Custom merch for ACL Festival weekend in Austin.
ACL Festival runs two weekends in October at Zilker Park. Austin Print Co. produces artist tour merch, vendor and food service staff apparel, sponsor activation merch, crew apparel, and Austin business ACL weekend programs for the brands, venues, labels, artists, and operators active during ACL weekends.
- DTF for album art
- W1 → W2 reorder window
- Performance staff blanks
- Small-batch friendly
Built for festival workflows
- Roland DTF for photo + illustration art
- Automatic screen press for volume runs
- Reserved Mon–Thu reorder capacity
- Performance blends for crew + vendors
- Small-batch artist runs (100+ pcs)
- Tajima embroidery for crew caps + polos
Who buys ACL Festival weekend merch
ACL Festival weekend merch buyers at APC split across six categories: artists and bands on the ACL lineup producing show merch for stage sales and fan activations; record labels managing tour merch and artist roster apparel for their ACL artists; festival vendors and food service operators contracted to operate at the Zilker Park festival site across both weekends; corporate sponsors running activation programming on site at the festival and at associated Austin venues during festival week; production and crew companies operating the festival itself — stages, sound, lighting, and operations; and Austin restaurants, bars, and retailers running ACL weekend promotional programs across South Austin, Downtown, and East Austin.
What ACL Festival weekend buyers typically order
Artist tour merch and band T shirts
Band tees, hoodies, caps, and tour merch for ACL lineup artists. 100-piece boutique runs through 1,000+ headliner runs. DTF for photo art, screen for simple logos.
Vendor and food service staff apparel
Branded staff tees, polos, caps, and aprons for vendor staff operating F&B and retail concessions. Performance fabric or poly-cotton for October heat.
Sponsor activation merch
Branded tees, hats, drinkware, and giveaway items for corporate sponsor activations on site and at associated sponsor events across festival week.
Production and crew apparel
Branded tees, hoodies, and work shirts for stage crew, production, security, transportation, and operations. Durable performance blend with subtle branded treatment.
Austin business ACL weekend apparel
Branded tees, caps, and staff apparel for Austin restaurants, bars, and retailers running ACL weekend promos and themed programs across South Austin, Downtown, and East Austin.
Services APC provides for ACL Festival weekend
Screen printing on the automatic press handles volume band merch, vendor staff shirts, and sponsor activation giveaways. DTF is critical for artist merch — album art, photography, and illustration-heavy band art rarely reproduces cleanly in screen ink. Custom embroidery on the Tajima TMAR K1508C handles venue operator polos, premium crew caps, and label staff apparel. Promo supports sponsor giveaways, guest gifting, and VIP hospitality kits.
Screen printing for band merch
Volume runs of vendor staff and sponsor activation tees.
Learn moreDTF printing for album art and photo designs
Photoreal album art and illustration-heavy band designs.
Learn moreBulk T-shirt orders
Headliner runs, vendor wardrobes, sponsor giveaway drops.
Learn moreCustom embroidery for crew and staff caps
Tajima 8-head — venue polos, crew caps, label staff apparel.
Learn moreBands and music merch programs
Year-round artist and label programs beyond festival week.
Learn moreRestaurant and hospitality uniforms
ACL-weekend wardrobes for South Austin and Downtown venues.
Learn morePromotional products for sponsor activations
Drinkware, hats, totes, and VIP hospitality kits.
Learn moreSouth Congress delivery
Coordinated delivery to SoCo retailers and venues for ACL week.
Learn moreWhy ACL Festival weekend buyers choose APC
DTF for photo and illustration art
Most festival band art does not print cleanly as screen. Album photography, painterly illustrations, and multi-color gradient work all require DTF. APC runs a Roland DTF tuned for it.
Weekend One → Weekend Two reorder capacity
W1 sell-through informs W2 inventory. APC holds reserved reorder capacity in the Mon–Thu window between weekends so bands and vendors who sell out early can refill in time.
Durable fabric for October heat and crew wear
Crew and vendors spend 10+ hour days in the sun. APC recommends performance blend, moisture-wicking garments for staff and leaves cotton tees for retail merch where feel matters more than performance.
Small-batch artist and label friendly workflows
Emerging artists and independent labels don't always order 1,000 pieces. APC is built for small-batch artist runs, scaling up as demand grows through the festival weekends.
ACL Festival production timeline
- Jun – Aug
ACL lineup is typically announced in May. Artist merch planning locks in June and July. Vendor contracts finalize August.
- 8–10 weeks out
Recommended scope approval for artist tour merch, vendor staff apparel, and sponsor activation programs.
- 6 weeks out
Standard production window for the bulk of ACL weekend apparel.
- 3–4 weeks out
Rush production window. Late artist additions, vendor scope expansions, and scope additions move into reserved rush capacity.
- Weekend One
Last-minute artist reorders on reserved capacity. Same-day capacity extremely limited.
- Mon–Thu between weekends
Critical reorder window for bands and vendors that sold through early. APC holds reserved capacity for this window specifically.
Example ACL Festival weekend programs
Emerging band, two designs + W2 reorder
250 tees across two designs, 60 hoodies, and 100 caps for W1 stage sales. Full DTF run for photographic album art, delivered Wed before W1. Sold through tees by Saturday; 300-piece reorder placed Mon between weekends, delivered Friday for W2.
Both-weekends activation, full package
4,500 branded tees for attendee giveaways across both weekends, 80 embroidered polos for activation floor staff, and 200 branded backpacks for VIP programming. Six-week production with staggered delivery tracking the two-weekend schedule.
Vendor wardrobe with built-in reorder reserve
60 branded staff tees, 30 caps, and 60 vendor aprons across both weekends. Full wardrobe four weeks before festival opening, with W2 reorder capacity reserved up front.
Request an ACL Festival quote
ACL Festival projects benefit from early engagement. If your ACL weekend program is in planning, send scope details, activation type, expected volume, and artwork as early as possible. APC reserves production capacity on a first-booked basis for the October festival window.
Mon–Fri 9–6, Sat–Sun 10–4 (CT) · October books fast — F1 + ACL overlap
APC is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an official vendor of Austin City Limits Music Festival, C3 Presents, or Live Nation. All ACL, Austin City Limits, and related trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
ACL Festival merch FAQs
Festival apparel, artist merch, and brand activations for Austin City Limits weekends.
Can you produce ACL artist or brand activation merch on a tight timeline?
Yes. Festival timelines are our specialty. Call us early to reserve press time — the earlier you book, the more options you'll have.
Can you deliver to Zilker Park or downtown hotels?
Yes. We deliver to ACL load-in points, downtown hotels, and brand activation sites across Austin.
Do you offer retail-quality merch (tag/fold, polybag)?
Yes. We offer premium garments, tag-and-fold, polybagging, and barcode stickers for retail and merch tent sales.
What's the typical turnaround?
Standard production runs about 7–10 business days after artwork and PO are approved. Rush options are available — call us early so we can reserve press time.
How do I get a quote?
Send your artwork, quantity, garment preference, and deadline through our quote form or call (512) 200-2556 (Mon–Fri 9–6, Sat–Sun 10–4 (CT)). We typically reply within one business day.