LOWELL, Mass. — More than 100,000 people are expected to head to Lowell in just a few days for the annual folk festival, but when they arrive they will be greeted by new security measures.
The security changes come in the wake of recent terror attacks like the one in Nice, France, that killed more than 80 people.
It’s the 30th anniversary of the Lowell Folk Festival, and executive director Craig Gates said organizers are expecting 150,000 people to pack into the six-block area where the festival is being held.
Gates said the location of the event is what makes it so special, and so vulnerable.
“People are just roaming around. It's not like Gillette or Fenway Park where you have to go through turnstiles. It's wide open. It makes a lot of fun because it's like that for people,” Gates said.
New concrete barriers will be set up around the entire festival to prevent anyone from driving through. In addition, dump trucks will be brought in to block the streets.
Security was revamped in 2013 after the Boston Marathon bombings, and now they’re getting an upgrade again.
“This is just a little bit more of an extension of what we have been doing because there are new things that keep coming up in terms of terrorism,” Gates said. “I absolutely believe that should be the first step taken at any public event.”
It’s a family tradition for many people, and residents say the added security is reassuring.
“It's super crowded. It's fun. It's really great. You get to experience multicultural foods and music and culture,” Raymond Rivera said.
The festival kicks off with a parade Friday night and runs through the entire weekend. You can find the full schedule here.
Cox Media Group
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