Weekend One of ACL Festival delivered the music, the magic, and… a whole lot of mud.

ACL is usually known for dry heat and dust so thick that covering your face with a bandana is a must. This year, festivalgoers had to pivot to ponchos and rain boots.

Heavy rain delayed Day One by 15 minutes, and by the end of the night, Zilker Park was a mud bath. Organizers pushed back Day Two’s opening by two hours as crews worked to make the park safer and more manageable.

According to City Cast Austin, ACL organizers called TexasTurf at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday for help with the muddy conditions. The Austin-based company laid 30,000 sqft of turf on Saturday and another 30,000 sqft on Sunday, totaling about 10 hours of work.

Rain-soaked festivalgoers in ponchos and folding chairs watch a live music stage with giant screens, surrounded by mud and green grass beneath gray skies. — When in doubt, dance it out on the turf. | Photo by ATXtoday

Crews concentrated on slippery sections like hills and high-traffic areas where the mud became especially deep. In other areas, temporary flooring, interlocking wood tiles, and mulch + hay were added.

Now, all eyes are on Weekend Two. ACL Festival has already shared some of the steps being taken this week to give Zilker Park a little TLC before festivalgoers return.

Extra resources were brought in Sunday night to remove temporary turf and other ground protection.
Activity on the lawn is being restricted this week to give the grounds time to rest and recover.
Organizers are assessing the ground and meeting daily with Austin Parks and Recreation to prepare for Zilker Park’s post-festival remediation.

Read more about how ACL Festival impacts the Great Lawn.