Roots N Blues Festival makes preparations for security, transportation
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Organizers of the Roots N Blues Festival say safety is their top priority, and they make use of on- and off-duty Columbia police to make it happen.
According to a Columbia Police Department spokesman, the police prepare for events like this and have special plans incase of emergencies.
Roots N Blues is a three-day music and food festival scheduled for Friday through Sunday at Stephens Lake Park. It begins at 4 p.m. Friday and starts at noon on Saturday and Sunday. This year's fest is headlined by Wilco, Jon Batiste and Bleachers.
The festival's website says organizers have taken precautions to ensure the safety of concertgoers throughout the weekend. Roots N Blues works in partnership with the Columbia Police Department, which will be assist with security. Plainclothes and uniformed Columbia police officers will be there during the festival's operating hours.
Roots N Blues also hired Chase Security, a veteran-owned private security team that specializes mainly in large events, according to the festival website.
"They're really good," Shay Jasper, a co-producer of the festival, said. "They have a lot of experience working music events and being attentive."
Festival goers can expect to have bags searched and security to use a metal detector. Strollers, bags and wagons all allowed inside.
A water-refilling station will be located within the venue. Empty water bottles are allowed, but no outside liquids are permitted.
Those who attend the festival can also sign up for text messages to get notified of emergencies at the venue. People can opt into these automated texts by texting "RNB" to 67283.
A free shuttle service will run to-and-from downtown. Festival-goers can park in a downtown parking garage and catch one of 10 shuttles to the front gates of the festival. Shuttles start an hour before gates open each day and will stop once all attendees have left the fest.
Parking garages are free-to-park after 6 p.m. Friday, but are free all day Saturday and Sunday. Organizers of the event asked patrons to have patience on Friday due to driver shortages and school still being in session.
