The 2025 Austin City Limits Music Festival contributed nearly $560 million to the local economy and generated $8.5 million for Austin's public parks system, festival organizers announced May 4, one day ahead of ACL's 2026 lineup reveal.

The details: The six-day festival drew 78 local vendors, and was responsible for more than 3,300 full-time job equivalents—both full- and part-time employees' hours worked—and more than $195 million in pay to Austin employees. Since ACL's economic impact was first tracked in 2006, it's generated $4.7 billion for Austin's economy and either created or sustained nearly 43,000 jobs.

Proceeds from the 2025 festival will also result in various park improvements citywide, adding to the more than $79 million directed to 260-plus Austin park improvements since the late 2000s.

What's next: This year, ACL is being held Oct. 2-4 and 9-11 at Zilker Park. The 2026 lineup will be announced at 9 a.m. May 5, followed by three-day festival tickets being made available at noon.

Orange Pocket opened in West Campus on Valentine’s Day stocked with blind boxes, beauty products and collectibles, according to its Instagram

What they offer: The store sells jewelry, snacks, blind boxes, skincare, keychains, plushies and more. Orange Pocket is stocked with popular brands such as Pokémon, Sonny Angel, Jellycat and Smiski.

More details: The grand opening featured free tote bags for the first 200 customers, as well as Sonny Angel and Smiski giveaways.

• 2222 Rio Grande St., Ste. 170, Austin

Harris Elementary students moved into a fully modernized campus in January.

The $56.28 million modernization—funded by the district's 2022 bond—includes new classrooms, administrative offices and outdoor learning areas along with a new cafeteria and gym, Principal Sonya Wyatt said at an April 28 ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Notable quote: “This is everything that we envision—opportunities for us to unlock our students and see how well it was worth the wait," Wyatt said.

The overview: More than 100 Harris Elementary students, parents and teachers gathered alongside district and city officials to celebrate the new campus April 28.

Established in 1954, the original Harris Elementary building no longer met the needs of its students, Wyatt said. Since 2023, the campus has operated out of the former Sims Elementary, which closed in 2021, while construction was underway on the new school.

A closer look: The modernized Harris Elementary features:

• Flexible spaces for a variety of teaching and learning styles
• Mental health and wellness areas
• Outdoor learning opportunities
• Community support spaces
• Professional learning centers
• Technology upgrades
• Enhanced security features

Check out the latest Austin metro transportation project updates.

Upcoming projects
Lakeline Boulevard shared-use path
Project: A 10-foot paved shared-use path is planned along Lakeline Boulevard in Cedar Park between New Hope Drive and Little Elm Trail to improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity.
Update: According to city officials, design is 90% complete. Plans have been revised to modify an existing roadway bridge rather than construct a new pedestrian bridge, with final design and permitting ongoing.

• Timeline: 2024-26
• Cost: $10.5 million
• Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation

• Timeline: 2026-29
• Cost: $68.4 million
• Funding source: Austin 2016 mobility bond, TxDOT