Downtown Austin transforming for Fan Fest

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Austin Fan Fest officially kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. Road closures started Wednesday and continue throughout the weekend.

Third and Fourth streets are shut down between Lavaca and Brazos streets. A part of Congress Avenue shuts down Thursday night and more roads close Friday.

The roadblocks essentially surround the Warehouse District of Downtown Austin, and within those perimeters is where some real transformations are taking place.

Downtown Austin is taking shape.

"It's just amazing to watch it get thrown up in a day," says C.K. Chin, the owner of the restaurant Swift's Attic on Congress Ave.

Usually full of traffic, the Warehouse District is now filled with tents, trucks and workers--turning the city streets into a live music venue.

The closed roads make way for the stages and structures--and the thousands of people ready to embark on the city.

"I think we're going to spend as much time as we can in Downtown Austin, take in all the music, take in all the food," says Chuck Senges, a race fan from New York.

With the transformation fully under way, it's finally giving some perspective to people like Chin, who live and work in Austin.

"The magnitude of what they're talking about has been kind of the boogie man for us--for this whole neighborhood. We just don't know what to expect. The numbers just seem kind of astronomical," he said.

And Thursday afternoon was a big day for race fans to arrive. Jose Maran is in from Miami. He says he needs a map, but is already taking a liking to the city.

"I like the architecture of the place--and the food!" Maran says.

"I've never been to Austin before," says David LeGrand, a race fan from Los Angeles, "I heard it was a great town--looking forward to some live music and some entertainment." 

His expectations shouldn't come up short this weekend, as Austin takes center stage.