ACL Fest Weekend Two is here. The 25th anniversary closes its final weekend at Zilker Park with Charli XCX returning Friday night, Lorde headlining Saturday, and Kings of Leon closing Sunday on the main stage while The XX headlines simultaneously. Kacey Musgraves brings the Middle of Nowhere Tour to Moody Center for a second night on Friday. Foster the People plays Moody Amphitheater on Sunday. Noga Erez kicks off ACL Nights at Scoot Inn Friday. Lola Young headlines ACL Nights at Stubb’s on Friday. Claire Rosinkranz plays 3TEN Saturday. The Eastside Kings Festival brings soul, blues, jazz, and gospel across five walkable East Austin venues all weekend. Pumpkin Nights runs at Pioneer Farms through October. And Lake Travis is delivering the most beautiful fall afternoons of the entire year. Here is everything worth doing from Thursday through Sunday.
Quick Answer — Best Things to Do in Austin This Weekend October 9 to 11
This weekend in Austin is headlined by Lake Travis Zipline Adventures for the best outdoor experience of the ACL weekend, ACL Fest 25th Anniversary Weekend Two at Zilker Park with Charli XCX Friday, Lorde Saturday, Kings of Leon and The XX Sunday, Kacey Musgraves at Moody Center Friday, Foster the People at Moody Amphitheater Sunday, ACL Nights: Noga Erez at Scoot Inn Friday, ACL Nights: Lola Young at Stubb’s Friday, ACL Nights: Claire Rosinkranz at 3TEN Saturday, the Eastside Kings Festival across East Austin venues all weekend, Pumpkin Nights at Pioneer Farms, the Hye Steaks Cookout, and Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee on Thursday. Here is the complete breakdown.
#1 Best Thing to Do in Austin This Weekend — Lake Travis Zipline Adventures
Before Charli XCX and Lorde and Kings of Leon. Before all of it. Book this first.
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the single best thing to do in Austin this ACL weekend. October on Lake Travis is the most beautiful time of the entire year. The Hill Country has shifted into fall colors. The air is crisp and comfortable at altitude. And the view from 22 stories above the water on a clear October afternoon is genuinely extraordinary.
As someone who has guided zipline tours on Lake Travis, I can tell you that October is the month that returning guests consistently describe as the most beautiful time they have ever been on the lake. The fall light. The Hill Country colors. The cool breeze on the Double Barrel Shotgun. There is simply no better version of this experience available all year.
Here is how it works. Your group boards a boat that takes everyone across Lake Travis to Zip Island, about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin. Then you spend three hours on five world-class ziplines through the Texas Hill Country. The Double Barrel Shotgun sends two people side by side over 2,800 feet of cable at up to 65 mph from 22 stories above Lake Travis. After the tour your ticket includes full-day access to the lakefront property on Zip Island. Swim off the dock. Relax in hammocks. Enjoy the most beautiful fall afternoon in Austin. Then head back to the city for an ACL weekend you will not forget.
The Details
- 5-Line Zipline Tour: $138/person, includes full-day lakefront access after the tour
- Double Barrel Single-Line Tour: $88/person
- Duration: 3 hours plus full-day lakefront access after
- Location: About 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin on Lake Travis
- Best For: Groups, couples, families, all experience levels
- Reservations: Required at laketraviszipline.com
Pro Tip: ACL Weekend Two afternoon slots fill up fast. Book your afternoon tour now at laketraviszipline.com before the weekend sells out.
Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures before your ACL weekend spot sells out.
Thursday, October 8 — Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee
Mozart’s Coffee Roasters on Lake Austin and Lake Austin Calm host Movies on the Lake every Thursday at 8:30 PM. A massive screen goes up right on the water. Watch free from the deck or rent a paddleboard, donut boat, or lounge float and watch from the lake itself. Live music plays before the film and a pop-up bar runs all evening.
A Thursday evening on Lake Austin the night before ACL Fest Weekend Two opens is the most peaceful and most genuinely beautiful way to begin the most electric weekend Austin produces all fall.
The Details
- When: Thursday October 8, live music before 8:30 PM, film at 8:30 PM
- Where: Mozart’s Coffee Roasters, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin TX 78703
- Cost: Free deck seating with RSVP, paddleboard $20, lounge float $30, donut boat $150
- Water Rentals: lakeaustincalm.com
Pro Tip: Water rentals sell out every week. Book now at lakeaustincalm.com.
