Knowing what to bring with you to Austin City Limits can make all the difference. Having certain things can really enhance the experience. On the other end of the spectrum is you don’t want to bring something not allowed. You will either have to toss it or run back to your hotel or house to return it. This article goes over everything you can and cannot bring to Austin City Limits.
The following is the list of items permitted into Austin City Limits. This list comes directly from the ACL Information website, which can be reached at https://www.aclfestival.com/information/.
The list of prohibited items at ACL also comes from the official website and is subject to change. You should check the official website just in case something changes, but most of these are fairly obvious. Anyways, here is what you can’t bring in with you to Austin City Limits.
If you are interested in all the things we think you should take with you to Austin City Limits you should check out our full article on it at http://www.eventtrk.com/events/35/austin-city-limits/165/austin-city-limits-essentials-what-you-should-bring. I will offer a few quick thoughts on the allowed list, and what you should bring.
Blankets – These are nice if you don’t mind sitting a bit from the stage and want to chill out. It’s not unheard of for it to get muddy or dirty at Austin City Limits so if you want a clean place to sit the blankets are a nice option for Austin City Limits.
Camelbak – I am a big proponent of bringing a Camelbak with you to Austin City Limits. It basically cuts down on your trips to go get water and allows you to have more time at the stages watching performances. It also gives you a better chance of staying hydrated as you will always have water on you. Lastly, you will use this for more than just Austin City Limits. If you go to any other music festivals, hiking, or other outdoor activities you will use it; it’s worth it.
Totems – I know some of you may be thinking ‘what the hell is a totem’? It’s basically a tall stick that is used so you can find your group at Austin City Limits. The crowds can be pretty intense at Austin City Limits, a totem is made to be a signal to your group so they can find it. Typically people do something unique with their totem to make it unique and easily spotted. If you have a big group (I’d say 6+ people) this is generally a good idea. The downside is someone has to carry it all day, but it does help you gather your Austin City Limits squad easily.
Chairs – This is a controversial item at Austin City Limits. On one hand, you spend a lot of time on your feet at Austin City Limits between walking there, going between stages, running to the bathroom, etc. It really is nice to have a chair with you so you can sit down, relax and recharge. On the other hand, when 80,000 people bring a chair Zilker park turns into a clustered mess. You will be zigging and zagging between chairs every time you walk anywhere. I don’t personally bring a chair but plenty of people do, so if you think you’d like one you should bring one with you to ACL.
Alcohol / Illegal Substances – Obviously you cannot bring these in with you, but almost everyone does. Sneaking this stuff into festivals is fairly easy, just use a little bit of creativity and think of where they won’t be searching you when you go through the gates at Austin City Limits.
There you have it, everything you can and cannot bring with you to Austin City Limits. Admittedly, a lot of these are obvious, but some aren’t so it is good to know what isn’t allowed before you go. Don’t be the guy who makes your group run back to the hotel because you brought something you can’t part with to Austin City Limits.