Pitts Stop: Boston Calling's New Home
BOSTON (CBS) - In one week Boston Calling will kick off Memorial Day weekend in a new location - the Harvard Athletic Complex.
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The festival, now in it's fifth year, has outgrown it's original home at City Hall Plaza where it has been held since 2013.
"With the new space comes lots of opportunities for us to do things we've always wanted to do and couldn't do in the past on City Hall Plaza," Boston Calling co-founder Brian Appel told WBZ-TV.
The new location has three times more space than City Hall Plaza, allows for a third musical stage and double the performers. While Appel says he's happy with the festival's growth, finding a new venue that was big enough and easily accessible proved difficult.
"With the new space came a couple of challenges, just in terms of getting the amount of people that are coming here in safely," said Appel.
With less access to T stops and parking garages, and more than 20,000 people expected to attend, Appel decided to team up with three police departments and the MBTA to release this informational video.
The video gives clear instructions on getting to the festival, the first tip being do not drive and park at the show.
Instead, take the Red Line to Harvard Square, walk down JFK Street and over the bridge.
Every night around 10 p.m. those streets will shut down so pedestrians can travel safely. Appel was also able to get the MBTA to run additional trains in the evenings.
Other options for getting there include MBTA bus routes 66 or 86, using cabs or ride share services, taking advantage of free on-site bike parking, or reserving a parking spot in Harvard Square in advance here or here.
While it may take some extra planning to get to this year's show, Appel says it's well worth your time.
"We've got 45 performers coming in, space to bring in artists for art installations, a Ferris wheel for people to take in views of the city. It's a much nicer spread out venue for attendees to enjoy the weekend with us."
Boston Calling is a rain or shine event running May 26th to the 28th.
Kids under 10 years old get in free and there are activities available for the whole family.
To check out the full lineup or purchase tickets head to bostoncalling.com.
