“ACL Fest 2009: How To Rock Out and Stay Green”

Lyzette and I hydrating at ACL '07 with Local/Organic prickly pear lemonade

I’ve been an ACL Fest lover/goer for as long as I’ve been an Austinite.  My friends and I are usually the nerds  running around between shows picking up bottles and cans.  Well this year things have changed.  Word on the street is it’s hip to be green.  I can finally be part of the “cool clique.”  Not to mention, if you are green this year, ACL rewards you with a chance to win a new Honda Insight (that’s a car, not enlightenment) through Rock & Recycle.  Sound cool?  Here’s how to play, and a few other Ari Tips on how to stay green at ACL Music Fest 2009.

When you walk in, be sure to snag an ACL program to get your green card.  (Don’t forget to recycle your program when you’re done with it).  Next, earn stamps by doing environmentally friendly things around Zilker.  Once you have 3 stamps, turn it in to the Rock & Recycle Center.  Heck, turn in three stamped cards while you’re at it.

How to earns stamps:

• Check out the Insight at the Honda Eco Zone
• Visit the Rock & Recycle Center to pick a bag you’ll return full of recyclables
• Ride the shuttle
• Ride your bike
• Refill your water bottle at the free H20 stations
• Buy an ACL Music Fest carbon offset tag
• Visit a non-profit kiosk

Bonus points (out of the goodness of your heart):

• Eat sustainably/organically while  you’re in the park. Our fave, P. Terry‘s, will be in the park!  Stop by for some yumminess.  P.T isn’t the only organic option you have, so shop around.
• Make sustainable purchases at the SoCo Art Market. ACL usually offers eclectic and exciting green shopping.  Enjoy it while you have all of these great works in one place.
• Don’t forget to bring your reusable water bottles. Don’t take the factory sealed ones.  It just doesn’t make sense since ACL provides free water once you’re in.  It’ll just create more waste.
• Take a hat or a little umbrella.  Keeping cool this way makes you less inclined to pouring water all over yourself.  That’s what Barton Springs is for!
• Visit Schlumpy (the billion bag blob) and take the Billion Bag Pledge
• HAVE FUN!!!

COMMENT: Have any tips on rocking out and staying green at ACL Fest 2009?

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