Petition Calls On Austin To Cancel ACL Music Festival

As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the U.S., an online petition is asking the city of Austin to cancel the Austin City Limits Music Festival.

The ACL Fest is scheduled for Oct. 1-3 and Oct. 8-10 at Zilker Park and tickets are already sold out.

Even though the festival is two months away, the group Cancel ACL Fest believes its too risky to hold a large concert during the pandemic.

“Due to Governor Abbott’s laws against vaccine passports and mask mandates, it is no longer safe to have this event. ACL has no plans to even discuss canceling. For the public safety of all that live in Austin, it’s best to cancel the festival," the group wrote in its Change.org petition.

The petition was created two weeks ago, but it started to pick up steam after headliner Stevie Nicks announced on Tuesday that she canceled all of her tour dates due to health concerns.

Duran Duran will replace Nicks at ACL Fest, Austin 360 reported.

ACL Fest organizers have not yet commented on the petition, but the festival's website warns that guests "voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19."

Unlike Bonnaroo and other music festivals, organizers have not yet said if concert-goers will be required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine or negative test results.

Last year, ACL Festival held a free online-only festival that replayed some of its most popular sets from past festivals and had live performances by local artists, including the Black Pumas.