It looks like festival season is coming around the corner faster than we expected! If you’re based in Texas or you’re just dying to hit up the next music festival, look no further ado to the IllFest Music & Arts Festival.

The IllFest Music & Arts Festival is a two-day event based in Austin, Texas that centers around dance culture, art, and community. As it originally took place for only one day at the Travis County Exposition Center back in 2019, the festival is now expanding its horizons into two days with a new venue spot at the Circuit of the Americas race track. Taking place this month, February 18-19th, attendees can expect the best of the best in electronic dance music and physical creativity. Tickets are currently $199 for general admission and you can get them here.

This year’s IllFest Music & Arts Festival lineup features some of the biggest names of dance music, varying from the house, dubstep, experimental, and more. This year’s headliners include Kaskade and a special RL Grime and Baauer back-to-back set, as well as a roster of top-rising artists like Ekali, Malaa, Snakehips, and an electrifying Phantogram DJ set. There will also be a plethora of incredibly talented Texas locals taking over the IllFest stages that will for sure blow you out of the waters.

You probably are thinking, Hey this sounds like a hype festival, how should I plan this trip thoroughly? This is where we come in. We have compiled the ultimate raver’s guide in navigating this year’s IllFest Music & Arts Festival, from finding the best place to stay and travel to navigating the best after-party spots and food destinations. Hopefully, this will make your festival planning process a lot more smooth. 

Where is the closest airport and where should I stay?

The closest airport is the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which is about a 10-15 minute drive from the festival grounds. As it is the only main airport, there are many nearby hotels that are usually vacant and rent out their rooms for solid prices. 

I want to stay close to the IllFest Music & Arts Festival

Right now, hotels that reside next to the airport are offering rooms with rates ranging from $80 to $150 per night. As some of these hotels may not provide the luxuries that a five-star hotel might, these places are perfect for those wanting to not spend too much money.

If you fall in that category, you should definitely check out Super 8 by Wyndham Austin/Airport South, the Motel 6 Austin, or the Extended Stay America Premier Suites - Austin Airport, as they are offering rooms for less than $120 per night. If you’re looking for something a little nicer and more expensive, yet still close to the race track, the Courtyard by Marriott Austin Airport is highly recommended.

If you’re in search of places to eat throughout the weekend, there are a lot of food options near the festival. If you plan on staying right near the airport, there are chains like Starbucks, Waffle House, and Denny’s nearby. On the other hand, if you are trying to find some local spots nearby, P Terry's Burger Stand and Henry's Barbecue, along with a bunch of local Mexican joints. Live Oak Brewing Company is also right around the corner from most of the hotels near the airport! 

I don’t care about how far the venue is, I want to stay in the city

If you’re looking to elevate your IllFest experience in the city of Austin as well, you’re in luck! There are plenty of places to stay and eat deep in the heart of the capital of Texas. There are a lot of districts in the city that provide places to stay and eat, but it depends on your budget as some areas may be more pricey than others. Therefore, there are still some nice prices being offered for rooms around the Downtown District.

The Residence Inn by Marriott Austin Downtown/Convention Center is offering rooms for under $200 for the week of the IllFest Music & Arts Festival if you’re looking for a place where all the action is taking place. Meanwhile, the Tommie Austin is offering rooms for about $200 per night, as it is centered in the middle of the Sixth Street Historic District. If you’re looking to stay right next to the 35-freeway, which is the closest main highway that will take you to the festival grounds, the Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol is offering up rooms for approximately $175 a night. Last but not least, if you’re really looking to elevate your luxurious experience, check out rooms at the Canopy by Hilton Austin Downtown, as they are offering rooms for approximately $250 per night.

Everyone knows that Austin is one of the biggest foodie cities in the country, so it is extremely hard to narrow down the best spots to eat downtown for your festival weekend. However, if we had to only recommend a few spots, we highly suggest Güero’s Taco Bar on Congress Street or Hoboken Pie in Downtown. Austin also is home to a plethora of local chains that will for sure not disappoint. We also extremely suggest trying some of the food trucks you see around the city, as they make some of the most delicious food you could ever think of. 

To Conclude

We hope our raver’s guide to navigating the IllFest Music & Arts Festival weekend helped you in your festival planning. As the festival is less than three weeks away, it may be time to start planning the ultimate weekend. It may not be exactly festival season as of yet, but Austin is definitely kicking into high gears with an epic and memorable “ill” weekend.