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Oh Joy, Austin City Limits 2024: Your Passport to Gentri-Fest Riches!

Oh, fabulous! Another year of watching the privileged few turn Zilker Park into their personal Coachella. Let's all navigate around this millennial music fest while Austin’s rent skyrockets—how delightfully woke. Can't wait for the selfies with the sea of landfill-bound plastic cups!

Published October 3, 2024 at 6:01am by Marley Malenfant

Surviving the Corporate Music Extravaganza: A (Sort of) Guide to ACL

Alright, comrades, brace yourselves. The Austin City Limits Music Festival is upon us, and we need to navigate this capitalist jamboree like the woke warriors we are.

Dates: Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 11-13 at Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road. Gates open at noon on Fridays and 11 a.m. on weekends. Because who doesn't love starting their day with a side of noise pollution?

How to Navigate the Bourgeoisie Festival

Getting In: Because Arriving in Style is So Last Season

Drive yourself: If you're feeling particularly masochistic, drive to the festival. Parking is scarce, so good luck with that. No parking at Zilker Park or nearby neighborhoods. Reserve a spot in advance if you want to shell out $40+ at LAZ Parking or $50+ at 360 Transportation. Austin High School lot starts at $55. Capitalism at its finest, folks.
Bikes and scooters: Ride a bike or scooter, the progressive way to travel. Lock up on Stratford Drive or Toomey Road, or drop off a MetroBike at Barton Springs Road and Sterzing Street.
Public transit: ACL offers free shuttles from Republic Square. Shuttles start at noon on Fridays and 11 a.m. on weekends. Because nothing says "festival chic" like being herded onto a bus. Check the shuttle schedule for details.
Walking: Use those legs, people! Follow the Ann and Roy Butler Trail. It's eco-friendly and doesn't require selling your soul for a parking spot.

Sign up now: Get updates from the ACL music fest in your inbox with their email newsletter. Because spam is the new black.

Festival Entrances: Choose Your Own Adventure

Barton Springs Road: Two entrances—west near Andrew Zilker Road and east near Azie Morton Road.
Lady Bird entrance: Located on Stratford Drive, close to Loop 1 (MoPac Boulevard).
Azie Morton Road entrance: Likely the most crowded. Because who doesn't love a good crowd crush?

Stay woke, stay hydrated, and remember—every dollar you spend is a vote for the corporate machine. Enjoy the music, comrades.

-Mars Salazar, Beck Andrew Salgado Deborah Sengupta Stith of The Austin American-Statesman contributed to this report.