How to Enjoy Your ACL Festival Weekend Like a VIP
Make the most of your Austin City Limits Music Festival experience with perks in Zilker Park
If the idea of navigating a crowded Zilker Park during Austin City Limits Music Festival gives you an immediate feeling of claustrophobic anxiety, makes your feet hurt instinctively or creates a stir of irritation at the mere thought of standing in line after line, we feel you. However, we simply couldn’t miss ACL! We truly love to attend this annual, iconic music festival. We’re just ready to fest on our own comfy, cushy, VIP terms.
In our preferred festival dream scenario we can experience a zippy and pleasant festival entry, refreshing cocktail bars without lines, air conditioned bathrooms, shaded lounge chairs to sit and rest, and great views to watch the bands without feeling cramped or squeezed in.
Too much to ask? No. Not for you, dear.
Austin City Limits Music Festival is coming up Oct. 3 – 5 and 10 – 12. We’re here to share how to enjoy your ACL Festival weekend like the true VIP you were born to be.
It All Starts With the Wristband
It is a price jump to get GA+, VIP, Platinum or Y’all Access instead of regular General Admission wristbands. However, if you wish to splurge, you’ll find the perks are numerous. Enjoy exclusive lounge areas, dedicated skip-the-line entrance ways, viewing decks and more. And, if you’re going with a group, there are even Bungalows, Cabanas and Party Spaces to choose from.
Here’s the break down all of the options…
GA+ Amenities
GA+ gives you access to a private lounge by the Ladybird Stage with shaded seating, air-conditioned restrooms, a full bar and dedicated food options (for purchase).
VIP Guests: What’s New
We’ve seen the comments on social media, and let’s just start with the buzzed-about update: It’s true that complimentary food and drink is no longer included with VIP wristbands. However, there are still so many great amenities that put this well above the GA level.
As a VIP guest, you will have an expedited entrance lane at all three gates. Once inside the fest, you’ll have access to two private spaces with amenities for recharging throughout the day. In both VIP Groves you’ll find shaded seating, air-conditioned restrooms, free WI-Fi, and VIP Viewing Decks that offer elevated sight lines of the two main stages.
VIP Grove East is located on the southern edge of the park, between the Ladybird and American Express stages. (Note that there is a new entry point in 2025, on the west side of the viewing deck, next to the water refill station.) Here you can enjoy complimentary offerings that include massages (12pm–6pm daily), hair and glitter salon services (12pm–6pm daily), refresh station amenities such as sunscreen, face wipes, and lip balm, and portable mobile chargers (available near the VIP Concierge). Also, while drinks will be available for purchase from the VIP full-service bar, the East Grove is where you will find several pop-up sponsor bars. As for what food will be available, details and menus will be posted soon on this page of the ACL Fest website.
VIP Grove West, the smaller of the VIP groves, is located at the west end of the park between the BMI and T-Mobile stages. Here you’ll find dining at Royal Blue Grocery @ ACL Bodega, a full-service bar, and an elevated covered deck with views of the T-Mobile and Miller Lite stages.
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Platinum Perks
Getting to the Fest is a breeze with complimentary, roundtrip shuttle service between the JW Marriott and the Platinum West Entrance. You can also avoid the crowds and use the Platinum-only entrances into the Festival. Once inside, hop on a golf cart to be taken directly to the Platinum Lounge. In fact, golf cart services is available at virtually every corner of the park.
One of the most popular perks of Platinum is access to fantastic stage viewing that includes exclusive spaces at six stages, and each includes beer, seltzer and water service. The Platinum Lounge presented by Intel is loaded with amenities and a relaxing spot for taking a load off. Enjoy complimentary drinks from the full service bar as well as all day dining from some of Austin’s top restaurants.
Making the Most Out of GA Wristbands
We highly suggest taking advantage of all the fun pop-ups around the park for fun perks, including:
- Austin Kiddie Limits — If you’re bringing the kids, they can surely feel like VIPs in the family-friendly area that includes tons of interactive programming and performances.
- Amex Experience — Amex Card Members can cool off, enjoy photo opps, play games and will be gifted an exclusive cross body bag that they can customize with Austin-themed charms. Platinum Card Members will have access to the Amex Side-Stage Lounge, enjoy complimentary happy hours and can personalize Platinum bolo ties, while supplies last.
- T-Mobile Club Magenta — Members can charge up their devices, grab a drink and giveaways.
- Miller Lite Bar 75 — Free WiFi, DJ sets and swag giveaways.
- Tito’s Chillmaster5000 — A walk-in fridge to beat the heat and Tito’s cocktails.
- Aperol Spritz Piazza — Italian-inspired cocktails and interactive experiences.
- Coca-Cola Refresh Lounge — Shade, photo ops and ice-cold Coke.
- DashPass Lounge by DoorDash — Members can enjoy premium restrooms, $10 food vouchers, giveaways, charging stations and food sampling (Non-members can sign up on site).
- Topo Chico Hard Cantina — A branded space for cocktails and photos.
- Hacienda PATRÓN — Tequila cocktails, vinyl DJ sets and lounge seating.
- Snapchat Tower — Watch Bitmojis dance, catch artist interviews/backstage moments.
No matter how you plan your ACL Festival weekend, we hope you have a wonderful experience!
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