AUSTIN, Texas — Float Fest is back, but it will be off of the water and at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin.

What You Need To Know

  • The Central Texas music festival has had a tumultuous history. For its first four years, Float Fest hosted about 25,000 people at Cool River Ranch, located on the San Marcos River

  • In 2018, Guadalupe County officials denied permits for the music festival, but they ultimately reached a settlement with the festival's founder, allowing the festival to continue at Cool River Ranch

  • But in 2019, the Guadalupe County Commissioners Court denied the music festival’s permits after an over three-hour discussion. The decision was final, and Float Fest 2019 subsequently canceled after organizers scrambled to find another location but were unsuccessful

  • The last time Float Fest occurred was in 2022 in Gonzales, Texas, on the Guadalupe River

The Central Texas music festival has had a tumultuous history. For its first four years, Float Fest hosted about 25,000 people at Cool River Ranch, located on the San Marcos River.

In 2018, the fifth annual Float Fest hit a snag when the Guadalupe County commissioners voted not to grant the festival a permit. The festival’s founder then sued the commissioners over their decision. 

Ultimately, the two parties reached a settlement, and Float Fest 2018 was given the green light. 

But in 2019, the Guadalupe County Commissioners Court denied the music festival’s permits after an over three-hour discussion. The court cited road impacts as their main reasoning for denying the permits, but they also mentioned noise, profanity and river impacts as other concerns. 

The decision was final, and Float Fest 2019 subsequently canceled after organizers scrambled to find another location but were unsuccessful. 

The event was canceled again in 2020 due to the pandemic. 

The last time Float Fest occurred was in 2022 in Gonzales, Texas, on the Guadalupe River. 

Now, Float Fest 2024 has moved north to Austin. It will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7 in the Germania Insurance Amphitheater at the Circuit of the Americas.

The festival’s headliner will be Lil Wayne, along with performances by The Kid LAROI, Jessie Murphy, Angela Herim and Preston Wayne.

According to the festival’s website, there will be no floating at the music festival, but floating passes are available for purchase, which can be redeemed for one trip down the San Marcos River with Texas State Tubes between Sept. 5-15. 

Tickets for the event start at $49, and the presale starts at 10 a.m. Wednesday, with tickets available to the general public starting at 10 a.m. Thursday on Ticketmaster.