Security increased for San Francisco's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival

SAN FRANCISCO (Cristina Rendon/KTVU) - Security is top of mind at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, which kicked off at noon on Friday.

This year, the San Francisco Police Department is increasing the presence of officers at the event following the deadly mass shooting at a country concert in Las Vegas nearly one week ago.

Spokeswoman Tracey Buck said she understands some attendees may be concerned.

“Safety for our festival goers is our top priority is and always has been our top concern,” Buck said. “We’ve been working with the city and the county of San Francisco to make sure that our procedures and protocols are up to the moment.”

Now in its 17th year, Hardly Strictly continues to draw big crowds. The free event brings roughly half a million to three quarters of a million attendees, on average, each year, according to Buck.

Many people told KTVU the violence in Las Vegas is on their minds, but they’re not letting it faze them.

“We had a bunch of friends that were in Vegas,” Simmons Norwood, of San Francisco, said. “We’re country music fans. We weren’t there. It definitely weighs heavy on your mind. You can’t let that kind of thing ruin your life or rule your life.”