Thursday and Friday — Kacey Musgraves: Middle of Nowhere Tour at Moody Center
Kacey Musgraves brings the Middle of Nowhere Tour to Moody Center for two nights, October 7 and 8. If you missed night one on Wednesday, Friday October 8 is your second chance. Kacey Musgraves is one of the most genuinely gifted and most warmly loved singer-songwriters in country and pop music. Her Middle of Nowhere album, released May 1, 2026, is her most celebrated work since Golden Hour. A Moody Center show on the eve of ACL Weekend Two is the perfect opening act for the most music-saturated weekend Austin produces all fall.
The Details
- When: Friday October 9, check moodycenteratx.com for time
- Where: Moody Center ATX, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr, Austin TX 78712
- Tickets: Available at all major ticketing platforms and moodycenteratx.com
- Best For: Country and indie pop fans, anyone who wants the strongest non-ACL show of the weekend
Friday through Sunday — ACL Fest 25th Anniversary Weekend Two
ACL Fest Weekend Two is the final chapter of the 25th anniversary and the lineup delivers on that milestone. The festival runs Friday October 9 through Sunday October 11 at Zilker Park from noon to 10 PM daily. Nine stages. Over 100 performances. Three days.
Friday October 9: Charli XCX headlines the American Express Stage, returning for Weekend Two. Also on Friday: Noga Erez as a Weekend Two exclusive on the festival grounds. Rodrigo y Gabriela, Lola Young, Turnstile, and Blood Orange are among the strongest supporting acts.
Saturday October 10: Lorde headlines the T-Mobile Stage at 8:15 PM. Lorde’s ACL set is one of the most genuinely extraordinary and most emotionally powerful live performances of the entire festival. Also on Saturday: The War on Drugs, SOFI TUKKER, Labrinth, Lykke Li, Suki Waterhouse, Amyl and the Sniffers, and Natasha Bedingfield across the nine stages.
Sunday October 11: Kings of Leon headlines the American Express Stage. The XX closes the T-Mobile Stage simultaneously. Parcels, Young Miko, and Wave to Earth are among the strongest Sunday supporting acts.
Note: The Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma happens in Dallas on Saturday October 10. The Longhorns are not at home this weekend. That means no game day traffic layered on top of ACL Saturday, making this the most logistically comfortable ACL weekend possible.
The Details
- When: Friday October 9 through Sunday October 11, noon to 10 PM daily
- Where: Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin TX 78746
- Tickets: 3-day GA passes from $440, single-day Sunday from $200 at aclfestival.com
- Getting There: No parking at Zilker Park. Take CapMetro, rideshare, or walk. Shuttle boarding at Sand Beach Park. Noon Friday and 11 AM weekend starts, last returns 11 PM.
- Best For: Everyone. This is the final weekend of the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest music festivals in the world.
Friday, October 9 — ACL Nights: Noga Erez at Scoot Inn
Noga Erez performs at Historic Scoot Inn on Friday October 9 as part of ACL Nights presented by American Express. Noga Erez is one of the most genuinely innovative and most critically acclaimed artists performing in Austin this weekend and her ACL Nights show at Scoot Inn is the most artistically compelling Friday aftershow option for anyone who wants something genuinely different from the main stage headliners.
The Details
- When: Friday October 9
- Where: Historic Scoot Inn, 1308 E 4th St, Austin TX 78702
- Best For: Indie and experimental music fans, the strongest intimate Friday night ACL Nights option
Friday, October 9 — ACL Nights: Lola Young at Stubb’s
Lola Young headlines Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater on Friday October 9 as part of ACL Nights. Lola Young is one of the most talked-about emerging British pop artists of 2026 and her ACL Nights show at Stubb’s outdoor amphitheater is one of the strongest and most accessible Friday aftershow options of the entire festival weekend. Stubb’s outdoor setting on a cool October night is genuinely one of the most beautiful live music environments in Austin.
The Details
- When: Friday October 9
- Where: Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater, 801 Red River St, Austin TX 78701
- Tickets: Available at stubbsaustin.com
- Best For: Indie and pop music fans, a beautiful and energetic Friday ACL Nights experience
Saturday, October 10 — ACL Nights: Claire Rosinkranz at 3TEN
Claire Rosinkranz performs at 3TEN Austin City Limits Live on Saturday October 10 as part of ACL Nights. 3TEN is one of Austin’s most intimate and most beautifully designed venue spaces and a Saturday night Claire Rosinkranz show there after a full day of ACL sets at Zilker Park is the most perfectly scaled aftershow experience of the weekend.
