Ep. 32 Austin City Limits Festival 2025: Ultimate Packing Guide

Heading to Austin City Limits 2025? We’ve got your complete ACL packing guide. What to bring for travel, festival days, and everything in between.

We’re gearing up for Weekend Two of ACL (October 10–12) with all the essentials you’ll need, from hotel logistics to ACL’s official bag policies.

Our list covers the basics (don’t forget your wristband!) plus smart hacks for surviving the Texas heat, including what to pack in your CamelBak, must-have chargers, fans, sunscreen, medications, and more.

Whether it’s your first ACL or your fifth, this episode is your go-to prep guide.

Transcript

Introduction to Austin City Limits

Vanessa 0:00

Hey, Sunny.

Sunny 0:01

Yeah Vanessa? 

Vanessa 0:02

What do you call the two best friends that love music festivals?

Sunny 0:05

Hmm, I guess you'd call them Festies!

Vanessa 0:40

Hello, Festies. We are back with some more Austin City Limits content. We decided that we're gonna release an episode about Austin City Limits up until Austin City Limits. Austin City Limits. Yeah. Saying that three times really fast sounds Austin City Limits. Austin City Limits. Austin City. Okay. I don't know why I was stuttering earlier. It's not that bad. ACL. ACL. Sorry we didn't give you any like background information on this festival, but we're going to right now. Austin City Limits is a music festival held at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. It's a three-day festival. Um, it's actually been around for a long time. I didn't realize how long it had been going on for. It's like 20 plus years. It started in 2002, and at first it was just a one-weekend thing. And then in 2013 they did the two weekends. And so this year, weekend one is on.

Sunny 1:36

Sorry, So sorry.

Vanessa 1:38

 Fly go in your mouth?

Sunny 1:38

You're gonna have to start that sentence over.

Vanessa 1:40

Oh, there is a fly. Sunny almost choked on a fly. This year, weekend one is on October 3rd through 5th. And then weekend two, which is the one we're going to, is October 10th through 12th.

Sunny 1:56

Yes 

Vanessa 1:56

I've never been to a weekend two of anything. 

Sunny 1:56

I am a huge weekend two fan.

Vanessa 1:59

The only thing that I think is gonna be worse weekend two is the dust. And we'll get into that in the next episode. But anyways.

Sunny 2:07

Yeah, that is true. The grounds are more worn down.

Hotel vs Airbnb Planning Considerations

Vanessa 2:09

Yeah, but it's okay. Today we're gonna talk about what we're packing for Austin City Limits. Since we're flying, we kind of have to prep a little differently for this kind of festival than like if we were just driving down to Coachella or Stagecoach or Outside Lands.

Sunny 2:24

Right.

Vanessa 2:24

So we are gonna go over quickly like our packing list for the plane ride there and then what we're packing to go into the actual festival.

Sunny 2:37

This is

Vanessa 2:39

stupid birds. Oh my god. We need a soundproof room.

Sunny 2:42

I know, really. We're also planning differently for this festival because we're staying at a hotel.

Vanessa 2:48

Oh yeah, it's not an Airbnb.

Sunny 2:50

Yeah, not an Airbnb. We're not camping.

Vanessa 2:53

Yeah, that's true. I feel like in a way that's easier because you don't have to worry about groceries and like all the stuff you'd have to deal with at an Airbnb.

Sunny 3:02

There is a kitchen at our hotel.

Vanessa 3:04

Oh, nice.

Sunny 3:04

So we can get some groceries, but there's also free breakfast, which is my favorite thing in the world.

Vanessa 3:10

It's the only reason we chose this hotel.

Sunny 3:12

The only

Vanessa 3:15

maybe one of the two reasons. It's close to the venue and it was free breakfast.

Sunny 3:20

For me, is it even worth staying at a hotel if there's no free breakfast?

Vanessa 3:23

The answer to that is no. I asked you about the kitchen earlier before we started recording because I know Ed's gonna want to do like eggs and steak because he's like on his carnivore diet. So

Sunny 3:33

nice.

