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Tens Of Thousands To Flock To Downtown Austin For F1 Grand Prix Events

Updated: Friday, October 12 2012, 01:41 PM CDT

The Formula 1 Grand Prix in November will bring a huge number of other activities to Downtown Austin including a three day outdoor festival.

The race is Nov. 16-18. 

The Circuit of the Americas says Austin Fan Fest will feature interactive exhibits and games, including displays by Grand Prix racing teams.  It will include live music on several stages.

The festival will be located in an area bordered by 5th Street, Congress Avenue, 2nd Street and Lavaca Street.  It is free to the public. The festival will close more than a dozen downtown streets and parking lots.  Those can be found at austinfanfest.com.

The Aerosmith will headline a concert at the Frank Erwin Center on Fri. Nov. 16. Eighties rockers Cheap Trick will open the show.  Tickets go on sale Monday at www.Texasboxoffice.com and range in price from $65 to $199 for the general public.

Also the Austin Convention Center will become a nightclub named the “COTA Club.” Hip-hop artist Flo Rida performs on Fri. Nov. 16. Enrique Iglesias performs on Sat. Nov. 17. Those tickets go on sale Sept. 28 at www.ticketmaster.com and range in price from $55 to $69.

Similar to South By Southwest, downtown venues will host what COTA calls “glamorous downtown after parties that will give fans the chance to “party like rock stars” while enjoying a variety of live music and entertainment.”

ACL Live at The Moody Theater will have parties each day of the event. It will feature live performances from Juanes, Lupe Fiasco and The Wallflowers on Nov. 18. 

The Circuit of The Americas “Official After Party” will take place at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum following the Grand Prix on Sun. Nov. 18. Ghostland Observatory and Fitz & The Tantrums headline with support from The Wailers, DJ Jillian Ann and Tje Austin.

Tickets for both events will go on sale Sept. 28 at www.acl-live.com and www.ticketmaster.com.

“Austin has a great advantage over other Grand Prix host cities because it has a compact downtown business and entertainment district—the perfect setting for a festive street party,” noted TAG Presents President Paul Thornton, whose organization is assisting Circuit of The Americas with the production of Austin Fan Fest Powered. “We’re expecting hundreds of thousands of race fans to visit Austin this November, and we want to make sure they spend time downtown, enjoying all of the great restaurants, night clubs, theatres, retail shops and hotels our hometown has to offer, along with the exceptional local and national entertainment lined up for the concerts and after parties.”Tens Of Thousands To Flock To Downtown Austin For F1 Grand Prix Events