ACL Attendance booms as bands hit stage

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Tens of thousand of people took over Zilker Park by late Friday noon as the kickoff of the ACL Music Festival kicked into high gear.

"I like the idea of immersing myself in another culture for a little while, " said Brad Toddler, visiting from Missouri to attend the weekend gathering of music.

Vendors set up alone streets leading into the park, taking advantage of the masses.

Jarritos Mexican soda company plans to hand out 40,000 free soft drinks over the next three days.

Local bands and artist also took advantage of the music loving crowd by setting up their own stages alone the entrance paths to entertain folks as they walk to ACL.

And while the crowd swelled, the prospect of a weekend of rain and thunderstorms loomed over the festivities.

• Photos: Storm clouds in afternoon
• ACL Fest lineup

Friday was hot and muggy and the rain stayed away .

The forecast for Saturday and Sunday is a little trickier. A warm, tropical flow from the Gulf of Mexico may produce some widely scattered showers during the day Saturday -- a 30 percent chance.

Still, more numerous rain showers and thunderstorms will be possible Saturday evening through early Sunday morning -- standing at a 60 percent chance.

A potent storm system moving from southern California to Kansas this weekend will drag a trailing front into our area Saturday night. Rain and some strong thunderstorms may form along the front and move across Central Texas during the evening, or possibly, overnight hours.

If the weak front can progress through the entire area by early Sunday, the weather may be mostly dry after Sunday morning -- though still warm and muggy. If the front stalls in our area, scattered showers and a few thunderstorms will remain possible through Sunday night.

Bottom line: It will be a good idea to keep an umbrella or rain poncho on hand all weekend.

That is also a good idea for Texas Longhorn fans heading to Dallas for the Oklahoma game in the Cotton Bowl Saturday. While the chance of rain is only 20 percent during the game, you might need the rain gear later in the day or Saturday night.

Otherwise, gusty south winds and temperatures in the 80s are forecast for the game.