MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - With the sun shining bright on Beale Street Music Festival stages, workers were getting the last minute touches up before thousands of people crowd the park on the river.
Memphis in May Executive Vice President, Diane Hampton, says "This is the kick off to the Memphis spring and summer, people coming in from all over the world. Memphis is in the spotlight during this weekend and we are thrilled that the weather's good, the crowds are going to be huge, it's going to be a big weekend."
Hampton says once again the festival's prepared for record crowds. "It's going to be crazy, but it's going to be a good crazy. There are incredible acts this year. Memphis in May and the Beale Street Music Festival is known for its diversity and I don't really think that you can get much more diverse this year."
From Florence and the Machine to Megadeth to Yo Gotti, the bands are bringing in the crowds. When downtown Memphis quadruples in size over one weekend, security does too. "We have a well-orchestrated security operations plan." Hampton says, "Fortunately a great record of safety for the event. There are large crowds, we have a large contingency of security as well as the Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office."
Memphis Police Col. AC Knight says, "We'll have MPD reserves, Shelby County deputies, EMS, fire, everybody down on the river. There will be lots of police officers on Beale Street; we should have over 100 officers on Beale Street and in the surrounding areas all three nights."
In addition to security on the street and in the park, officers will be paying close attention to apartments near the festival. "We're going to put a lot of officers on the perimeter to keep any robberies, theft of motor vehicles, any opportunistic crimes, try to keep those knocked down," Col. Knight says.
Tickets are still available. Day passes cost $40.00 at the gate.
