State Fire Marshal Gives Ratchet City Music Fest the Green Light

Ratchet City Music Fest is set to take place in downtown Shreveport on Saturday, August 15th.

The event is going into it's 3rd year and unlike most other downtown Shreveport festivals, this one is still scheduled to take place. In fact, due to its location on private property, it's perfectly legal to happen as long as the proper social-distancing guidelines are in place.

This year, Ratchet City Music Fest will be hosted by Tina B and features headliner Jeter Jones, as well as many other local artists and musicians. According to their Facebook page, the event is a music festival  focuses on the music, food, and culture of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Many of you may be wondering how this event is allowed to take place during the pandemic, while many other popular downtown Shreveport festivals have been postponed to next year. The short answer is quite simple. This event is taking place on private property, specifically in the large parking lot across the street from the Kokopellis building on Travis street. Therefore, Ratchet City Music Fest does not need a permit to take place.

Festivals like Mudbug Madness and the Red River Revel would not only have to follow all social-distancing guidelines, but since these events are held at Festival Plaza, they would all need permits in order to operate, which of course won't be issued by the City of Shreveport in the middle of a pandemic.

Speaking specially in regards to Ratchet City Music Fest, Louisiana State Fire Marshal Butch Browning gave the event the all-clear, as long as all guidelines are followed.

He says, "This is [an] outdoor gathering, there is guidance on that. Violation of the order is enforceable by any law enforcement agency. They have to be social distancing. Be seated and not gathered. No dancing etc."

He also says, since the event is outdoors and on private property, there is no cap on how many people can attend the festival. They simply must be following the social-distancing guidelines.

For more on Ratchet City Music Fest, click HERE.