A Toronto delegation led by Mayor Rob Ford checked out an outdoor music festival Friday that attracts tens of thousands of people to Texas’ capital, as the delegates’ two-day music business mission draws to a close.
On its quest to transform Toronto into a live music mecca, the group toured the grounds of the 12th annual Austin City Limits Music Festival and met with members of Austin’s music industry to learn more about how Toronto can duplicate that city’s success in becoming a major tourist draw.
Spread over two consecutive weekends, the festival inspired by the famed PBS show Austin City Limits features dozens of popular and lesser-known acts. Last year’s attendance was an estimated 75,000 people a day, according to organizers.
In addition to music, the festival has zones dedicated to local restaurants and charitable groups, and a family-friendly zone dubbed Austin Kiddie Limits.
On Thursday, Ford met privately with Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell before the pair signed a “music city alliance agreement” at a city council meeting.
Austin hosts several large music festivals and industry events every year, and it bills itself as the live music capital of the world.
With files from CP24 reporter Jackie Crandles.
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