Burn Out festival organizers consider suing City of Tulare

Saturday, January 27, 2018
Burn Out was slated to be the Central Valley's first licensed cannabis festival in the state since recreational sales became legal on New Year's Day. However, Saturday night organizers are just hoping to recover some of the costs associated with the now-canceled event.

Related: Tulare Co Fairgrounds hosts marijuana "Burnout Festival"

You know what they say in showbiz, the show must go on but this time it's not to the same degree.

There are about 10 artists that are performing Saturday night but event organizers say this is more than a financial blow to the business, it's damaging to their reputation.

"We did everything by the book and we were singled out and we were maliciously hurt by the city of Tulare, period," Huffaker said. "We lost customers reputations money time energy effort I mean it's emotionally extremely damaging."

It may be lights out for the state's first cannabis festival, that was scheduled to take place at the Tulare County Fairgrounds but organizers say they lost more than the venue and money that went into the festival.

Tully Huffaker and his partners at HW Entertainment are reeling after having to cancel their Burn Out Festival. The five-hour event would feature graffiti artists, food and clothing vendors, and marijuana.

According to Tulare County Fairgrounds CEO, Pamela Fyock organizers did not have the right documentation.

"Our permit through the state of California was on track but it was such a new process there was one signature that they were missing for me. The city refused to put on paper what they promised me in person," Huffaker said.

The City of Tulare has not returned our requests for comment.

Still calculating the total financial loss Huffaker says they're rescheduling the event for the last weekend in April. He adds there are a handful of counties they are considering in the Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Central Coast areas.

Huffaker says his business partners are exploring all options including potential litigation to recover costs.
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