Nearly 20,000 people expected to head to Centralia Friday for Luke Bryan concert

Centralia is gearing up for large crowds Friday as tens of thousands are expected to be in town for the county music star Luke Bryan concert.

Centralia Police Department is expecting nearly 20,000 concert attendees Friday night.

“This is our first big concert in Centralia,” Sgt. Joe Bellamy, with Centralia Police Department said. “We are trying to make sure it’s safe for everyone.”

Bellamy says there will be a heavy police presence patrolling around the city, concert venue and parking lots, “We have lots of officers on duty tomorrow to assist,” he said. “Agencies all around Boone County are coming to assist us.”

Centralia School District is closing school on Friday due to the increase in traffic. Superintendent, Darin Ford, told ABC 17 News, “We’re expecting upwards of 20,000 people,” Superintendent Darin Ford told ABC 17 News. “We just don’t want to take chances. Our buses wouldn’t be able to get across town to get the students dropped off in a timely manner, so we decided about a month ago to cancel school.”

Businesses in the area are preparing as well. “It’s good to get Centralia on the map,” Centralia City Administrator Matt Harline, told ABC 17 News, “Although we don’t have a projection of how much revenue will be brought in, any business this large coming into the city will be beneficial for us (Centralia) as a whole.”

The farm is located on Audrain County Road 132, eight miles north of Centralia. Parking lots will open at 2 p.m. Friday.