A few days remain until the start of one of the City of Austin's signature events, South by Southwest (SXSW).
SXSW, an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, music festivals and conferences, returns as an in-person event after COVID-19 concerns forced its cancellation in 2020 and prompted organizers to hold it virtually last year.
"For the next two weeks, South by Southwest is the pulsing heart of Austin, Texas," Mayor Steve Adler said, according to Austin ABC affiliate KVUE.
The highly-anticipated festival ushers in a spring chock-full of outdoor events.
Earlier this month, Austin-Travis County moved to Stage 2 of the City of Austin’s COVID-19 risk-based guidelines for the first time since last year, Austin Journal reported.
“Let’s hope this spring marks the beginning of a brighter, healthier future," Dr. Desmar Walkes, the city's medical director/health authority, said, according to KVUE. "While we enjoy this moment, don’t forget about those who are still at risk. You can always wear a mask to protect yourself and those around you.”
Austin Public Health officials also recommend SXSW attendees wear masks indoors to ensure safety during the event and spring break.
Event organizers said they've been preparing for the festival's return as if the city were still under Stage 5, KVUE reported.
Austin business owners are eager to welcome back festivalgoers after the past two years deprived them of the windfall that usually accompanies the two-week event and the subsequent festival season.
They're expecting a rise in pedestrian traffic in the coming weeks, the station reported.
Austin Rocks assistant manager Ach Fontenot said the downtown boutique has undergone changes in anticipation.
"We're really just trying to put our best foot forward," Fontenot told KVUE. "This is a really important time for Austin, and it's the first time we've been able to do it in a couple of years."
SXSW is set to start on March 11 and runs through March 20.