Popular California Festival Not Issuing Refunds After 'Abrupt' Cancellation

The Skull & Roses festival, a popular Grateful Dead tribute event, was abruptly canceled on April 12th, leaving many fans disappointed and out of pocket. The festival, which was scheduled to take place in Ventura next weekend, will not be issuing refunds to ticket holders, according to an announcement made by the festival's founder, Chris Mitrovich.

In a statement (obtained by KRON4), Mitrovich expressed deep sorrow over the cancellation of the festival, citing "financial devastation" from the 2023 show as the reason behind the decision. The specifics of this financial hardship were not detailed in the announcement. The festival, which has been held annually at the Ventura County Fairgrounds since 2017, was called off just 10 days before it was due to begin.

The news was a double blow for fans who had purchased tickets, as the statement also confirmed that refunds would not be issued. "While tickets and hotels were sold on a non-refundable basis, we sincerely wish that funds were available to refund all purchases. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case at this time," the statement read. Ticket prices for the event started at $60 for a single-day general admission pass and went up to $600 for VIP access.

The future of the Skull & Roses festival beyond 2024 is uncertain, according to Mitrovich. The announcement has sparked outrage among fans, with some expressing their frustration on social media. One user, Jeff Cable, accused the organizers of selling tickets they knew they couldn't honor, while another, Stephen A. Collins Jr., lamented the additional costs he now faces due to a non-refundable plane ticket.