Two Step Inn 2023 - Guide to the Show!

I have a good guide for the Austin City Limits Music Festival that makes good sense, because I've been there many times.  It has changed over time, as the rules have adjusted and the whole Festival has shifted into a bigger deal with better food and better drink and easier ticketing.  So, I don't know much about this Festival yet, other than what I can find online, but I thought it still might be useful to try to collect some of that for everyone!

Transportation and Parking:  Definitely one of the biggest drawbacks to a festival in Georgetown.  This park is at San Gabriel Park, north of downtown Georgetown, and which is just East of I-35 near the intersection of 158 and 971.  There is no parking at the venue, and the streets around the venue will tow.  So, the Fest gives you two options:

• Barton Creek Mall to Festival shuttle.  Roundtrip tickets are $50 per day.  That actually sounds kind of nice to just remove all of the stress!
• Georgetown High School or East View High School (also in Georgetown).  You can reserve a free parking space and get a complimentary ride to the Festival.  Pretty sweet!  Sadly, everyone else was already on top of that and those are all sold out.

So, maybe the right move is to drive up to somewhere with a large an unassuming parking lot, and then nab an Uber to the festival.  Drop off spot for RideShare is 1003 N. Austin Ave.  Right across the highway there is a Walmart and a Home Depot, those look pretty close...  I also wonder if you could just park at Georgetown High and either walk from there or Uber.  It looks to be not far on the map.  No solid answer yet, but a few options.

Food Options:  They actually provided a list of vendors!  Of the items that are listed there, here are the items that are of interest:

• Classics that always show up at ACL and crush it: East Side King (Pork Buns 4 LYFE), Burro Cheese Kitchen (Hawaiian roll sammies), Southside Flying Pizza.
• Interesting things I want to try: Brotherton's Black Iron BBQ, Mama Fried, Hombre Tacos
• Stuff I do not enjoy after prior experiences: Mmmpenadas.  Bananarchy.
• Weird thing to see on this list: El Patio.  I mean, I love me some El Patio.  Classic.  But are they going to give me an enchilada plate with saltines?
• Research:
• Taconmaye is a taco truck from Georgetown with a 4.5 rating on Yelp.
• The Cavalier is an East Austin bar with a 4.1 Yelp rating.
• Golden Rule is a cocktail bar in Georgetown with a 3.8 Yelp rating.

Also, once you get your wristband, sign up for the cashless thing so that you can use your wristband to buy your food and drink.  You will be very grateful that you did!

Drink Options:  They'll have water re-filling stations, so you can bring an empty water bottle or camelback.  The map shows seven bar locations, but gives no detail on what will be served there. A closer look at the map shows that some of the bars have stars near them with other text, like "Jack Daniels 80 Proof Saloon" or "Jack and Coke Airstream" or "White Claw Shore Club."  So, I think we can expect some Jack Daniels, Tito's, Bud Light, White Claw, and Chateau Ste. Michelle wine.  But otherwise, who knows!?

Backpacks/ bags.  This works like ACL - No real backpacks!  It can ONLY be: (1) clutch/fanny pack (6 x 9 inches or smaller, and only one pocket); (2) clear plastic, but small (no larger than 12 x 12 x 6); or (3) an empty Camelback bag, but no more than two pockets in addition to the one holding the water sac.  You'll be pissed if you forget and have to go back to the car or throw away your sweet backpack.

Other gear.  They will search whatever you bring, so know that it will delay your entry, the more you pack.  You can bring chairs, blankets, binoculars, cameras, etc.  BUT, no aerosol cans (so no spray sunscreen!) Also, no coolers, no hammocks, no umbrellas, no drugs, no drones, no spiked jewelry, and no bikes.  My advice is just to wear comfortable clothes, bring cream sunscreen in one pocket and a phone charger in the other, and just roll with it.

Other random advice:

• Rendezvous point.  At ACL, it can be really hard to text your friends, and also to see them in the crowd.  So, plan ahead and just expect that your phone may die and you might need to meet back up with your friend or kid or ride at a certain predetermined spot in the park.  Be careful using the flags that people raise to mark their spots, as those move and they are also sometimes duplicated.  It is easy to get separated, so have a predetermined spot to meet.  From the map, the Red Poppy Ranch looks pretty central.
• Thievery.  I have heard a lot of anecdotal stories about folks having stuff stolen at the Fest - especially girls having their cell phones pinched out of their back pockets while they are watching a show.  WHICH SUCKS.  Asshat thieves.  So, since fanny packs are allowed in this year, maybe a little fanny pack is a good idea to store the cell phone?  Either way, just be aware!
• No COVID test requirement or anything.

This is going to be fun.  See y'all there.