AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin-Travis County region is currently in Stage 5 of risk-based COVID-19 guidelines. Austin Public Health on Tuesday reported the area is down to two remaining ICU beds. More than half of Texans remain unvaccinated.


What You Need To Know

  • ACL Music Festival remains slated for two weekends in October

  • Austin is currently in Stage 5 of risk-based COVID-19 guidelines and the Austin region currently has two available ICU beds

  • A petition on change.org calls for the annual music festival to be canceled

  • Headliner Stevie Nicks has dropped out due to COVID concerns

With those facts in mind, a large music festival slated for the fall in Central Texas is not without risk, and now a petition is calling for the cancellation of the 2021 Austin City Limits Music Festival.

The petition, which is available on change.org, as of 1 p.m. Wednesday had gathered 282 signatures.

“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,” the petition reads. “For the public safety of all that live in Austin, it’s best to cancel the festival. The pandemic is not over yet, the virus is still mutating. We must do all that we can to stop this super spreader event.” 

“Many people without vaccines will be able to attend, many people will become ill. We must ACT NOW!” the petition continues.

The annual Austin music festival, which takes place over two weekends in October, is held at Zilker Park.

Headliners this year include George Strait, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish and Rüfüs Du Sol.

Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame had been scheduled to perform but on Tuesday announced she has canceled all of her remaining 2021 tour dates due to COVID-19 concerns. That includes her ACL performances.

On Wednesday, ACL announced Nicks has been replaced by Duran Duran.