ARVIN, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — The Arvin Wildflower Festival, a decades-long community tradition, was canceled this year after concerns over event costs and permitting requirements prevented it from moving forward.
The festival was scheduled to take place on April 25th and 26th at Smothermon Park and typically features carnival rides, food vendors and entertainment.
Smothermon Park Arvin (KBAK/KBFX)
The Arvin Chamber of Commerce declined an on-camera interview, but said in a press release that unexpected permitting changes and additional costs made the event too expensive to hold. Those costs included fees for police presence, which the Chamber said would create financial hardship.
According to the Chamber’s statement, the carnival owner declined to cover those expenses, leading to the full cancellation of the event. The Chamber also criticized city leadership, stating that the mayor and city council “demonstrated neglect and a lack of accountability” in handling the situation.
City Manager Jeff Jones said the decision to cancel the event was not made by the city.
“The city didn’t cancel it. It was totally up to the Chamber of Commerce,” Jones said.
Jones said the city council unanimously approved the festival permit on Feb. 24, with conditions that included covering public safety costs.
City of Arvin PHOTO: KBAK/KBFX
“The agreement called for the payment of police fees for overtime,” he said. “Public safety is important, and it was very important that the chamber paid for the public safety overtime of the officers.”
City documents show those costs were expected to total just over $5,000 for police presence during the event. Jones said those requirements have remained consistent over time.
“It’s been the same agreement for the last 10–15 years,” he said.
Jones also clarified that the Wildflower Festival is not organized by the city, but by the Chamber of Commerce, which must apply for a permit each year.
“We just make sure that we have our public works people on site to make sure the electricity and water is running before the event and we require police presence,” Jones said.
FILE: Wildflower festival April 29, 2018 (KBAK/KBFX)
He said the Chamber did reach out about possibly waiving the fees, but directed them to bring that request before the city council.
“The chamber was always welcome to come before the city council and ask for the fees to be waived,” Jones said.
According to Jones, the Chamber did not attend any council meetings after the permit was approved to formally request a waiver.
As for the future of the Wildflower Festival, Jones said it will depend on whether the Chamber decides to revisit the issue with city leaders.
“It’s a matter of the Chamber coming before the city council and asking for what the council could do for them, if anything,” he said.
For now, the future of one of Arvin’s longest-running events remains uncertain, with both sides offering different explanations for why the festival did not take place this year.