Free tips on what to do when you’re not singing along to Shania Twain on Austin City Limits.
Are you ready for the big show? Austin City Limits, the music festival drawing tens of thousands of people to Zilker Park, is almost here. And while it seems like it was just yesterday that we were worshiping at the altars of P!nk, Lil Nas X and Carly Rae Jepsen last year, this year’s ACL lineup is very packed. Headliners such as Foo Fighters, Shania Twain, The Lumineers, Kendrick Lamar and many more are set to make this ACL another highlight, along with approximately 100 other performances taking place over two weekends: October 6-8 and October 13 until October 15. (You can bet you’ll find us in front of the Honda stage on opening weekend screaming the words “Man! I feel like a woman!” right back at Shania.)
By now you’ve already selected your ACL weekend and probably purchased your tickets. You’ve got your show schedule pretty much set and hopefully have a good idea of when you’ll need to stroll around the park to avoid the big crowds (one of the 2022 Paramore weekend survivors is here!) and claim a good spot in the dusty grass. But do you know what you will be eating? Do you have a plan for what you will do during the long breaks between shows? We’ll share with you some unmissable experiences throughout the festival.
What to eat and drink at Austin City Limits
We don’t know about you, but I need a beer in my hand within minutes of entering the festival grounds. The drive to Zilker and the drive to the festival makes you thirsty, you know? Timely refreshment is critical, so head straight to this beer garden hosted by Texas brewery Karbach Brewing Co. You’ll find a wide selection of craft beer here, as well as large-screen TVs and other ways to cool off, according to the festival’s official website.
It’s no secret that we love this East Austin BBQ truck. Its Central Texas-style meats (fatty brisket, Texas-Czech sausage, smoked pork ribs) and scratch-cooked sides like lemon poppy seed salad, citrus beet salad and jalapeño cheese grits have earned it a permanent spot on our list dishes. best places to eat bbq in austin. So, once our inevitable barbecue cravings reach the ACL, you’ll see where we’re headed. As if that weren’t enough, Micklethwaite will be taking his Taco Bronco taco truck on the road again this year. Bottom line: If you’re going to pay a ton of money for holiday food, do it here.
The creators of the iconic Butcher’s Burger are making their debut at ACL Eats. The East Austin butcher shop and full-service restaurant is heading to the festival food court for the first time, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. Salt & Time will feature house-made Texas dog sausages and Hotlinks (!), Wagyu smashburgers (!!) and beef tallow fries (!!!).
Mister Softee and ACL Sweets
In the sweaty chaos of a festival crowd, we are drawn to the simplicity of a soft serve ice cream cone. Especially when it was provided by our good friend from New York, Mr. Softee. An extension of Austin’s famous northeast ice cream truck is coming to the festival with a variety of creamy delights – ice cream, shakes, cones and more.
You obviously can’t go wrong here, but if you’re looking for something else (perhaps something less melty), ACL Sweets boasts a sugary smorgasbord. Besides Mister Softee, you have 10 more dessert options including Tiny Pies, Picole, Holla Mode, JP’s Pancake Company, Candy Cloud World, just to name a few.
Put the words “wine” and “grove” together and you’ll get our attention. After all, having a can of crisp rosé in your hand is just as important as the aforementioned critical beer. Returning this year, Texas-owned BRŸT is bringing some very fragile wines to the grove.
The guys behind this Neapolitan pizzeria in South Austin are actually closing their restaurant and moving their entire team to Zilker so they can bring you classic pies for the first time in ACL. So maybe do them a favor and get one. According to co-owner Benjamin Demarchelier, they’ll be playing hits on the ACL Eats stage: cheese, pepperoni and marinara pies (vegan). You can buy them in half or get a whole pizza. Demarchelier told Thrillist he plans to use proceeds from the festival to fund a liquor lawyer in hopes of adding beer and wine to the restaurant’s menu. This is a complete pizza!
Things to Do Between Shows at Austin City Limits
American Express Y2K Experience
Just like last year, Amex provides ACL players with a trendy, perk-filled oasis between the American Express and T-Mobile stages—with some exciting new themed updates, of course. The space is designed to look like a camera store and photography studio, stocked with eco-friendly point-and-shoot digital cameras that can be rented or purchased through a partnership with Paper Shoot. You’ll also find Amex’s partnership to sell vintage and pre-loved Depop accessories. The store will feature a curated selection from local Texas vendors, including vintage t-shirts and sweatshirts from Star Sixty Seven and Morgan B, versatile jewelry from Mina Valore and other finds from Ragz Revenge, according to a spokesperson.
The best part is that on the second level there is a Card Members Club overlooking the festival (from where we got a great view of the Manchester Orchestra performing last year) and a bar, air conditioning and even a custom friendship bracelet panel. from the project “Little Words”. Just keep in mind that, as the name suggests, you’ll need to be an Amex card member to access this part of the experience.
In addition to the Y2K Experience, Amex announced some big news: Its Centurion Lounge will make its music festival debut at ACL 2023 after years of offering expanded lounge options at the US Open. This room, located adjacent to the American Express stage, will be available only to American Express Platinum cardholders, Centurion members and their guests. So it’s no surprise that the perks come at a premium Platinum level: lounge access throughout the festival without a reservation, free food, a free drink token every day that can be redeemed for soft or alcoholic drinks, including the exclusive Tito’s Cocktail, and seating for relaxing on the lawn overlooking the stage.
By the way, if you sign up for ACL Cashless with your American Express card, you’ll receive a $5 cashless spending credit to use at the festival. Five bucks probably won’t cover one beer, but hey, we’ll take it.
If you want to spend even more money on ACLs, head to the ACL Market. The mall, located on the route to ACL Eats, has doubled in size this year with a whopping 26 vendors including Austin Art Garage, Honey Hill Market and Sustainable Sparkle Bar, to name a few.
Impressions from Hulu House and Coke Studio
Once you’ve finished your Instagram photo shoot at the colorful flags (we know, that’s pretty much a must), you can head to the nearby Hulu House and Coke Studio pop-ups to kill a little extra time between shows and, even better, get your hands on at some swag. At the Coke expo, you and your festival-goers can turn into a band, design an album cover and make a music video with the help of artificial intelligence, and cool off with the copious amounts of Coke Zero Sugar that will be there at your fingertips. Meanwhile, at the nearby Hulu House, you can purchase Hulu merch and even watch live feeds from the ACL Festival stages if you need a break from the crowds.
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