A Toronto delegation led by Mayor Rob Ford is attending an outdoor music festival 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 is touring the grounds of the 12th annual Austin City Limits Music Festival and meeting 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 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.
Delegates, minus Ford, are also visiting a Google office and the Texas Advanced Computing Center. Ford is planning to attend a high school football game later in the day.
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.
