Ponchos, Puddles and Pure Joy: ACL Fest Weekend One Opens in the Mud
After a hot, dry September, Austin City Limits Music Festival opened its 24th year on Friday the way few people expected: soaked.
Heavy rain moved into Central Texas midweek, and by the time gates opened around noon on Day 1, Zilker Park was already feeling it.
A muddy start
The Austin area had picked up roughly 2 to 4 inches of rain over the previous two days, with some spots nearing 6 inches, and that rounds of tropical downpours kept coming on opening day. This year’s festival had already become the sixth wettest in ACL history by Friday.
Early photos and videos showed the lawn pocked with footprints and tire tracks, and mud pooling near the vendor areas.
Organizers had prepared in advance. Spectrum News 1 reported that crews cleared drains and sped up setup, and ACL said it was ready to go ahead as planned, recommending rain jackets and boots.
Umbrellas are not allowed inside the park, so ponchos were the fashion of the day. A flood watch for the Austin area was set to run until 7 p.m. Friday, but no cancellations had been announced.
How fans fared
Fans largely took it in stride.
The crowd kept its energy up despite the overcast skies and damp ground, with more than 30 artists taking the stage on opening night. One attendee predicted the weekend would be a “fever dream,” and plenty of people seemed to agree that big sets feel more memorable in the rain. It was a notably different scene for a festival better known for blistering heat. Some fans scrambled for last-minute rain boots and extra ponchos.
For longtime festival-goers, the mud also stirred memories of 2009, when the freshly sodded Great Lawn turned into a sticky mess.
What’s ahead this weekend
BREAKING: DAY 2 OPENING DELAYED UNTIL 2:00 PM
The forecast offers only partial relief.
The outlook shows more showers and isolated storms today, with a high near 80, a low near 70, and about a 50% chance of rain.
ACL has fully canceled only one day in its history, Sunday of Weekend 2 in 2013, after more than four inches of rain fell on Zilker.
Tips if you’re heading in
- Wear waterproof shoes with good grip, and pack spare socks.
- Bring a poncho or rain jacket, since umbrellas are banned.
- Keep your phone and electronics in plastic bags.
- Follow the ACL app and official social accounts for schedule changes.
Sources:
- KXAN, “PHOTOS: How muddy are the ACL Festival grounds?” https://www.kxan.com/acl/photos-how-muddy-are-the-acl-festival-grounds/
- KXAN, “Preparing for the weather at ACL: What you can and can’t bring into the festival” https://www.kxan.com/acl/preparing-for-the-weather-at-acl-what-you-can-and-cant-bring-into-the-festival/
- FOX 7 Austin, “Rain, mud, and music: ACL 2026 kicks off Weekend One at Zilker Park” https://www.fox7austin.com/news/acl-music-festival-2026-day-1
- FOX 7 Austin, “ACL 2026: Could we see some rain, mud during Weekend One?” https://www.fox7austin.com/news/acl-2026-weekend-one-weather-forecast
- Spectrum News 1, “ACL Festival attendees brace for wet conditions” https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/news/2026/10/02/acl-festival-goers-brace-for-wet-conditions
- Austin American-Statesman, “Rainy ACL Fest? Here’s how to prepare for wet weather in Austin” https://www.statesman.com/entertainment/music/article/acl-fest-rain-weather-guide-22452434.php
- Houston Chronicle, “It’s about to be a ‘wet, muddy’ ACL Fest” https://www.chron.com/culture/article/acl-fest-austin-rain-22456768.php
- MySA, “Flood watch issued ahead of ACL Music Festival’s 2026 kickoff” https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/austin/article/acl-fest-flood-watch-22455240.php
A three-vehicle accident Friday night in Manor took the life of one driver.
A preliminary investigation indicates a vehicle traveling eastbound on US 290 approached stopped traffic and struck the rear of another vehicle. The impact pushed that vehicle into a third vehicle.
All eastbound lanes of US 290 between Threshold Ln and Gregg Manor Rd were closed for approximately three and a half hours while emergency personnel responded to the scene and the crash was investigated.
The identities of the involved parties are not being released at this time.
A stretch of U.S. 183 near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport was shut down in both directions early this morning as officials responded to a serious collision. (CBS Austin)
Southbound I-35 near downtown Austin was closed Friday morning after a semi-truck struck a bridge above the highway at 11th and 12th streets, prompting lane closures.
A high-rise construction project at 5th and Lavaca Streets will begin utility tie‑in work starting the week of October 5, resulting in temporary lane reductions in the area.
Beginning the week of October 5, crews will start installing raised crosswalks in place of the existing crosswalks at the roundabout on Highlands Boulevard in the Rough Hollow area of Lakeway.
The Austin Police Department arrested four people as part of an operation dubbed “Protect Our Parks.”
Officials collected and analyzed crime data from January 1, 2026, through June 9, 2026, in response to an increase in criminal activity, citizen complaints, and calls for service in the free use area near Barton Springs Pool. Reported incidents included aggravated robbery, burglary of a vehicle, narcotics offenses, and calls involving suspicious persons. (Austin Police Department)
APD’s Auto Theft Unit is requesting assistance with identifying two suspects involved in an auto theft that occurred on September 26 at approximately 3:29 a.m., in the 10100 block of Metropolitan Drive. Video surveillance from an in-car camera captured the suspect operating the stolen vehicle, which was later recovered. (Austin Police Department)
According to UT Austin Police, an Austin resident reportedly suffering from a mental health crisis made threats against the campus yesterday.
Austin Police arrested the individual early Friday morning and is the primary investigative agency. They say the individual has no affiliation with the University.
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN DAILY CRIME LOG
08/04/2026 to 10/03/2026
Nearly two weeks after an ICE officer shot and injured a man in north Austin, questions remain about what happened before, during and after the encounter.
