7 Reasons Austin City Limits Should Be at the Top of Your Festival Bucket List

Updated on Oct 19, 2017 at 5:20 PM

Austin City Limits Music Festival, which takes place yearly in October, is a hot-weather celebration of music right in the heart of Texas. The weekend-long festival provides endless music across multiple stages and a high-energy atmosphere for both casual and die-hard music-lovers alike. This year was my first foray into ACL, and I feel confident that it won't be the last. I had so much fun bouncing from stage to stage and eating all the amazing food the festival had to offer. And despite the huge number of people in attendance, it had that chill Texas feel about it. If you still need convincing to head to Austin next year, keep reading to see just why you shouldn't miss out.

It's good for all audiences

I have never seen such a wide variety of people at one event. There was everyone from people older than my parents to babies in strollers. There were families, couples, groups of friends, etc. There were those die-hard fans who were lined up by barricades and then there were those who brought chairs and set up shop in the back of the crowds.

The huge variety in music

For some reason, I had always assumed that music festivals catered to one genre, and I guess some of them do, but when it comes to ACL, there is such a variety. You can go from watching a small indie folk band to an up-and-coming rapper to a rock band that's been around for ages.

The food

Every year, the festival brings out a huge spread of Austin specialties, including burgers and pizza, of course, but you can also find a lot of great Tex-Mex and local favorites.

You can see longer sets of up-and-coming acts

Some bands at ACL have been opening acts on tours for larger artists and have gathered a lot of fans that way, but for many, they haven't been able to see them play a full-length set. At ACL, you're given that chance.

The atmosphere

Whether it's the outright people watching or just enjoying the weather, the feel of ACL is unlike any other place. The Texas heat gets everyone excited and the upbeat vibe of the shows takes everything to the next level.

You can see some of the biggest names in music

Some of today's biggest artists sell out their tours in minutes, which makes it difficult to get to see them live, but on a festival circuit, you get a chance you might not have had otherwise.

Austin is just magical

Austin is one of those cities that's like no other. During the moments you're not at ACL, you can enjoy the food, drinks, and sights Austin has to offer.