Out of all the fun activities you can do in Austin, the Austin City Limits (ACL) Festival charts at number one. With several performances, including ones previously made by notable artists such as Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney, Lizzo, Kendrick Lamar, and Lorde, the festival provides a recreational environment for people of all ages. The ACL Festival is gearing up for its 20th anniversary and has announced that they will be hosting in-person events, despite the pandemic. The ACL Festival Weekend One will take place from Friday, Oct.1 through Sunday, Oct.3, and the ACL Festival Weekend Two will take place from Friday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 10.

“We can’t wait to see you Oct. 1-3 & 8-10, 2021 back in Zilker Park,” The ACL website said. “Until then, stay safe, take care of each other, and sign up for updates on all things ACL Fest.”

Last year’s concert was moved to an online setting after the pandemic struck. Although there were no concerts, ticket holders could still tune into conferences, tutorials, workshops, and concert videos from previous years. People who bought tickets before the concerts were canceled were allowed to hold on to them and use them for future festivals.

The 2020 festival didn’t just make ticket holders upset, it also took a toll on the city. In 2019, the ACL festival itself brought in $291 million for the Austin economy. Many businesses were able to take the opportunity to promote their goods and services in front of a large-scale audience. In addition, according to the Austin City Limits Music Festival 2019 Economic Impact Report, the festival created 3,216 jobs and produced $119 million in labor income, setting a new record. The ACL festival increases travel and tourism to Austin. In 2019, 31,165 travelers passed through the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for the second concert weekend. Moreover, the festival also contributes to the Austin Parks Foundation, to keep Austin parks, trails, and green spaces cleaner and more eco-friendly. Since 2005, the ACL festival has donated over $41 million dollars to the non-profit organization. The cancellation of the ACL festival in 2020 resulted in a delay of 18 months for improvement projects throughout Austin parks and resulted in over $600 million loss for the economy. 

Tickets are not available yet. Individuals are encouraged to sign up for updates about this year’s festival. For more information and possible updates, visit the ACL Festival website.