Austin City Limits: The Hangover Weekend

Oh look, Austin City Limits is back, and so are the parasites — I mean scalpers. Last week, these clever entrepreneurs were demanding your firstborn child or a mere $400 for a single-day wristband, and a cool $1,250 for a three-day pass on Barton Springs Rd. Because nothing says "fun" like selling a kidney for a concert.

But hold on to your wallets, kids. This week, it’s a totally different ball game.

"Go to the bar this week. Save a ton of money next week," a reseller said last week, proving that even scalpers can be economists.

Now, prices have plummeted like a stock market crash. One vendor is practically giving away one-day wristbands for $180, and three-day passes for $280. Must be his generous holiday spirit, eh?

Your ACL Fest weekend two FAQ is here: What to bring, when to arrive, how to buy tickets.

Need a break from the insanity? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Another reseller pitched a one-day band for $300 but immediately tried to negotiate, asking how much I was willing to fork out and hinting at group rates. Because screw fixed pricing, right? Last week, the same dude wouldn’t budge from $400 per person, even when three desperate dudes were two hours away from rocking out to Blink-182 and Chris Stapleton.

But hey, scalpers gotta hustle. Three other Barton Springs resellers were out of inventory by 1:30pm. Two others gave me the middle finger when I said I was press. Journalists these days, am I right?

And — surprise, surprise — the online resale market has cooled off too.

Are ACL tickets still available?

You can still find wristbands on ACL’s verified site, starting at $223 for a single-day and $320 for a three-day pass.

“The only way to ensure that your ACL Fest wristband is valid is if it is purchased through Front Gate Tickets or through Ticketmaster Verified Resale,” ACL organizers say. Because nobody wants to be the idiot buying a fake wristband off the street.

How well do you know the ACL lineup? Take our trivia quiz and find out.

Don't be a dumbass: Keep your ACL wristband and watch for scams

Local journo Ford Sanders, with his 92K TikTok followers, had some sage advice: “Don't you dare sell that wristband.” Apparently, last year, some schmucks offered him $150 for two hours of ACL fun. He thought he’d found a loophole until he remembered his credit card was linked to the wristband. Genius.

Check out his viral video.

Some of this is basic common sense. Every wristband is traced to its original buyer and needs to be scanned in and out. If it wasn’t scanned out properly, you’re in for a long walk and an ID check. Not to mention the scams on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Wristbands listed at too-good-to-be-true prices? Yeah, they probably don’t work.

Dua Lipa for Leos? Tyler for Pisces? We’ll break down the ACL lineup based on your zodiac, because God knows you can’t make a decision without consulting the stars.

So, have fun at ACL weekend two — just don’t be an idiot about it.