South by Southwest Cancels Festival Over Coronavirus Risks
- Event was expected to draw hundreds of thousands to Texas
- Festival has helped make Austin into a tech destination
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Organizers of South by Southwest canceled this year’s arts, music and technology festival in Austin, Texas, citing concerns from city officials about the continuing spread of the coronavirus.
The gathering attracts hundreds of thousands of people to the city each year to catch a glimpse of some of the world’s biggest bands, filmmakers, politicians and business executives. The event, which was scheduled to begin in a week, is a substantial force in the local economy.