 "Photo: Peter Franklin")
 "Photo: Peter Franklin")
 "Photo: Peter Franklin")
Austin has braced itself for the stampede of music lovers headed for the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park this weekend.
With the gates opening at 11:00 a.m. today, the city expects more than 60,000 outside visitors to attend the three-day music festival, said Cynthia Maddox, spokeswoman for the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"The festival is now in its sixth year and has become one of those icons that Austin is known for," she said. "Along with South by Southwest, it really brings the spotlight to Austin as a music mecca."
The city will gross more than $27 million from the festival, including dining, hotel and tourist expenses paid by ticket holders. Among all the tickets purchased, Maddox said 60 percent were purchased from people outside of the city.
Since early September, the newly named company C3 Presents began building preparations for Austin City Limits' landscape and setup for its eight stages, said spokeswoman Brittany Pearce.
About 65,000 people will pass through the park gates each day to enjoy the 130 bands performing at the festival, she said.
"This event fills the hotels, the restaurants and packs the famous Sixth Street with tons of people," Maddox said.
Ron Dusek, spokesman for Hilton Austin, said every year many hotels prepare with additional staff to accommodate the maximum number of occupants.
"It's a tremendous boom to Austin's economy and to its hotels," he said. "All of Austin is very grateful and happy for all of the fans."
Misty Whited, a spokeswoman for Capital Metro, said last year's festival provided free bus transportation for 109,452 riders to and from Zilker Park. This year, the numbers are projected to increase, she said.
"Around 10:30 a.m., the buses will begin to continuously transport people at the stop on Fourth and Guadalupe streets," she said. "The buses will be used for shuttles until the end of Sunday."
Capital Metro will have nearly 100 volunteers at various locations including Republic Square, Zilker Park and throughout the shuttle route to ensure efficiency and safety, she said. Motor coach buses will be available for handicapped services as well, she said.
"Stay away from the downtown area because it tends to be really congested," Maddox said. "If you can, park away from downtown."
The upcoming weekend will prove a bane for Austin's drivers. Aside from the music festival, the Fiesta de Independencia at Waterloo Park and the Mexican American Cultural Center's grand opening will also cause delays in downtown throughout the weekend, according to a city press release.
Street closures are in effect around Zilker Park today through Sunday.
Be the first to comment on this article!