{"id":457225,"date":"2026-10-05T19:26:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T19:26:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/457225\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T19:26:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T19:26:15","slug":"zilker-park-after-acl-will-austin-restore-the-great-lawn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/457225\/","title":{"rendered":"Zilker Park after ACL: Will Austin restore the Great Lawn?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Weekend One of Austin City Limits Music Festival <\/a>left large sections of the Zilker Park Great Lawn churned into thick mud<\/a> after days of\u00a0rain<\/a>, prompting criticism from Austin City Council Member Ryan Alter and raising questions about how the city and festival organizers will restore the park before thousands more attendees arrive for Weekend Two.<\/p>\n

Alter, whose district includes Zilker Park, said the damage to the Great Lawn was \u201cunacceptable\u201d despite acknowledging the festival\u2019s importance to Austin.<\/p>\n

\u201cACL is a great event for Austin, its residents, visitors, and our economy but the damage we\u2019ve witnessed to the Great Lawn is unacceptable,\u201d Alter wrote in a statement Saturday.<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe Great Lawn is a public asset that must be available for everyone after the festival, but I\u2019m very worried it won\u2019t be. I\u2019ve told C3 and city staff that something needs to change to protect from further damage. The public deserves to know the decisions that led to this, what is being done to fix it, and assurances that it will never happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alter said in a Monday interview that he spoke up because he was concerned about how long it might take to restore the park, adding that he had full confidence that C3 Presents \u2014 the festival\u2019s organizers \u2014 would refurbish the lawn. He said he thought it was worth highlighting the damage and making sure the city has good processes and protections in place to protect Zilker Park.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a situation like this, I just want to make sure we\u2019re not doing any kind of underlying damage that would require some kind of longer remediation process,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

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Alter said he had spoken with Parks and Recreation Department officials and C3 Presents about efforts to protect the lawn and what amount of rain would make conditions too wet for the festival to continue as planned. He said his understanding was that organizers took the available precautions and ultimately faced a longer stretch of rain than forecasts initially called for. Crews had put down mulch ahead of the festival to create a barrier over the grass and took additional steps Saturday, including scraping away layers of mud in an effort to protect the turf underneath, Alter said.<\/p>\n

\"Cleanup<\/p>\n

Cleanup crews work to remove mud at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jay Janner\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n

Under the city’s current agreement with C3 Presents, the festival is responsible for repairing damage it causes to Zilker Park, including damage to plant life. Austin’s parks director determines whether damage occurred, how much it will reasonably cost to repair and whether the festival is responsible for paying.<\/p>\n

ACL organizers told the American-Statesman they will remove temporary turf and ground protection used during Weekend One as they prepare for the festival’s second weekend.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe will prioritize rest and recovery of the park this week by strictly limiting activity on the grounds before next weekend,\u201d organizers said in an email.<\/p>\n

\"Festival<\/p>\n

Festival staff transports flooring to help with the mud behind the scenes at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.<\/p>\n

Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n

Organizers said an assessment of the grounds is underway and that they will meet daily with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department to \u201cprepare for remediation after the festival.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parks officials have historically required ACL organizers to pay for turf repairs. After ACL in 2021, the city required C3 to coordinate and pay for all turf repairs and charged the company about $59,000 in post-event fees while remediation was underway. A $500 daily fee continued while repaired areas remained closed to the public to allow new grass to grow, according to Parks and Recreation Department records.<\/p>\n

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The city’s new 15-year agreement, however, no longer spells out those remediation fees. Instead, parks officials have said applicable fees are determined each year through a separate scope-of-work agreement, allowing the city to adjust its fee schedule without rewriting the long-term agreement.<\/p>\n

The American-Statesman reached out to city officials for further comment on the state of the park after Weekend One and plans to repair the grounds after the festival.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

An attendee walks through the mud at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.<\/p>\n

Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n

ACL\u00a0Fest? No, Mudfest<\/p>\n

For\u00a0festivalgoers, the muddy conditions became the defining story of Weekend One.<\/p>\n

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Before ACL turned into Mudfest, Ryan, who wanted to be identified only by his first name, wasn\u2019t sure he\u2019d make it to Austin at all.<\/p>\n

The 56-year-old’s American Airlines flight from New Jersey was delayed eight times because of \u201cinclement weather,\u201d leaving him stranded in Dallas before he finally arrived.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got stranded in Dallas,\u201d he told the Statesman on Sunday night outside the\u00a0Snapchat stage minutes before The War on Drugs performed.<\/p>\n

Yet the five-time Austin City Limits Music Festival veteran and IT professional was in high spirits after finally reuniting with his two longtime friends who live here.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m a white Irish guy from New Jersey,\u201d he said. \u201cExcept for the mud, which can be dealt with, this is my favorite ACL because I die in the sun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heavy downpours on Thursday and Friday turned Zilker Park\u2019s grass into vast, deep reserves of mud. Personal electronics were buried. Groundskeepers could only pool the mud into tall piles to smooth out the terrain. During electronic musician It\u2019s Murph\u2019s concert, attendees could be seen diving into the piles.<\/p>\n

Saturday night, after R\u00fcf\u00fcs Du Sol closed the festival, another attendee was filmed pulling someone from what appeared to be a waist-deep mud pit.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait so there was also quicksand over there too?\u201d one\u00a0commenter joked on Instagram.<\/p>\n

