IDK who we think we are, but we are no longer spring chickens! We bought 3-Day wristbands for Weekend 1 of Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL), and I’m already regretting my poor, FOMO-driven decisions.

This will be my fourth year attending the festival, and I’m already tired. If you’ve been following along on Instagram Stories, you know I’ve been a hamster on a wheel lately. But, I digress. We’re going. All three days. Let’s make it happen!

I thought there no better time than the present to share the knowledge I’ve picked up over the years, and what my top picks and hangs will be for this time around.

Let’s get into it!

FOOD

Here’s the thing. You NEED to eat at festivals. Duh, right? But, when you’re hopping from stage to stage, it’s easy to forget. If it’s like years past, we’re all going to be baking in the hot sun for hours on end. You need to keep your body fueled (and hydrated). Basically, you need to eat a filling meal, so that you’re not standing in line every hour for a snack - missing valuable music time!

Below are my top picks for meals and snacks this year.

MEALS

FLYRITE - I’m SURE they’ll have some of their DELICIOUS chicken sandwiches - which are perfect, handheld food items. Snag your sammy and find some shade!
FRANK - Again! Quick, easy, delicious hot dogs perfect for bouncing from stage to stage. I hope they have their pretzels too because they are a must-have snack!
CHI’LANTRO - THE KIMCHI FRIES! You’ve heard about them, and YES you must try them. They are totally a meal themselves because they are so filling. Their website describes them as “your choice of protein, caramelized kimchi, cheddar + monterey jack, onions, cilantro, magic sauce, sesame seeds, sriracha on a crispy bed of french fries”.

AFTERNOON PICK-ME-UP

JUICELAND - An Austin staple. Also, juice keeps you hydrated when the sun has no mercy! Not sure which ones they will have available, but for me, as long as there are no beets - it’s considered a winner.
HIGHBREW - This is hands down my favorite canned cold brew made right here in Austin. I love the “Black & Bold” variety. No sugar. Just caffeine, baby!
MMMPANADAS - Portable deliciousness wrapped in dough. They even will be offering gluten-freen and vegan options. Empanadas make a perfect snack.

DRINKS

There will be drink stations all around the festival. But, here are some fun places to check out. Also, don’t forget the H2O - especially if you’re traveling from out-of-state. The quickest way to ruin your festival experience is dehydration.

ACL WINE LOUNGE - This setup will be located right behind the Homeaway stage for reference. It is sponsored by Campo Viejo and will feature lots of fun drinks like frose and spritzes all under some shady delicious oak trees. BLESS!
BARTON SPRINGS BEER HALL - Love sports and music? Not to fear. Between sets you can catch your favorite teams play on the jumbo screen and wash down the win with a cold brewski.

FUN THINGS

There is actually a ton of fun things to do within ACL beyond the main stages. Lots of brands will be out repping and doing giveaways and handing out free swag.

SILENT DISCO - Sometimes you just wanna dance. Each day of the festival head to the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage from 8-10pm. You’ll be given a special ACL Fest-supplied pair of headphones and can groove to three DJs.
AMERICAN EXPRESS EXPERIENCE - Last year, we had a great time cooling off in this area. The ground floor is GA, but the top floor was not. However, it hosted some killer views of the American Express stage and we escaped the sun and charged our phones. To get into the top floor, we had to show our American Express card. You may have to register the card for cashless spending this year according to the ACL website. I’m hoping I can just flash the card like last year because my AMEX is through work and I don’t think my company would appreciate sponsoring my food and drinks all weekend! Haha :)
ART MARKET - Separate from the ACL Merch tent, this area offers goods and wares from artisans from all over the world. Some merchants to check out are Austin Art Garage and Teysha.

WHAT TO WEAR

Rain is in the forecast for Weekend 1, and it’s usually HOT! My best piece of advice is to wear comfortable shoes you don’t care about getting dirty. The dust or mud is sure to happen and you might as well be prepared to get gross.

A rain poncho can’t hurt if it does rain. Usually they fold up really small, so they can fit in your bag easily. Speaking of bags, KNOW THE RULES - which you can find HERE. Not all bags are permitted, so don’t be that person at the gate! Lockers are available near the front of the festival if you want to pay to stash your stuff and not haul it around.

Don’t forget a hat and sunscreen! Otherwise, I’m no fashion blogger. Wear what makes you feel happy, mmkay?

The sunscreen I’ll be wearing this weekend is Coola Sport Face SPF 50 White Tea Organic Sunscreen Lotion. Pricey, but your skin is ALWAYS worth it.

Don’t be me. Don’t wear a sweater! I think it was “kind of” cool, but the sun roasted me!

GENERAL INFO

I highly recommend downloading this map of the festival to your phone before you go in: DOWNLOAD HERE
Screenshot the lineups / stages because it will save battery power on your phone if you’re just looking at your image gallery - versus loading up the page every time you need it.

Bring a battery pack. Nothing is worse than walking home from ACL because you
can’t hail a cab or call an Uber. Speaking from experience - unfortunately.
Save your name and alternate number or contact information on your lock screen. If you lose your phone, you have a better chance of getting it back quickly this way.
Bring an empty water bottle to refill with water once you’re inside the festival. You cannot enter with any liquids in your water container, but on the map linked above you’ll see Camelbak Hydration Stations scattered about the park.
Register your wristbands, so you can go cashless! All your wristband questions can be answered HERE!

