ACL Fest returns Friday as Austin leader calls park mud unacceptable
Austin City Limits Music Festival returns to Zilker Park for its second weekend Friday through Sunday, with Kings of Leon, Lorde and Twenty One Pilots among the headliners. A muddy first weekend left the Great Lawn in rough shape. An Austin City Council member called it "unacceptable" and wants a repair plan.
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is back for its second weekend, Oct. 9 to 11, at Zilker Park, but the muddy mess from the first weekend is still a talking point, CBS Austin and Fox 7 reported.
Rain turned the park's Great Lawn into deep mud during weekend one. On Saturday, Oct. 3, organizers delayed the opening of the gates until 2 p.m. while crews worked on the grounds, Fox 7 said.
City leaders are paying attention. Austin City Council member Ryan Alter, who represents District 5, called the condition of the Great Lawn "unacceptable" and said he wants a plan to repair it after the festival wraps up its second weekend, CBS Austin reported. The festival draws around 75,000 people a day, according to Teens Media Network.
The music, meanwhile, goes on. This year marks the festival's 25th anniversary, and Teens Media Network said the weekend two lineup mirrors the first, with one major change at the top of Friday's bill.
On Friday, Kings of Leon takes the Skrillex slot at 8:15 p.m. on the T-Mobile stage, while Charli xcx plays the American Express stage at 8:40 p.m., according to a schedule from Teens Media Network. On Saturday, Lorde headlines at 8:15 p.m. and Rüfüs Du Sol plays at 8:30 p.m. Sunday ends with a choice between The xx and Twenty One Pilots, both at 8:30 p.m.
British singer Lola Young is also set to play on Sunday, Oct. 11, Consequence reported, just days after announcing a North American headline tour for 2027.
There are also ways to help the park. The Austin Parks Foundation's Rock and Recycle program expects to collect about 6,000 bags of recycling across the two weekends, Fox 7 said.
What we know: Weekend two runs Friday to Sunday at Zilker Park.
What we don't: What repairs the city will require once the festival leaves.
Where outlets agree CBS Austin and Fox 7 both report that rain left Zilker Park muddy during ACL Fest's first weekend and caused problems for festivalgoers.
Where they differ Fox 7 focuses on the delayed Saturday gates and cleanup, while CBS Austin highlights Council Member Ryan Alter's call for a repair plan after the festival.