The Details
- When: Saturday October 10
- Where: 3TEN Austin City Limits Live, 310 W Willie Nelson Blvd, Austin TX 78701
- Best For: Indie pop fans, anyone who wants an intimate Saturday night aftershow
All Weekend — Eastside Kings Festival
The Eastside Kings Festival brings a full weekend of soul food, blues, jazz, and gospel to five walkable East Austin venues. National musicians and local artists perform across the festival footprint with the kind of genuinely community-rooted and genuinely joyful atmosphere that only East Austin produces.
For anyone at ACL Fest who wants a complete break from the Zilker Park energy, the Eastside Kings Festival is the most authentically Austin alternative available this weekend. The combination of live music, soul food, and the East Sixth Street neighborhood makes it one of those only-in-Austin experiences that visiting music lovers consistently describe as an unexpected highlight.
The Details
- When: All weekend October 9 to 11, 2026
- Where: Five walkable East Austin venues, check local listings for full venue lineup
- Best For: Soul, blues, jazz, and gospel fans, anyone who wants a genuinely community-rooted music festival alternative to ACL
All Weekend — Pumpkin Nights at Pioneer Farms
Pumpkin Nights at Pioneer Farms is a half-mile journey through nine immersive pumpkin lands featuring more than 10,000 hand-carved and custom-designed pumpkins. After the walk, Pumpkin Village delivers festive food, games, and a live fire show. It is one of the most visually extraordinary and most family-friendly fall evening experiences available in Austin and the October evenings at Pioneer Farms are genuinely magical.
The Details
- Where: Pioneer Farms, Austin TX
- When: Running through October 2026, check pumpkinnights.com for hours and tickets
- Best For: Families, couples, anyone who wants the most visually stunning fall evening experience in Austin
Saturday, October 10 — Hye Steaks Cookout
The Hye Steaks Cookout delivers an evening of Texas steaks, bourbon cocktails, and chef-crafted bites. Eight action stations serve creations from top Texas chefs. Live-fire cooking, a cigar lounge, and a limited-edition bourbon bottle round out the experience. It is one of the most genuinely excellent and most uniquely Texas evening events available this weekend for anyone who wants something completely different from the festival scene.
The Details
- When: Saturday October 10
- Where: Check local listings for venue and time
- Best For: Food lovers, steak enthusiasts, a genuinely excellent Texas culinary experience alongside ACL weekend
Sunday, October 11 — Foster the People at Moody Amphitheater
Foster the People performs at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park on Sunday October 11. Foster the People is one of the most beloved indie pop bands of the last 15 years and a Sunday afternoon show at Moody Amphitheater, one of Austin’s most beautiful outdoor venues, is the perfect way to close out an ACL weekend that has already delivered Charli XCX, Lorde, and Kings of Leon. The Waterloo Park setting with the downtown Austin skyline behind the stage makes it one of the most photogenic concert experiences of the entire weekend.
The Details
- When: Sunday October 11
- Where: Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park, 1401 Trinity St, Austin TX 78701
- Tickets: Available at all major ticketing platforms
- Best For: Indie pop fans, a beautiful Sunday afternoon concert to close out ACL weekend
All Weekend — The Austin Essentials
After 30 years in Austin, these are the October experiences I recommend without hesitation.
Barton Springs Pool stays at 68 degrees year round. October is genuinely one of the most beautiful months to swim at Barton Springs. The surrounding Zilker Park trees are turning. The crowds are smaller than summer. And the cool October air makes a midday swim genuinely restorative between ACL Fest sets.
The Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony is still producing nightly emergences in early October before the migration south accelerates. Check batrefuge.org for nightly emergence times. Every evening this weekend delivers a beautiful bat colony emergence.
The Perfect ACL Weekend Two Itinerary
Here is how to put the full weekend together.
Thursday Evening: Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee on Lake Austin at 8:30 PM. Book your paddleboard now at lakeaustincalm.com. Then Kacey Musgraves at Moody Center for the most powerful non-ACL show of the weekend eve.
Friday: Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in the afternoon. Book your afternoon tour now at laketraviszipline.com. Be back in Austin by 5 PM. Then ACL Fest gates for the Charli XCX Friday headliner at Zilker Park. Then Noga Erez at Scoot Inn or Lola Young at Stubb’s as the ACL Nights aftershow.
