be available on Stratford Drive after crossing the Mopac Pedestrian Bridge. MetroBike will host a bike valet on the Barton Springs Road and Sterzing Street intersection. For walkers, here's a map of the trails.

Via car: There is no parking at Zilker Park, but if driving is your best option, you can reserve spots with LAZ Parking at 1221 S. Mopac Expy., at 1000 Mopac Circle, or at Austin High School.

Via CapMetro: Several bus routes operate frequently near Zilker Park. Check out the MetroRapid Route 803 or other options here.

Lounges + activations

Merch from ACL Festival, Dua Lipa, and Tyler, the Creator will be available for purchase in mystery packages at the Amex Experience while supplies last. | Rendering courtesy American Express

If you're looking to charge up, cool off, freshen up, shop, or snack in between sets, here are a few areas we recommend visiting. P.S., keep in mind that you might need to win or qualify to access some areas.

American Express Experience | Festivalgoers will want to make a stop at this lounge, where Amex card holders can access customizable merch, a small business specialty market, a mystery merch window, an area to freshen up, and a disco cowboy-inspired bar. Premium card members will also have access to a new Amex Saloon.

Coke Studio | Returning this year, the Coke Studio is a great place to treat yourself to an ice-cold soda, charge your phone, and try out some fun activations.

Miller Lite Bar 75 | In addition to free Wi-Fi and phone charging, the Miller Lite Bar will also feature photo moments, cooling stations, games like corn hole, and opportunities to win VIP wristbands in between DJ sets.

Tito's Handmade Vodka | Access to this exclusive lounge is coveted, and often won be playing the brand's claw game. This year, Tito's will feature collaborative ACL merch for purchase on the Saturdays of both weekends, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians.

T-Mobile Club Magenta | T-Mobile customers (and their plus ones) can access this lounge where you can find exclusive backstage access to certain shows, giveaways, phone charging, merch, and more. Not a T-Mobile customer? You can also play games for the opportunity to win day passes.

Wrangler Ranch | It's the wild, wild fest at this activation, where visitors can purchase limited edition merch and custom graphics, plus spend a few moments in the shade.

ACL Eats

Stop by ACL Sweets to satisfy your cravings for a sugary snack. | Photo by Taylor Regulski

This festival is a foodie's fantasy with 75 local eateries posting up, including 18 newcomers. There will also be a new food court, La Pachanga Eatery, where attendees will be able to chow down on eats from some of Austin's best taco spots. New vendors include:

Bambino
BBG's
CM Smokehouse
Con Todo
Cuantas Hamburguesas
CVT Soft Serve
Discada
Dulce Amor Mio
Gelato Paradiso
Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken
La Santa Barbacha
La Taquicardia
Norte ATX
Paprika ATX
T-Loc’s Sonora Hot Dogs
Vaquero Taquero
Veracruz All Natural
The Wurst Place

ACL Market

If you find yourself with the urge to shop — or want to be bold and perfect your outfit on-site — at least two dozen vendors will be ready to outfit you. Here are a few we recommend visiting for a souvenir:

Austin Art Garage
Clover + Maven
Feels So Good
Las Ofrendas
Vinca (read our interview with the owner)

Maximizing your time

ACL will run from Oct. 7-9 and 14-16. | Photo by Chad Wadsworth for ACL Fest

The best way to stay up-to-date on festival goings-on is to download the app, where you can view a map of the grounds, the hourly performing schedule, alerts + schedule changes, quizzes, FAQs, and a guide to finding freebies.

If you're a lucky holder of a GA+, VIP, or Platinum wristband, don't forget to read up on specialty offerings for your ticket.

Last of all, remember to review our list of all the Austinites taking the stage before you head out.

We'll see you at the flags.

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