Wakarusa Music Festival

I think it maybe a little premature to start selling tickets for a festival that is yet to have a home.
According to the Lawrence Journal World, Festival CEO Brett Moisman lobbied the Jefferson County Commisioners to host the festival on the private land of the Circle S Ranch and Country Inn but was turned down by a vote of 2-1. Those voting against the festival in Jefferson County cited security concerns over the lack of infrastructure in the case of an emergency. Jefferson County citizens in a surprise move attended and were in a tizzy about drugs and alcohol — namely the "freak factor" and how it could affect their kids.

One wonders why they don't automatically renew at Clinton Lake State Park. After all, the park is Wakarusa Music Festival. In my mind it is very difficult to separate the one from the other. I've heard rumors that Moisman and his operation are looking towards Wyandotte County now to host the festival. What has been reported is that the festival seeks a multi-year contract with the state to host the event at Clinton Lake with a few additional benefits not granted in the four previous years. First, they want to increase the capacity of the event by 3,000 people a year from last year's cap of 15,000 to 24,000 in 2010. Second, Moisman and crew wants to secure a catering license so they can upgrade from the 3.2% water schwill to more potent beers and wines. Another request would be more flexibility in determining how much law enforcement is necessary and finding the right mix of law enforcement and private security contractors. Other language in the letter sent to Governor Sebelius and the Department of Wildlife and Parks Secretary Mike Hayden calls for improvements to park infrastructure, more latitude on hosting non-musical entertainment and restriction of the public driving through the festival to use boat ramps and the lake without paying. The full text of the letter can be accessed here.

It seems obvious to me that the Wakarusa organizers are shopping other venues for the festival as a bargaining chip to get Lawrence to move forward on the new multi-year contract. Lawrence politicians probably have a lot of sway over in Topeka and don't want other counties moving in on their festival, even though no other county seems to want it at the moment. I think it is irresponsible that the website is now selling ticket packages without a definite site secured for the festival. Maybe falling back on Clinton Lake with a one-year contract that caps attendance at 15,000 is the worst case scenario, but I find it difficult to entrust my $100+ to a festival without a home. It does seem like Douglas County wants the festival to return again. I will attend next year when a location is finalized. The music lineup will be announced in January.