Vanessa 3:34

I'm glad there's a kitchen so we can eat eggs and bacon for breakfast and steaks for dinner.

Sunny 3:38

Yeah.

Vanessa 3:38

Or a late night snack.

Sunny 3:40

You know, Clark loves to cook, so we can just sit back and relax.

Vanessa 3:45

Ed's a good cook too, so that's perfect.

Sunny 3:47

Just kidding. We'll do the dishes.

Vanessa 3:49

I'll make the eggs. Actually, Sunny will beat the eggs and I will cook them.

Sunny 3:54

Outside lands a few years ago, I got up early before everyone, and I was like, How can I help? And I beat all the eggs, and then they sat there for like another half hour.

Vanessa 4:03

They were like, So you're gonna cook them? You're like, nope, I'm gonna ruin them. I'm just gonna beat them.

Sunny 4:07

Yep. Sorry, where were we?

Vanessa 4:10

Do you want to start with your whole packing list?

Sunny 4:13

Maybe you should go first because I saw your list first, and then I was like, what is she missing?

Our Travel Packing Lists

Vanessa 4:20

Ah, okay. All right. So besides the obvious, which is like toiletries, makeup, and like my straightener, curler, whatever.

Sunny 4:28

You did not have that there.

Vanessa 4:29

No, I didn't. I just I

Sunny 4:31

the last time I looked because I have toiletry.

Vanessa 4:34

I know I didn't because it was obvious, but I was like, might as well throw it in there because I saw you put in um what'd you put?

Sunny 4:40

I just looked at this.

Vanessa 4:41

No, you're right. I did add the those first three things. All I had was like three festival outfits, two additional outfits, PJs, which I wrote because I saw you write it. I wrote it. And then like Camelback, all my stuff that I'm bringing into the festival, which we'll list later on. And then I always bring my Thera gun. You know what that is, right?

Sunny 5:01

Yeah, of course.

Vanessa 5:02

My massage gun.

Sunny 5:03

Yeah.

Vanessa 5:04

And then oh, did you write wristband?

Sunny 5:07

Yeah.

Vanessa 5:07

In all caps. That's a good point because I forgot my wristband at Bonnaro a few years ago, which it was ended up being canceled, so it didn't matter. But thanks for putting that in all caps under my section. Um okay, so back to the Theragun. I I have to have that because whenever I feel super restless, that's like the only thing that lets me sleep. I have to like run that thing all over my body and then I can sleep.

Sunny 5:30

Like restless leg?

Vanessa 5:31

Yeah, restless leg. Sometimes I get like restless body. Me and Ed. And plus like all that walking, it'll be nice to have. I think I'm gonna wear a cowgirl hat, so I have to like either find a way to put that in my suitcase or wear it to the airport. And then I think that's it. Comfy shoes, obviously, that goes along with like my festival outfits. I don't really know what I'm wearing yet, so I'm gonna try and pack really um what's the word? Light.

Sunny 6:02

Yeah,

Vanessa 6:04

I was gonna say limited. Really light because I'm not checking a bag and it's just three days, you know. Your turn.

Sunny 6:11

My turn. I have pajamas.

Vanessa 6:13

Don't forget that.

Sunny 6:14

Don't forget your pajamas, medication, that's important. Your ID and boarding pass, obvious. Flight stuff. Phone charger, battery pack, snacks, light sweater. Sometimes it can get hold on the plane.

Vanessa 6:28

Yes, true.

Sunny 6:29

Even though it's gonna be hot in Austin.

Vanessa 6:30

Yeah.

Sunny 6:31

Did you say comfy shoes?

Vanessa 6:32

I did.

Sunny 6:33

Okay. Um, I second that.

Festival Day Essentials

Vanessa 6:35

Okay. Um, okay, so that was what we're bringing with us in general. And then we broke it down in a different section to like what we're actually bringing into the festival. So for that, for my section is my camelback. In my camelback, I'll have a portable charger with cords. I have to have to have to have a fan. Obviously, sunscreen too. It's gonna be really hot, wallet, ID, and credit cards.

