30K expected at AquaPalooza

LAKE TRAVIS, Texas (KXAN) - On the upper end of Lake Travis Wednesday, a single boat jetted on the open water.

On July 10, multiply that lone vessel by 30,000, and you will find the crowd at AquaPalooza 2010 . It is like fitting the entire population of Georgetown into one cove.

"I don't think we have any idea what we're in store for, and we're pleased to have it,” said Laura Mitchell, president of the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce . “We're absolutely pleased to have everyone here."

It is free to attend the "World's Largest Party on the Water," but the Lake Travis Chamber said it should still generate plenty of money for the area. Wristbands for discounts at many surrounding businesses are selling fast for the estimated 5,000 boats at this year's event.

"This will be the largest we've ever had, but it' not the first large event we've ever had to deal with on Lake Travis,” said Don Brent, the Lower Colorado River Authority public safety chief.

This is AquaPalooza's first summer at Lake Travis. It travels around to a different location each year.

"Registrations are about five or six times the amount that they were last year on Lake Martin,” said Mitchell.

Last year's event in Alabama brought record fuel sales, thousands of hotel stays, and a $100 average in grocery sales per boat. With a headliner like Brad Paisley, this summer's event could be even bigger.

AquaPalooza will be at mile marker 22 at The Reserve at Lake Travis, a new waterfront resort between Pace Bend and Point Venture on the lake. You can only get to this event by water. If you tried to drive, the nearest highway is 10 miles away.

The biggest concern right now is safety for that many people. More than a dozen law enforcement and emergency agencies will have extra officers on land and in the water, and they've been meeting once a week for months to hash out a plan.

"(They should also) take some accountability for themselves to be safe while they're out on the water,” said Brent.