“We have a very robust and well-vetted emergency safety plan that we work with local authorities year-round on implementing.”
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento is bracing for a busy weekend as tens of thousands of people pack into the city for multiple events.
The four-day Aftershock Festival alone is expected to bring more than 100,000 rock fans to Discovery Park through Sunday. On Saturday, a concert at Golden 1 Center and a Sacramento Republic FC game are also drawing large crowds downtown.
To keep people safe, Sacramento Police say they’re working closely with event organizers to ensure everyone can get to and from events smoothly.
On Saturday, families filled local parks and neighborhoods, taking advantage of warm weather and a packed calendar of activities. Across from McKinley Park, organizers of the Sacramento Greek Festival said they were preparing to welcome between 10,000 and 14,000 visitors.
“We’re so lucky in Sacramento to have so many wonderful events to choose from,” said Koula Gianulias of the Sacramento Greek Festival. “We got really lucky with the weather this weekend, so we’re honored to be packed. We have a lot of people coming out to enjoy the dancing and the food and the fresh pastries.”
Gianulias said safety is always top of mind, especially with large crowds. “We invest in off-duty police officers. They are here around the clock. We have additional security guards at all entrances. We do check our guests to make sure no one is carrying anything that could cause harm. And we also have plans in place in case of an emergency to safely evacuate and take care of our guests,” she said.
Sacramento Police officers are visible at each major event, including the Greek Festival and Aftershock. Department spokesperson Allison Smith said those assignments are part of weeks of planning.
“With that and with the concerts that are happening downtown, we’ll have our normal patrol resources out handling calls on the streets, but we will have officers working overtime,” Smith said.
Aftershock organizers said safety is also a top priority. Chamie McCurry, general manager for Danny Wimmer Presents, said the festival’s safety plan is developed in coordination with local police, the California Highway Patrol, and emergency services.
“We have a very robust and well-vetted emergency safety plan that we work with local authorities year-round on implementing,” McCurry said. “We work closely with dispatch and various agencies.”
Guests at Aftershock go through metal detectors at entry points and register their wristbands. The festival also offers an online lost and found system for misplaced items.
Longtime concertgoer Clay Bigahim said the experience at large festivals has changed over the years. “I’ve been going to metal concerts for like 20 years, and it’s a lot different now than it was back then. I felt much less unsafe going to big festivals 20 years ago. So this is a very different experience,” he said.
Police said they’re reminding people to stay alert after reports of cellphone thefts at last year’s Aftershock. Officers advise festivalgoers to keep belongings secure and use rideshare services when possible.
With large crowds and street closures across Sacramento, police expect traffic to be heavily impacted this weekend and are urging drivers to watch for pedestrians and plan ahead.
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