Sunny 7:00

Yep,

Vanessa 7:00

bandana, have to have butt wipes, because so many times I've gone into porta potties, I have no toilet paper, meds, like Advil, Tylenol. My back always hurts.

Sunny 7:12

Benadryl, no I'm just kidding.

Vanessa 7:13

Benadryl, yes, Claritin, not Benadryl.

Sunny 7:16

No, not Benadryl.

Vanessa 7:17

Not Benadryl.

Sunny 7:18

Unless you're trying to have a good time,

Vanessa 7:19

or fall asleep. Um, my ear gasm earplugs,

Sunny 7:23

yep,

Vanessa 7:24

band-aids, glow sticks if they let us, which Ed added that in, but I'm like, we always bring glow sticks, and he's never once used them.

Sunny 7:32

I've never even been aware of you bringing glow sticks.

Vanessa 7:35

Yeah, it's it's like Ed's favorite thing. Anytime he goes anywhere where they have glow sticks, he buys them. And like we'll use them at home, but like we never use them at festivals.

Sunny 7:44

Use them at home for what?

Vanessa 7:47

That's a good question. We have little raves in our room. No. The last time I remember him using one was like we went on vacation into like where did we go? Albuquerque, and there was like a ceiling fan. We turned the lights off and we like attached it to the ceiling fan, and we were just like watching it go in circles.

Sunny 8:09

Hours of entertainment.

Vanessa 8:11

We were not sober, so that's why it was it was fun. And then my vlog camera, which I don't own yet, but I'm gonna buy one. If you have recommendations on which one I should get, let me know. The little lavalier mics, and then the wristband. Oh, I wrote wristband on there.

Sunny 8:27

Nice sunglasses is one that you missed. Another important one is emergency contact. Put that on your phone recently. I've been seeing people on their screensavers like type out if found, call whatever number. So like we could put each other's numbers or whatever.

Vanessa 8:46

Smart.

Sunny 8:47

Chapstick, did you have chapstick?

Vanessa 8:49

I don't use chapstick anymore.

Sunny 8:51

Oh, you're off the

Vanessa 8:52

I'm off the sauce, as Ed would say.

Sunny 8:54

She was a chapstick addict.

Vanessa 8:57

Fun fact, I didn't believe this at first, but if you stop using chapstick, you won't fucking need to use chapstick because all chapstick does is dry your lips out so that you need to buy more, and it's just a vicious cycle. And I didn't believe it at first, but I stopped using it. I think I went through like a month of like, fuck, I want my chapstick, but I'm not gonna do it. And now I don't need it at all.

Sunny 9:20

Wow.

Vanessa 9:21

So save your money, stop using chapstick. You don't need it.

Sunny 9:24

You heard it here from Nurse Vanessa hand sanitizer. I like to bring eye drops, ones for like itchy eyes, and saline eye drops. That's all I have for into the festival. Oh, but I did want to go through the official policies, like what you can bring and

Vanessa 9:41

oh yes,

Sunny 9:42

can't bring. Is that okay?

Vanessa 9:43

Yeah.

ACL Official Policies and Restrictions

Sunny 9:44

This might get a little slow and boring, but it's important to know because no one wants to show up to the festival and have to throw shit out. Food and drink rules. No outside food or beverages, including alcohol. Duh. You can bring an empty reusable bottle or hydration packs. Make sure you bring them in empty and then you can fill it inside. You can bring factory sealed electrolyte packets, single serve. So if you want to bring your packet of liquid IV.

Vanessa 10:12

I think your meds have to be single served too, like those little bags of Tylenol and Advil and all that stuff.

Sunny 10:17

Oh, yeah, you can get those from the dollar store. Medical exceptions, prescription meds, and medically approved coolers. I guess there's some medical no, you I don't know why I need to explain that to you. Mansplaining.

Vanessa 10:28

It's for the listeners.

Sunny 10:30

For prescription meds. The policy is to bring them in a prescription bottle that matches your ID. Other allowed items are baby strollers, including stroller wagons with the child present. You have to have a kid.

Vanessa 10:44

We just show up with the stroller and no kid.

Sunny 10:47

Like, where's the kid?

