No more spring-festival special-event permits

Anyone still planning to apply for a special-event permit to hold a festival this spring may be out of luck. The city announced on Wednesday, two days ahead of the application deadline, that it “is no longer accepting new requests for Temporary Use, Temporary Change of Use, and 24-hour/96-hour Amplified Music Permits for outdoor temporary events” for the spring. According to the city, when the Austin Center of Events established the Feb. 5 deadline for permit applications, it also established a 120-application cap – and that cap has been reached. The announcement explains, “The application cap and deadline support the City’s ongoing efforts to improve the safety and security of all Austin residents and visitors during the busy spring festival season.”