David Friend, The Canadian Press Published Thursday, August 4, 2022 4:09 PM EDT Last Updated Thursday, August 4, 2022 4:45 PM EDT
Organizers of the Ever After electronic music festival say the event will not go ahead next weekend after failing to receive the necessary permits from the local municipality of Oro-Medonte, Ont., which raised concerns over safety issues and security
A brief statement on Ever After’s social media page promised more details soon and said ticket holders should “plan accordingly”. He did not use the words “cancelled” or “postponed.” A representative did not provide additional information and would not comment on the refunds.
As of Thursday afternoon, tickets and hotel packages were still being sold through the festival’s website.
The announcement comes less than a week before concertgoers descended on Burl’s Creek grounds in Oro-Medonte, about 30 kilometers north of Barrie, and days after headliners began telling fans at social networks that they were informed that the festival was not. does not advance
Ever After was scheduled for August 11-14 and will feature Canadian acts Rezz and Zeds Dead, as well as international artist Dillon Francis and DJ duo Slander.
Moon Newhook had planned to attend this year’s festival after the tickets she bought for the 2020 edition were put on hold due to pandemic closures. She says she now doesn’t have the cost of three VIP tickets, lodging and other related expenses totaling about $3,000.
“I’m frustrated, I’m upset, I want to scream,” she said.
“I wish they would have told us earlier so we could definitely ‘plan accordingly’ and cancel the plane tickets, the accommodation, whatever else we had to do.”
Newhook said he’s in the process of requesting a refund from his bank, but without Ever After announcing they’ve “cancelled” the weekend, it’s proving difficult.
The festival’s prospects have been in doubt since July 21, when local management raised their concerns at a special council meeting.
Shawn Binns, director of operations and community services for Oro-Medonte, recommended in a report presented at the meeting that a special events permit be denied for the event, which was expected to draw up to 15,000 people a day .
The report said organizers failed to address “concerns and requirements for adequate security, building/structure, traffic management, fire safety, community impact, food and beverage and medical and emergency plans”.
Ever After posted on social media six days later telling ticket holders “there is an appeal process we are currently going through as well as reviewing other options” to ensure the event takes place in 2022.
However, according to Oro-Medonte spokeswoman Jenny Legget, that option never existed.
“The reality is there is no process to appeal the board’s decision — it’s just not possible,” he said in an interview.
“It’s a shame for the ticket holders.”
The township noted that Ever After leased the land at Burl’s Creek for the weekend with plans to incorporate an optional camping experience. In the years before the pandemic, the event was held at Bingemans Recreation and Campground in Kitchener, Ontario.
For weeks, ticket holders have posted on social media about efforts to get refunds from Ever After. Many say they have been ignored.
Alicia Sewell spent $1,500 on weekend tickets and estimates another $3,000 to schedule replacement staff at a dance academy she runs in Trenton, Ont. She says with advance notice she would have made alternate plans.
“If they knew months ago that this wasn’t going to happen, they should have been honest and refunded everyone’s money,” he said.
“Right now, I’m even afraid they won’t reimburse me.”
Newhook said his experience could affect how he thinks about future events.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to attend any more concerts,” he said. “I’m definitely going to have trust issues.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on August 4, 2022.