This week on “Cause & Effect,” a closer look at the shooting and the ongoing investigation. KXAN-TV Investigator Grace Reader examines the circumstances surrounding the incident, what officials have revealed and the next steps in this complicated story.
Claudia Zapata, the Kyle City Council member for District 3, announced Friday that she will resign effective today, citing nearly a year of online harassment and abuse.
In a social media post, Zapata said Facebook groups dedicated to Kyle politics targeted her with what she described as “racist, homophobic, sexist and fatphobic attacks,” as well as “degrading and sexualized AI-generated images.”
She said the harassment extended beyond social media and into City Hall.
Some Austin City Council candidates across all five races missed an important deadline to disclose financial records.
In about two weeks, TxDOT crews will close the Lady Bird Lake south shore boardwalk on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at I-35 to accommodate construction of the pedestrian bridge.
WEATHER
FRIDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
NO ACTIVE WILDFIRES IN TEXAS TODAY
In a setback for the Trump administration, a federal judge in El Paso halted border wall construction in Texas’s Big Bend region on Friday. Issuing the order from the bench, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone barred the government from any construction, ground disturbance, or infrastructure development across the sector, siding with fierce local opposition.
State leaders are reporting a “slight uptick” in the number of people illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border.
President Donald Trump will return to Texas on Wednesday for a high-stakes campaign rally at the Freeman Coliseum, making his third trip to the Lone Star State in less than a month as Republicans fight to maintain control of Congress and key statewide races. (San Antonio Current)
Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina examine President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Texas and the Republican effort to appeal to Latino voters. The hosts also discuss the Trump administration’s taxpayer-funded campaign advertising and the role of political messaging heading into the midterms.
Find out what President Donald Trump has to say about Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton one month before the election, and we ask the President whether he regrets endorsing Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn.
And in Dallas County, Commissioners are asking residents to raise taxes to fund homelessness efforts. Commissioner John Wiley Price explains his opposition while families are struggling, while County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins will tell you why he thinks the permanent tax will help the county grow.
This week on Texas Matters: President Trump makes a Texas campaign stop in Texas. Inside Ken Paxton’s jet-setting travels. And a Texas State University anthropologist wins a “genius award.”
(Episode from October 2, 2026)
The ads are absolutely out of control.
We’ll have some fun with that but the truth is that the candidates are absolutely feeling the pressure to respond to some of what’s in the nonstop barrage of political commercials blanketing Texas right now. We’ll go out to East Texas on the campaign trail with Rep. Gina Hinojosa in her spirited campaign to unseat the strongest Republican in Texas. And what would Texas government look like if she was successful? It’s a conversation being had more and more in Austin. Our Publisher Harvey Kronberg explains how that unfolded the last time there was a divided government in Texas, which of course was more than three decades ago.
(Episode from October 2, 2026)
Remember redistricting in Texas? The plan was to try to secure more surefire wins for Republicans. Now we’re seeing some surprises. We’ll have the details today. And another political surprise possibly in the making: The governor’s race, initially not expected to be much of a battle for Gov. Abbott, is forcing many to reconsider.
(Episode from October 2, 2026)
Texas gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa joins Stephen A. Smith on Straight Shooter for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of Texas and her campaign against Governor Greg Abbott. Hinojosa lays out her positions on public schools, electricity costs, the Texas border, data centers, government spending and corporate influence in the state. She also explains why she has repeatedly challenged Abbott to debate and argues that Texas voters are looking for political change.
The guys discuss this week’s campaign happenings, dueling ads in the gubernatorial race, and the tongue-lashing delivered in committee.
A recent significant backlog of voter registration applications in Texas was caused by issues with a Texas Department of Public Safety online portal. While the backlog was fully identified in August, reports indicate that state leaders were aware of problems with the system months earlier.
The City of Taylor is considering a proposed agreement with Big Watt Digital and PowerHouse Data Centers to move forward with annexation and development for Taylor Technology Campus, formerly known as Project Mustang, a 664-acre project that includes data center facilities and on-site power generation. The proposed agreement will still go before City Council for a vote at the October 8 City Council meeting.
SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Area scores from high school action last night:
District 26-6A & Local 6A
- Austin High 35, Buda Hays 28
- Dripping Springs 28, Buda Johnson 7
- Del Valle 69, Austin Akins 0
- Cedar Ridge 77, McNeil 29
- Hutto 68, Cedar Park Vista Ridge 10
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The Texas Longhorns are taking a breather this Saturday, enjoying an open date on their schedule as they reset and recover. But with no game to prepare for today, all eyes in Austin are already locked on next weekend—when Texas heads to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas to renew one of college football’s fiercest matchups in the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma.
The Longhorns ramp up intensity during bye week as coaches push for perfection ahead of the Red River Showdown. Will Jermaine Bishop Jr.’s expanded role and a rejuvenated Arch Manning spark the offense against Oklahoma in Dallas?
Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Houston are all on the schedule today:
NHL: Mason McTavish scored only 94 seconds into his first game with the Blues to put them ahead to stay, Joel Hofer stopped 25 shots for his ninth career shutout and St. Louis won 4-0 at Dallas on Friday night in the season opener for both teams. (Associated Press via MSN)
TONGIHT
This video highlights several major infrastructure and industrial megaprojects across Texas that are actively under construction in 2026. These projects span various sectors, including healthcare, transportation, water management, energy, and advanced manufacturing.
These include:
- University Health Palo Alto Hospital: A new 500,000-square-foot hospital in San Antonio designed for future capacity growth.
- San Antonio International Airport (Terminal C): A $1.7 billion expansion project adding 18 gates to the existing airport facilities.
- Lake Ralph Hall: A new water reservoir and dam project in Fannon County designed to provide water for North Texas.
