Austin City Limits Fest is Back, and What it Means
On Saturday, C3 Presents announced its Austin City Limits (ACL) Fest would be held live at Zilker Park this October. The two weekend event was last held in October 2019, five months before Austin’s first known COVID-19 case, and the subsequent protocols which cancelled large outdoor events..
Why it matters: ACL Fest is one Austin’s major cultural events both in attendance and economic impact (the other being South by Southwest, aka SXSW aka South By, cancelled last year due to the pandemic). In 2019, ACL Fest drew 75,000+ people (approx.) to Zilker Park over two weekends (3 days each). This translated into over $291 million to the local economy, 3,126 jobs created, and produced $119 million in labor income. (Source: AngelouEconomics)
What is known: Austin is currently at Stage 4 under Austin’s COVID-19 Risk-Based Guidelines. These prohibit outdoor gatherings in excess of 10 people without Mayor Adler’s approval (there are exceptions). At Stage 2 gathering limits increase to 25, and at Stage 1 gathering size is “TBD”.
The big picture: ACL Fest happening is, for many Austnites, the mark of a return to “normalcy” and a needed economic boost to the city at large. While the production format has yet to be announced, it could provide a potential warm-up for the return of a live SXSW, the city’s largest cultural event in terms of economic impact (In 2019 the 14 day event generated $355.9 million into the Austin economy). More to come.
Key Stakeholders:
Austin Mayor Steve Adler
Dr. Mark E. Escott, MD, City Interim Medical Director and Health Authority
3 Presents (ACL Fest’s organizers)
Austin Parks Foundation
Austin Parks and Recreation Department
You got questions or comments? Email us at: info@binghamgp.com
Additional Links:
List of Cancelled Events for 2020 Spring Festival Season (City of Austin)
Austin officials cancel South by Southwest festival (AP News, March 6, 2020)