Guidelines approved to move Fun Fun Fun Fest forward

Garza said he does not foresee FFF Fest relocating to Waterloo Park, its original location, when the area reopens.

District 4 Council Member Greg Casar said it was important to find a way to allow FFF Fest to occur this year because the event showcases many local artists and has been relocated multiple times because of construction at its former locations.

“Lots of locals in this festival get the same exposure as national acts so that makes it, in my view, an important event in a time when it’s not getting much easier to be a musician in Austin,” Casar said.

Representatives for Settlement Home and Austin Opera told Austin City Council during the Aug. 6 meeting they were concerned about their patrons being able to park at Palmer Events Center and the noise from FFF Fest’s musical performances interfering with other events.

“We cannot have the sound bleed that we had last year,” said Marilyn Wilson, development director for Settlement Home. “Last year the sound bleed from the sound check alone was annoying, and it caused the dishes to rattle and we couldn’t hear each other talk.”

Representatives from all three events expressed a desire for better long-term planning to occur so the events are not all scheduled for the same space during the same weekend. Garza told council he provided city staff with five possible dates the music festival could occur.

Garza said they will send push notifications, send out social media blasts and have information available online and on handouts to make festival attendees, estimated to be 20,000 people, aware of transportation options and parking areas. FFF Fest will provide shuttles from parking lots to the stage area as well as a bike valet, he said.

“It would be almost impossible for any one person or any one group to control the actions of 20,000 people. However, we do as much as we can and what we think is reasonable,” Garza said. “We try to do as much as we can and if there are other things we need to try and solve, I’m happy to to do that.”

Per the agreement City Council passed Aug. 6, FFF Fest can utilize up to 1 acre of the off-leash area at Vic Mathias Shores. How much of the off-leash area would close caused concern among neighbors who use the park recreationally and for their dogs.