Saturday: Barton Springs Pool early before gates open. Then ACL Fest for Lorde headlining Saturday night at Zilker. Then Claire Rosinkranz at 3TEN as the Saturday aftershow. Hye Steaks Cookout as the alternative for non-festival Saturday evening dining.
Sunday: Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in the afternoon if you did not go Friday. Book at laketraviszipline.com. Then Foster the People at Moody Amphitheater in the afternoon. Then ACL Fest closing day with Kings of Leon and The XX closing out the 25th anniversary. Congress Avenue Bridge bats at sunset to close out the most extraordinary Austin fall weekend of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions — Things to Do in Austin This Weekend
What is happening in Austin this weekend October 9 to 11 2026?
This weekend in Austin features ACL Fest 25th Anniversary Weekend Two at Zilker Park with Charli XCX Friday, Lorde Saturday, and Kings of Leon and The XX Sunday. Also this weekend: Kacey Musgraves at Moody Center Friday, Foster the People at Moody Amphitheater Sunday, ACL Nights with Noga Erez at Scoot Inn and Lola Young at Stubb’s on Friday and Claire Rosinkranz at 3TEN on Saturday, the Eastside Kings Festival across East Austin venues all weekend, Pumpkin Nights at Pioneer Farms, and the Hye Steaks Cookout on Saturday. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the best outdoor activity of the weekend.
What is the best thing to do in Austin this weekend?
The best thing to do in Austin this weekend is Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. You board a boat to an island on Lake Travis about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin and spend three hours on five world-class ziplines including the Double Barrel Shotgun at speeds up to 65 mph from 22 stories above the lake. October is the most beautiful time of the entire year on Lake Travis. After the tour your group gets full-day access to the lakefront property. Tickets start at $88 per person. Book afternoon slots now at laketraviszipline.com.
Who are the ACL Fest Weekend Two headliners?
ACL Fest 2026 Weekend Two headliners are Charli XCX on Friday October 9, Lorde on Saturday October 10 at 8:15 PM on the T-Mobile Stage, and Kings of Leon on Sunday October 11 on the American Express Stage with The XX closing the T-Mobile Stage simultaneously. Additional Weekend Two highlights include Parcels, The War on Drugs, Rodrigo y Gabriela, SOFI TUKKER, Lola Young, Labrinth, Blood Orange, Lykke Li, Suki Waterhouse, Amyl and the Sniffers, Natasha Bedingfield, Young Miko, and Wave to Earth.
What are ACL Nights for Weekend Two?
ACL Nights presented by American Express are official aftershow events at Austin venues every evening of the festival. Weekend Two Friday highlights include Noga Erez at Historic Scoot Inn and Lola Young at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater. Weekend Two Saturday highlights include Claire Rosinkranz at 3TEN Austin City Limits Live. ACL Nights tickets are separate from ACL Fest passes and are available at all major ticketing platforms.
What is the Eastside Kings Festival in Austin?
The Eastside Kings Festival is a weekend of soul food, blues, jazz, and gospel with performances from national musicians and local artists across five walkable East Austin venues during ACL Fest weekend October 9 to 11, 2026. It is one of the most genuinely community-rooted and most authentically Austin music festival alternatives available this weekend.
Make the Most of ACL Fest 25th Anniversary Weekend Two
The final weekend of the 25th anniversary of Austin City Limits Music Festival is here. Charli XCX returns Friday. Lorde headlines Saturday. Kings of Leon closes Sunday. ACL Nights fill the best Austin venues every evening. Kacey Musgraves plays Moody Center Friday. Foster the People plays Moody Amphitheater Sunday. The Eastside Kings Festival runs all weekend across East Austin. And the most beautiful fall afternoon of the year is waiting for you on Lake Travis before the gates open Friday.
Start by locking in your outdoor adventure. Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures now at laketraviszipline.com and secure your afternoon slot before ACL Weekend Two sells out. Then RSVP for Movies on the Lake at lakeaustincalm.com for Thursday night.
For more Austin inspiration check out our complete ACL Fest 2026 Guide, Best Things to Do in Austin TX, and Best Things to Do in Austin in the Fall.
About the Author
Rebecca is a 30-year Austin resident, UT Austin alumna, and outdoor recreation and tourism professional who has spent her career in the Austin adventure tourism industry. She has guided zipline tours on Lake Travis and worked in outdoor recreation tourism through the University of Texas, where she studied marketing and business. When she is not writing about Austin, she is out on the lake.