Festivalgoers are counting down the days to the 2022 Austin City Limits Music Festival. Musicians will kick off the festival Friday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m.
In 2021, the festival drew in 75,000 people a day - an estimated 450,00 for the entire six-day event.
It may not have looked like it Saturday, but soon Zilker Park will be flooded with festivalgoers, and their safety is the city’s top priority.
The City of Austin of course wants people to enjoy the festival, but also wants to make sure they have the safest experience possible.
Last year, a crime ring targeted ACL, leading to the arrest of five people who stole about 1,000 cell phones.
Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon says that, along with other criminal activity, will be on the radar.
“Being really conscious of that is going to be important to make sure we don't have a repeat of last year,” he said.
The 2022 ACL music festival comes less than a year after Houston’s Astroworld Festival tragedy, where a crowd crush killed 10 people.
ACL has never seen something like what happened in Houston, but Austinite Elizabeth Simmons says she’s worked the ACL festival before and knows how crowded it can get.
“It can get pretty crazy, honestly,” she said. “I mean, if you’re split up for like one second, you can get lost and not find whoever you came with, so it gets really, really full!”
Public safety officials will be among the crowd at the festival to ensure festivalgoers are also following the rules of the park.
"Those folks are there and they’re ready to respond at a second's notice, if they have to, to make sure there's not a threat to peoples’ safety at the festival,” said Chacon. “I think it's important for people to understand that they're there and give them a sense of safety."
Simmons says she thinks having officers stationed there is a smart thing to do.
“It's important for everybody to stay safe; there’s a ton of people,” she said.
Those attending are reminded to stay aware of their surroundings, remain hydrated, wear appropriate clothing for the weather and not keep their phone in their back pocket.
COVID protocols to get into the festival will no longer be enforced this year, but public health officials want people to remember that the virus still lingers in the community.
Austin Parks & Recreation Department (PARD)
- Festival setup, which includes safety fencing, will begin on Monday, September 26 at approximately 7 a.m. This park access information page includes a map outlining impacts to the grounds.
- Be familiar with the 2022 ACL Fest Entry Policy.
- Visit the ACL Fest Website to learn about bag, water bottles, and other allowed/prohibited items.
- Pack a refillable bottle and stay hydrated throughout the event.
- Wear shoes, clothes, and hats that are appropriate for the outdoor environment and weather conditions.
- Communicate your anticipated whereabouts ahead of time in case cell phone coverage is intermittent at the festival.
- Ensure your phone is fully charged when you arrive.
- Stay aware of your surroundings.
- Please follow Leave No Trace principles. Plan ahead and prepare. Dispose of waste properly. Be considerate of other visitors.
Park Rules and City Ordinances:
- Glass and Styrofoam are not allowed on park grounds.
- No outside alcohol is allowed on site.
- Swimming in Lady Bird Lake is prohibited.
- Smoking and vaping are prohibited in City of Austin parks. Violators are subject to a Class C Misdemeanor.
- Vending at the park site without a permit will result in a $200 minimum fine – a Class C Misdemeanor.
Austin Transportation Department (ATD)
- A free shuttle service provided by ACL Fest boards at Republic Square Park and drops riders at the entrance to the festival. Attendees can also ride the shuttle back downtown each evening of the festival.
- CapMetro: Use the CapMetro trip planner to and from the park - MetroRapid 803 is the best route to get directly to ACL Fest.
- Hike & Bike Trail: Walk or bike directly to the festival. Bring a light and remember motorized vehicles are not permitted on the trail.
- Bicycle: This bike detour map provides routes around the festival.
- Micromobility: If you are taking a shared scooter or bike to the event, drop off the device in a designated area before entering the grounds.
- Rideshare: Pickup and drop-off points will be located near MoPac at Veterans Drive, Lee Barton Drive, and, Wallingwood Drive.
- There is no parking at Zilker Park or in the surrounding neighborhoods. Parking on the grass or on unauthorized park grounds will result in a large fine during special events.
- This street closure map provides a full preview of the road closure and lane reduction schedule.
- Barton Springs Pool remains open. This map shows access routes.
Austin Police Department (APD)
APD will conduct a No Refusal Initiative that will coincide with the upcoming ACL Fest. This initiative will be in effect from October 6 through October 16 and will run daily from 9:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. This initiative is an effort to enforce DWI laws, keep the public safe by encouraging drivers to make responsible decisions and to apply for blood search warrants on suspects who refuse to provide a breath or blood specimen as required by law. APD and ATD are continuously focused on preventing lives from being lost on the streets, highways, and waterways of Austin.
- Pay attention to your surroundings, especially in crowds.
- Keep your phone and ID/credit cards/cash in separate places on your person.
- Do not keep your phone in your back pocket - phones sticking out of back pockets or backpacks are not secure.
- Keep property in a secure location (front pocket, fanny pack) or leave it at home.
- Record serial number information for your device and store it separately.
- Notify on-site security/APD immediately for assistance.
- Utilize APD’s online reporting site or Austin 3-1-1 (non-emergency) to report theft.
- Check the ACL Fest lost and found site to report or attempt to locate a lost cell phone.
- If you see something, say something.
Austin Fire Department (AFD)
- Be aware of a large volume of pedestrians sharing the roadway in the area around the festival.
- If there is an emergency response to the area, please give right-of-way to allow emergency vehicles access.
- Dispose of smoking materials safely.
- AFD will be on-site to ensure all fire code requirements are met.
Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS)
- ATCEMS will provide on-site medical resources at the festival.
- If you or someone you're with experiences a medical emergency and can make it to the medical tent, please do so. If unable, call 9-1-1 and provide as many details about where the medics need to go to reach the patient as quickly as possible.
- Consume alcohol in moderation and avoid using illicit substances.
- Do not take pills that have not been prescribed to you and are legally dispensed from a licensed pharmacy.
Austin Public Health (APH)
APH recommends attendees limit close contact with people they know, be fully clothed to avoid skin-to-skin contact with strangers, and stay home if they feel sick.
Communication During the Festival
The City of Austin will utilize Twitter and Facebook to push out relevant information. The Austin Police Department, Austin-Travis County EMS, Austin Fire Department, and Austin Emergency Management will also employ their Twitter feeds for time-sensitive notifications.
ACL Fest will utilize its website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the ACL Music Fest app to share information with festival goers.
Community members and visitors should call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency – where there is an immediate threat to life or property – and Austin 3-1-1 (512-974-2000) to report a non-emergency situation.