Vanessa 10:47

He's inside already.

Sunny 10:50

You can bring chairs, except inflatables or chairs with shade structures. You can bring binoculars, blankets, and towels, basic cameras, so basically like no detachable lenses or accessories, hand sanitizer, less than 3.4 ounces, and sunscreen, non-aerosol, same thing, less than 3.4 ounces. I paused because it was the less than or equal to sign. And I was like, what the fuck is that? Um portable chargers, misting fans, bring them in empty. Totems and flags

Vanessa 11:26

are allowed?

Sunny 11:27

Less than or equal to seven feet tall, and then less than or equal to one inch in diameter.

Vanessa 11:33

Oh, okay.

Sunny 11:34

With lightweight materials. Ooh, we can make a festies one. Okay. You can also bring factory sealed Narcan kits.

Vanessa 11:42

They also give them out there.

Sunny 11:44

Nice. Hell yeah. Um, over-the-counter medicines are allowed, but like Vanessa said, a day supply, you can't bring in a whole bottle of Advil.

Vanessa 11:53

I think it has to be closed. So if you do bring like a little bottle, I was talking about like the packets that are like single use.

Sunny 11:59

Yeah.

Vanessa 11:59

But I think you can bring like a small closed bottle. It just has to be like sealed.

Sunny 12:04

Oh, like the twist off little ones? Prohibited items, bags not meeting the bag policy. You cannot bring aerosol containers, including sunscreen and beauty products, coolers, except medical, professional photo, video, or audio equipment, frisbees, hammocks, inflatables, glass, umbrellas, pets, except service animals, skateboards, scooters, bikes, carts, wagons, motorized vehicles,

Vanessa 12:28

darn

Sunny 12:28

tents, canopies, shade structures, unauthorized vending, flyers, giveaways, uh, weapons, fireworks, chains, slash spiked jewelry, and smoking and vaping are banned in Zilker Park.

Vanessa 12:41

Good thing Ed quit smoking.

Sunny 12:43

Let's go over the uh bag policy.

Vanessa 12:46

Okay.

Sunny 12:47

Real quick.

Vanessa 12:48

So you can have small bags, no bigger than six by nine. They don't have to be clear. You can have bigger bags, but those bigger than six by nine have to be clear, but they can't be bigger than twelve by twelve by six. And you can have hydration packs too, but I think those it's like the one pocket ones, right?

Sunny 13:06

Two extra pockets besides the one that holds your water.

Vanessa 13:09

Oh, that's nice. I wonder if they would make us dump out ice.

Sunny 13:13

Doesn't hurt to try.

Vanessa 13:14

Yeah. I'll bring I'm gonna bring some ice in there because it's gonna be so hot.

Sunny 13:18

Yeah. Um I think that's it for the bag policy.

Vanessa 13:21

Cool. Sorry if that was kind of boring, but we are big planners. We love a packing list, so we thought maybe you guys would want to know.

Sunny 13:31

Yeah.

Vanessa 13:32

Sometimes I like will look up things like this, and they'll just give me like the most obvious things, and then I'm like, okay, but I want to know everything.

Sunny 13:40

Yeah, right.

Vanessa 13:41

What are you bringing? So hopefully this gives you a little bit more detail.

Sunny 13:44

And if you have any items that you bring to festivals, please hit us up in our DMs and let us know.

Vanessa 13:50

And we'll share it with our followers.

Sunny 13:52

Yes.

Vanessa 13:53

All right, Festies, are we done?

Sunny 13:55

Yeah.

Closing Thoughts and Social Media

Vanessa 13:59

All right, Festies.

Sunny 14:00

Wait, wait, wait. I'm just kidding.

Vanessa 14:01

Go ahead.

Sunny 14:01

I'm just kidding. Just kidding. Sorry. Go ahead.

Vanessa 14:05

Okay, Festies, we love you so much. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at Festies Podcast and leave us a five-star rating and review wherever you listen to your podcasts. And we'll catch you on the next one for more Austin City Limits content.

Sunny 14:20

Bye.

Vanessa 14:21

Goodbye.