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Those who failed to secure rain boots before they sold out across Austin quickly discovered sneakers weren\u2019t built for the conditions.\u00a0Festivalgoers reported shoes coming apart after trudging through the thick mud. Others joked online that attendees in premium viewing areas still had grass\u00a0\u2014 suddenly one of Weekend One\u2019s most coveted amenities.<\/p>\n

Despite multiple social media creators sharing warnings about Dillo Dirt <\/a>leading up to the first weekend of the festival, organizers confirmed the material has not been used since 2009. That year, heavy rains damaged Zilker Park, prompting the use of the material \u2014 primarily made up of yard trimmings and treated wastewater solids \u2014 to resurface the park.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Megan Reynolds, 22, a Stella Lefty fan from College Station, said last year\u2019s warmer ACL was more enjoyable. It wasn\u2019t just her \u201coutfit choices\u201d or packing ponchos that were more problematic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been very scared of slipping because I have a messed-up ankle,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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\"Play\"ACL_Mudfest_2026.mp4\"<\/p>\n

Rain, mud and music collided during the first weekend of the 2026 Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park. Despite the less than ideal conditions, tens of thousands of music fans made the best of it while a grounds crew struggled to overcome Mother Nature and a weekend of wet weather.<\/p>\n

Jay Janner, Sara Diggins, Mikala Compton<\/p>\n

The music of Mudfest<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t gonna play this one, but it\u2019s raining,\u201d country singer Jesse Welles told the crowd Friday before covering Creedence Clearwater Revival\u2019s \u201cHave You Ever Seen the Rain?\u201d<\/p>\n

The weather turned many performances into loose, self-aware sets.<\/p>\n

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An hour later, Baltimore rock band Turnstile introduced children of all ages to hardcore pits as patchy debris flew.<\/p>\n

\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans mosh to Turnstile at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman\"Turnstile<\/p>\n

Turnstile performs at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jay Janner\/Austin American-Statesman\"Yeslyann<\/p>\n

Yeslyann Cruz and Billy Mounlasy kiss in the Turnstile mosh pit at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

MIkala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman\"Brad<\/p>\n

Brad Tuma finds a lost shoe in the mud during Turnstile’s performance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jay Janner\/Austin American-Statesman\"Turnstile<\/p>\n

Turnstile performs at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jay Janner\/Austin American-Statesman\"Lance<\/p>\n

Lance Steiner of Denver watches Turnstile’s performance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jay Janner\/Austin American-Statesman\"People<\/p>\n

People mosh in the mud during Turnstile’s performance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jay Janner\/Austin American-Statesman\"People<\/p>\n

People mosh in the mud during Turnstile’s performance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jay Janner\/Austin American-Statesman\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans mosh to Turnstile at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman\"Turnstile<\/p>\n

Turnstile performs at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jay Janner\/Austin American-Statesman\"Kitty<\/p>\n

Kitty Divine watches Turnstile’s performance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jay Janner\/Austin American-Statesman\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans mosh to Turnstile at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans mosh to Turnstile at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans mosh to Turnstile at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans mosh to Turnstile at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans mosh to Turnstile at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans mosh to Turnstile at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans mosh to Turnstile at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans mosh to Turnstile at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans mosh to Turnstile at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman\"People<\/p>\n

People mosh in the mud during Turnstile’s performance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jay Janner\/Austin American-Statesman\"Hannah<\/p>\n

Hannah Roth, left, of Anchorage, Alaska, and Kaylee Adelmann, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, watch Turnstile’s performance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jay Janner\/Austin American-Statesman\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans mosh to Turnstile at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

MIkala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman\"Karlis<\/p>\n

Karlis Vidass watches Turnstile perform at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n

Austin’s Flight By Nothing drew the short straw, performing Sunday afternoon during a downpour. Singer Conner Redden told the Statesman that the set was a “giant, group bonding experience” that was “electric,” “supportive” and featured two separate\u00a0mosh pits.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been a lot of years where it\u2019s 100 degrees and it\u2019s brutal. And I kind of like the rain. As long as people’s sets don\u2019t get canceled,\u201d Redden said.<\/p>\n

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Acts by Saturday’s early performers, such as Austin\u2019s Left Lucid, were canceled after doors were delayed by two hours.<\/p>\n

British singer Lola Young tried to cheer folks up. In her own way.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people here are very attractive,\u201d she said of Mudfest attendees.<\/p>\n

Then a man she identified as “L.J.,” whom she said reached out via social media, proposed in the middle of her American Express stage crowd.<\/p>\n

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\u201cDid she say yes?\u201d Young asked the patron, before announcing to roaring applause: \u201cWe have an engaged couple.\u201d<\/p>\n

And then the sun came out as pop star Audrey Hobert performed her hit “Sue Me” on the T-Mobile stage. The clouds came back shortly afterward; although\u00a0concertgoers got relief from rain, they did not get relief from the mud.<\/p>\n

\u2014 City Hall reporter Chaya Tong contributed to this report.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Weekend One of Austin City Limits Music Festival left large sections of the Zilker Park Great Lawn churned…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":457226,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[132,134,133],"class_list":["post-457225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-austin","tag-austin","tag-austin-headlines","tag-austin-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457225","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=457225"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457225\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/457226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=457225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=457225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=457225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}