AUSTIN, Texas — With Halloween and a University of Texas game bringing crowds downtown tonight, APD expects 80,000 to 100,000 people in the entertainment districts.
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Several people came to the bars early to try and beat the traffic before it got crowded.
“I’m playing a blues tonight,” Band member of Neck and the Heads, Neck, said. “You know, it’s that simple. I’m capturing the audience and all that. So, like I was telling y’all earlier, I got here very early. I got, like, six hours to kill.”
For people working on Sixth Street, the festivities started early, too. (CBS Austin/Max Rebolledo)
For people working on Sixth Street, the festivities started early, too.
“I’m so excited,” bartender at Star Bar, Lovey Andres, said. “I feel like a lot of people are really nervous. But I love Halloween and I love all the costumes. I love all the creativity. I’m super excited. I love the chaos too, so I’m super stoked.”
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With Halloween and a University of Texas game bringing crowds downtown tonight, APD expects 80,000 to 100,000 people in the entertainment districts. (CBS Austin/Max Rebolledo)
Safety is also a focus after five suspected overdoses near Shakespeare’s Pub last month. Four people were hospitalized.
Police and EMS later distributed Narcan kits to downtown bars.
“So we didn’t have to have that event and then have to get Narcan,” Owner of multiple bars in the entertainment district, Bob Woody, said. “We already had it. So we’re ready for it already. So we continue to keep that restocked.”
Several people came to the bars early to try and beat the traffic before it got crowded. (CBS Austin/Max Rebolledo)
APD said they’re keeping extra officers on scene to help with the large crowds.
“In addition to our normal patrol officers, we’re hiring extra officers on overtime, and we’re working with EMS and fire,” APD Commander for the downtown area, Christopher Joursala, said. “We have a unified command downtown. So if anything happens as far as a critical incident, we’re all going to work together to communicate and take care of the situation.”
Bars and staff told us they’re ready for the crowds and hoping everyone can enjoy the night safely.