Who are you looking most forward to hearing at ACL?

I’m looking forward to hearing Paul McCartney and Khalid.

Low key one of my favorite parts of Austin City Limits is all the “unknown” (at least to me) artists because I’ve found some really great music just by listening to some of the lesser known acts. So, that’s what I’m looking forward to MOST. If you see me at ACL, please come say “hi”. I may barely be functioning or spazzing out on caffeine to keep me awake all weekend. But, I promise you I’d love to meet ya!

Hope you have a fun, safe ACL Fest!

Xo,

Kimberly

Honestly, because my FT job revolves around digital marketing for online retail Black Friday isn’t really something that excites me. I asked and you guys said you weren’t really interested in reading it. I get it. There is a “sale” overload this time of year.

However, one thing I’m really passionate about is supporting small, local businesses.

As an aspiring entrepreneur myself, supporting the dreams of others is really fulfilling. I think it's important to lift each other up. So, I’ve gathered some cool finds from local Austin companies to put together a gift guide that supports small and/or local businesses. I also threw in some fun Austin spots that offer great giftable experiences.

FOR THE BFF

Treat your bestie to a day of pampering at Parlor Beauty Bar. I can't think of a more appropriate gift for your best friend. What girl doesn't love to be pampered? She listens to you vent. She deserves something nice. You can purchase a gift certificate at their location off East 6th.

FOR YOUR MOM

I sell Origami Owl jewelry. So, essentially, this is my small business. :) If you've never heard of Origami Owl, it allows you to tell your story with meaningful, customizable jewelry. You can choose charms that represent your passions, memories, dreams and the things you love and capture them in your Living Locket or Locket Watch. My mom LOVES this stuff. It's so personal and unique. You can customize so many of the pieces. I really love Signature Gold Locket Watch. Watches make such beautiful gifts. You can add charms to make it really special - which are sold separately. But, the Black Friday deals are incredible. Don't miss out!

FOR YOUR DAD

My Dad is really tough to shop for, and although I know he'd be grateful for any gift, I feel like the perfect gift is always elusive. My Dad really enjoys spending time outdoors, so Whole Earth Provision Co. has some really interesting items for the nature lover. I'm definitely stopping there for his gift. If your Dad is more of a movie buff, then a gift card from Alamo Drafthouse would make a great gift. You could even go a step further and package it together with some movie memorabilia.

FOR YOUR BROTHER

If your brother is of drinking age, it's likely he may enjoy a nice cold beverage on occasion. Austin is packed full of breweries and distilleries. Scheduling a tour at one of these establishments is a great way to bond and spend time with your sibling. ATXcursions is a company that will arrange all the travel, so you can enjoy beverages safely. You can sample at each stop and they lay out all the details very simply on their website.

If he's not a drinker, axe throwing might be in the cards. Yes, I said AXE THROWING. You do still have to be 21 or older to participate, but this out of the ordinary experience will surely be memorable. Although Urban Axes didn't originate in Austin, their location on Airport Boulevard is the company's second location. They offer gift cards for purchase directly from their website.

FOR YOUR SISTER

Mana Culture is a cute boutique tucked away off South 1st. They offer so many beautiful designs and styles. I think that earrings make such a sweet gift. Earrings are something your sister can use throughout the year. Bold earrings are on trend right now, so ones like pictured below can make any outfit feel complete. They are even nickel free for sensitive ears. Image Source: ManaCulture

FOR YOUR BOYFRIEND

It's fun to get out of the house and try something new together as a couple. Personally, Kyle and I love cooking. When we first started dating, Wednesdays were our nights to hang out and we always made dinner together. So, enjoying a cooking class together is a such a wonderful gift idea. Even if you're not great in the kitchen, this is sure to be a fun experience. Faraday’s Kitchen Store in Bee Cave offers lots of cooking classes. You can check out their schedule here.

Image Source: FaradaysKitchenStore.com — Image Source: FaradaysKitchenStore.com

FOR YOUR NEPHEWS/NIECES

Spending a day at the Thinkery with your niece or nephew is a great way to bond with them and have some fun! Unfortunately, my nephews are in Minnesota. But, if your family is coming into town or they already live in Austin, spending a day at the museum can be a ton of fun for everyone!

If you're looking for cool interactive toys, Whole Earth Provision Co. also has an amazing kid's section. The location on South Lamar near Central Market has an abundant amount of choices for all ages. I highly suggest checking them out.

FOR YOUR OUT-OF-STATE FAMILY

If you're shopping for friends and family outside of the great state of Texas, giving them a chance to experience the flavors of Texas is an awesome gift idea. Salt Lick is a must-see barbeque joint just South of Austin. Anytime family visits, we take them here. Salt Lick offers a great gift set of sauces and rubs, so that your family can try making their own Texas BBQ no matter where they are located.

I hope this post gave you some fun gift giving ideas for the holiday season. If you found this helpful or you have some other local businesses I should check out, let me know in the comments! Wishing you all a happy holiday season.

XO,