Austin Weekend Guide: October 2-4

ACL Fest Weekend 1 starts today at Zilker, and the forecast is wet. Even if you are skipping the park, there is plenty happening around town, from oyster specials on South Lamar to a free cookie contest in North Austin. Here is the weekend, in order of how I would spend it.

ACL Fest Weekend 1: Day by Day

This is the 25th anniversary edition at Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd, with more than 100 performances on nine stages. The big news going in is rain. The National Weather Service put out a flood watch calling for at least two inches, and organizers have been clearing drains and speeding up setup. As of Friday morning there were no announced schedule changes, so check the ACL app before you leave. Wear rain boots and a waterproof jacket. Umbrellas are not allowed inside. Friday has the best early run. Hunx & His Punx kick things off at 1:15, Amyl & the Sniffers play at 4:30, and Turnstile follows at 6:15 on the T-Mobile stage. Charli XCX is listed at 8:35, which means anyone who wants Turnstile and Charli should plan to stay put in that corner of the park. The Skrillex conflict is the one to watch if you are a fan of both. Saturday is Lorde at 8:15, with Lykke Li at 7:30 and Suki Waterhouse at 4:15 for the early crowd. Sunday is the xx at 8:35. Geese at 6:20 and The War on Drugs at 7:30 overlap, so pick one. Times come from published lineups and can shift, so trust the app over this paragraph. First-timers, a few specifics. Skip driving. The free shuttle runs from Sand Beach Park and the Barton Springs west entrance, and rideshare surges hard at close. Clear bags only, 12 by 6 by 12 inches max, or a small clutch. Empty water bottles are fine. Pick a meeting spot, because cell service gets bad once the crowd builds. Single-day and weekend ticket pricing was not something I could confirm this morning, so check the official ACL site.

Saturday Morning Pick

Go to the Saturday farmers market downtown at Republic Square, 422 Guadalupe. It runs mornings and it is a good place to eat breakfast tacos standing up while the rain question sorts itself out. Get there before 10 for the best produce and the shortest lines. If the sky looks bad, the covered stalls around the edges keep you mostly dry.

Brunch Worth the Wait

Juan in a Million on East Cesar Chavez is the classic. Order the Don Juan, a huge breakfast taco with potato, egg, bacon and cheese. Expect a line out the door on a Saturday, though it moves quickly, usually 20 to 30 minutes. The other option is Kerbey Lane on a rainy morning. The gingerbread pancakes are the move, and the wait is shorter if you show up before 9. Neither takes reservations for small groups, so go early or go late.

Live Music This Weekend

Friday night, Mohawk at 912 Red River has Audrey Price, Hill Country and Very Busy People at 8, all ages. Hotel Vegas on East 6th has an EP release show for BS at 7 with Born Twins, Leo Napoleon and Gummy Fang. If you want something older and slower, the Blues Specialists play the Continental Club on South Congress at 6:30. Saturday, Mohawk hosts a hip-hop and EDM art night called YOU4IC starting at 5, and Earl Poole Ball plays the Continental Club at 3:30 before the evening sets. The Elephant Room downtown has jazz both nights, with sets Friday at 6 and 9. Antone's is running ACL Fest Nights programming all weekend. I could not confirm ticket prices for these, so check each venue before you go.

Sunday Chill

Sunday is a good day for the Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave. It is H-E-B Free First Sunday, with fall activities, screen printing and hands-on stuff from 10 to 5. Free, indoors, and an easy way to dodge the weather. Grab coffee on Congress beforehand and walk the Capitol grounds if the rain has stopped.

Local Hidden Gem

Austin Cookie Fest at SPACE512, 7531 Burnet Rd, runs Sunday from 11 to 3. It is free, with original cookies, live music and a friendly community competition. Most people will be at Zilker or asleep, so it should be easy to get in. Bring cash for a few extra cookies to take home.

💡 ATX Weekly Tip: Open the events view in the ATX Weekly app and filter by day to see what is happening Friday through Sunday. Save the shows you like so you can check them quickly if the weather changes your plans.